Recharging Your Mojo
Getting your mojo back is hard. It is not as simple as coming back to work, switching on your laptop, and feeling like yourself again. For many women returning after maternity leave, caring responsibilities or a career break, the physical return is only the very beginning of the journey. The emotional and mental one takes much longer. Confidence does not always clock in on day one.
Even for those who loved their job before, something shifts. The routines have changed, the workplace might look different, and somewhere along the way, the part of you that once felt energised and unstoppable can start to feel distant. Getting your mojo back takes time, intention, and above all, self-belief.
Recent research from the Career Development Institute (CDI) highlights just how challenging this period can be. An overwhelming 92% of women returners say it’s hard to get back into a professional role, with 64% finding it extremely challenging. The biggest barrier is recruitment bias against CV gaps, reported by 40%, followed by loss of confidence (32%) and recruiter ageism (14%).
Behind those numbers are thousands of stories of women who stepped away for good reason and returned to find that time away had somehow erased their credibility. Over 25% said they had applied for more than 50 jobs without success. No wonder 89% of returners said their career break negatively affected their confidence. Getting your mojo back in this context is not simply about drive. It is about re-establishing belief in the unique value and perspective you bring.
Discovering your confidence again
But buried within the data is something far more positive. 93% of women believe that their career break has given them valuable new skills that would benefit an employer, even if only a few employers recognise it. And they are right.
During their time away, 75% have taken courses to upskill, 50% have volunteered in skilled roles, and 51% have done freelance or small-scale self-employment. These are not gaps but often periods of development
What is striking is how returners are shaping what modern work looks like. According to the same CDI study, 69% of women want to return to full-time work, and 56% say flexibility is essential. Hybrid working is preferred by 82%, and only 5% want to be in the office full-time. We are in a phase of redefining what sustainable success looks like and a lot of the progress is done by those coming back and positively inserting new standards, solutions and ideas that benefit the rest of the workforce as well . For many, flexibility is the foundation that allows them to perform at their best, a way to manage both professional ambition and personal priorities without having to sacrifice much of either.
And women are not afraid of reinvention either. Three-quarters (75%) are open to using their skills in new ways, and one in five are ready to change career completely. That is not hesitation. That is evolution.
So the potential is clear. An overwhelming 97% of women said they would prefer a structured and supportive returner programme, either through a formal returnship or a direct route into a permanent role. These programmes do not just make transitions smoother. They signal that organisations value the experience and potential of women at every stage of their lives. If leadership teams are serious about inclusion, supporting returners is not a side initiative. It is a strategic advantage. They bring insight shaped by experience and a perspective that strengthens teams.
Getting your mojo back takes courage. It’s not a switch you flip. It starts with small steps, reconnecting with your professional community, recognising your worth, saying yes to opportunities that feel good for you, and trusting that confidence will follow action. Across the global education sector, we are seeing growing numbers of women step into leadership roles and champion inclusive practices that lift others as they rise. Their return and progression are vital not just for gender parity, but for building cultures where diverse thinking and inclusivity thrive.
If you are coming back to work, give yourself time to adjust. Your confidence and drive are still there, waiting to be used in new ways, they just need a recharge.