Motherhood and career. It’s not easy. And it hasn’t always been surrounded by cushions of help. Now in Australia, it is. What started out as a working-mum blog almost ten years ago has evolved into a fulltime career for Sam Summers.
After a 20-year career in the media and advertising industry, including director roles at OMD and VMG, Summers has launched 34Sevn, that helps mothers navigate the challenges of corporate life in media and advertising while raising a family.
The mother of two understands intimately the unique pressures that working mothers face in high-stakes environments like media and advertising. Her new venture offers group coaching workshops, individual mentoring, and one-on-one return-to-work sessions tailored to help women align their professional ambitions with their personal lives, and includes free resources and a networking hub for like-minded women to come together and share their experiences and advice.
“Becoming a mother is a huge life change, but I genuinely believe many of the problems we face when we return to work are due to the lack of any kind of coaching or support in regard to understanding how the dichotomy of it all will affect us. We find ourselves in survival mode, constantly juggling and rarely feeling fulfilled and that can lead to severe burnout,” Summers explained. “While there is much talk around the subject, I believe there’s still work that needs to be done to genuinely support the mental health of working mums and I wanted to create a space where women can find that support and the tools they need to thrive.”
Meaghan Spencer, former group sales leader at oOh!, stated, “Having a back-to-work strategy session with Sam was really helpful. I gained so much clarity and practical advice on how to navigate this next chapter in my career after becoming a mother, and I left feeling truly empowered and ready to take on the challenge.”
In addition to her coaching services, Summers has developed The Strategy Planner, a tool that aligns with her coaching philosophy. The planner is a valuable resource that helps working mothers organise their to-do lists, set clear goals, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Summers’ journey from media executive to wellness coach is driven by her vision of helping all working mums find true happiness and fulfillment, rather than merely “coping”. “Having been a single mother far from home when my son was young, I know firsthand what it’s like to feel like you’re drowning. I want to empower women to have a successful career and a fulfilling family life without sacrificing their sense of self,” Summers stated.
