Why Letting People Be Human at Work Matters

I recently came across a company’s “About Us” page that stopped me in my tracks. Alongside the usual roles, bios, and headshots, every employee photo included their children.

The company provides mental health support for moms, so the choice made sense—but it sparked a bigger reflection for me: what would it look like if we brought more of our real identities, not just our professional ones, into work?

Being a mom of young kids is central to who I am, and it shapes how I show up everywhere, including at work. I’ve been fortunate to work with teams who understand the realities of working parenthood and who create space for that part of my life. That space matters because it allows people to show up fully, not fragmented.

I’ll never forget dropping my oldest off at preschool for the first time, then joining a Zoom call minutes later—still emotional, still processing. I ended up crying on camera while sharing what that moment felt like. My colleagues met me with empathy and shared their own stories and memories of school drop-offs. We were able to proceed with the "business" of that meeting, but feeling even more connected and trusting of each other than before.

Creating environments where people can show up as their whole selves isn’t just kind—it’s smart: It builds stronger teams, better collaboration, and more resilient workplaces.

So here’s my invitation: bring your humanity with you. Whether it’s your kids, your passions, your challenges, or other parts of life shaping you right now—there’s room for that here. The work is better when the people doing it are fully seen.