She could be your wife. She could be your friend. And chances are, she could be you. Twenty stories of the brilliant, maddening, exhausting lives of women, inside and outside of our professional spaces. Many of them are the women we call “missing,” the women who broke academic records in a new India, entered our workplaces with high hopes and then dropped out of the workforce. A few of them are the intrepid pioneers of new ways of working, building careers that are changing the very notion of how, where and when work is done. All of them are women who are charting their own unique paths and showing the rest of us that there is no one way to live and no one way to work. In these stories, we will listen to these women, visit their dilemmas, understand their choices and revel in their successes. We will come away informed and inspired. Pick this book up because you care. Pick it up because these are good stories.
Twenty women. Twenty stories. These are stories that celebrate the successful comeback of women who had to take extended sabbaticals for various reasons. Each story talks about the experience of women who have rebuilt their lives without any guilt, and how they have charted their own course, on their own terms.
A woman is expected to take a break and put her work life on hold for reasons like pregnancy, family, health, or migration due to her spouse’s job. And as much as they are happy to do it, what happens when they want to get back to their careers? Is it still there? Are they taken back with open arms? What struggles do they face? Found Again: Real Stories of Women, Work & Flexibility by authors Deepa, Rashmi, and Shreya talk about the real-life experiences of twenty women who started their careers and while they were fast climbing the corporate ladder successfully, they had to put their careers on hold to take care of their families. And how did they manage to come back successfully?
The book talks about various issues women face when they want to join the workforce again after a break. For instance, while everyone talks about skill erosion during a career break, the authors relate in one of the stories that the biggest setback for women coming back after a break is the hit in their confidence. Self-doubt and companies doubting their competency assail women who want to come back. The commute is another one of the biggest hurdles that women face when they want to get back. How do women who have gone through postpartum depression or financial crisis find jobs after their break? Flexibility and balance are the keywords for those who come back to work after a sabbatical. How did these women find it? These are some of the questions (and there are more) to which we find answers through the experiences of the women featured in the book.
Each real-life story portrays the struggle, guts, persistence, and passion with which these women took the difficult decision to take a break from work and how with even greater difficulty they got back into work life.
These stories are full of positivity that encourages women to shirk their complacency and seek opportunities that are waiting for them. In the pre-COVID era, remote working was not a household term as it is today. So many women who took a break struggled to get back to work. But today the scenario is different. Working remotely, women are leading teams, and proving that the “knowledge economy does not have an address; it can be done from anywhere.” As Michael Jordan said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. And these women have made it happen.”
So read the book which will surely inspire you to get you back on your heels. If they can do it, you can too!
“From Albert Einstein to Alice in Wonderland, if there is one word that could define the human spirit, it would be curiosity.”
This sentence from ‘Found Again: Real Stories of Women, Work & Flexibility’ encapsulates the grit and determination of the women the book talks about. As a returning career woman, this book resonated deeply with me. I had also taken a break of nearly 15 years to take care of my growing family and have recently landed a remote job during the pandemic. The book charts the journey of women across geographies who have navigated their life paths back to careers that they loved before they had to take a break for family-related or other reasons.
The book is written in a very simple and lucid manner and details the struggles women across the world face when they try to reenter the workforce after a break. Though highly educated, their need for flexibility often becomes a sore point for employers. Co-authored by the three woman founders of Flexibees, this book gives brief glimpses into the life of 20 women who have been helped by their organization to come back to the workforce.
One of the key things that I liked about the book was the clear vision that these women had about their life journey and their burning desire to do more. In a society where women continue to be the primary caregivers, it was also heartening to see that each story spoke about women who received unstinting support from their families to return to their career of choice. What struck me in each case was the curiosity and the need to improve displayed by these women who kept themselves updated, learnt new things and adapted themselves to newer environments without giving up on their core need for flexibility. In a culture where women often have to ‘adjust’ themselves to the circumstances, these women were determined to return to the workforce on their terms. I was also amazed by the stellar groundwork done by Flexibees in matching these women with employers and taking care of the nitty-gritty of employment to leave the women free to do their work to the best of their ability. In fact, many women seem to have risen through the ranks to hold positions of importance. I was encouraged to know that there were employers who appreciated the work and not how it was done, a key trigger for this transformation.
I know of a lot of women who have gone ‘missing’ from the workforce due to family commitments or illnesses. This book offers hope that there are employers out there who are willing to give these women a chance. I was surprised to know that Flexibees had begun its work in this space in 2017! I plan to recommend this book to several of my friends who are at similar crossroads in their life.
Found Again The non-fictional, inspirational collection of 20 unique stories about talented young women working for Flexibees has captivated my mind. The reader-friendly tales, written in simple sentences will inspire everyone. Shreya Prakash, Deepa Narayanaswamy and Rashmi Rammohan have described flexible, remote working possibilities for 21st-century women in India. The workplace is not men-oriented anymore. These women’s endeavours encourage all women to step forward, think out of the box and experience the new, real, professional field of diversity, inclusion, validation (for work done by them) and autonomy for their mental peace, happiness and progress. “What people want is the freedom to design their days in a manner that integrates and harmonizes various aspects of their lives,” is a noteworthy sentence. One optimistic sentence states that: “the human potential stretches across multiple dimensions, of passions turned into skills, hobbies that nourish us, and life projects that run in parallel, all these threads criss-crossing into beautiful and complex tapestries.” Women, who give birth and nourish babies, are still expected to stay at home and take care of their families. They are regarded as selfish and guiltless if they compete with the real working men in any profession, despite being “reduced to their resumes that fit the mould of the traditional workplace (10—12 hours a day).” The authors have challenged this outdated perspective by highlighting issues faced by 20 accomplished and successful women in multiple, professional scenarios. Without their family members’ cooperation, women helplessly fail to strike a perfect balance between home and work. Each story offers proven solutions for almost every problem women face—as a daughter, wife, mother, daughter-in-law and employee. Women must shed any inhibition, and converse confidently while emphasizing their individual skills and work experience to build their “identities, self-esteem, self-confidence and financial independence.” The authors have rightly observed that “like a sponge, she (a woman) absorbs new skills and forever makes them her own; chameleon-like, she picks up any role that we have need for at any time.” I believe this is the key message of the book: “But at the end of the day, there is no difference between whether you’re a remote writer or a remote team lead, everyone makes the same contribution, that’s what I learned. Just because you’re working remotely, it doesn’t diminish your contribution in any way.”
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24
‘Found Again’ by Deepa, Rashmi, and Shreya, who incidentally founded FlexiBees, must be applauded. They have found a way to rejuvenate, instigate and furnish opportunities to skilled, talented and conscientious women who sacrificed their careers to become stay-home moms. I often wondered why the menfolk do not become stay-home dads! It is always the women who take that step without blinking an eyelid. But let’s not go there. Perhaps they do not have what it takes: Eternal Patience, Unconditional Love, and Overflowing Tolerance, to name a few qualities necessary to run a house and raise children. But women can take on any challenge, unexpected and unwarranted setbacks, without falling apart. And that brings me to this wonderful book, ‘Found Again’, and I’m reminded of this verse I read that resonates within the pages of this book. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 The stories of these women revolve around the theme: Lost and Found. These women studied, worked hard, reached the pinnacle of their careers, got married, bore children, took time (years) off, tried to make a comeback and faced a setback. Having been in those shoes, Deepa, Rashmi and Shreya, the co-authors of ‘Found Again’, who are highly qualified individuals, had to do something to make it possible to soar again. And that was how FlexiBees was founded. “They found a NEED and FILLED it.” I greatly respect Women Entrepreneurs who fly high despite the stormy weather. I enjoyed every story in this book because I identified with those women. As the wife of an expatriate, I had to leave my job too, travel and live in different countries. But I came out as a winner all the way ... FlexiBees is just what our country needs: Remote jobs for women offering Flexibility. There are enough and more opportunities for the Male Kingdom. And honestly, Women have greater endurance than men because, from birth to death, they are always taking care of someone – children, parents, siblings, partners, in-laws, grandparents, nephews, nieces, and even pets. I would give this book a 5/5 because I loved it! It was straightforward, from the heart, and brought happiness and hope to so many women who knocked on their doors. Three cheers for FlexiBees.
“The flexible working revolution has shrunk the world in many fascinating ways, not least of which is that a professional can be based anywhere and have the freedom to pursue important life choices.”
“Found Again: Real Stories of Women, Work & Flexibility” is a book that showcases the stories of Indian women who have overcome societal expectations and personal obstacles to build fulfilling careers on their own terms. Written by Rashmi Rammohan, Shreya Prakash, and Deepa Narayanaswamy, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and motivation to pursue their dreams.
The book features the real-life stories of twenty women from diverse backgrounds who have carved out their own paths in the professional world. These women have faced challenges such as societal norms, personal insecurities, and family responsibilities, but have overcome them through resilience and perseverance. Each story is unique and showcases the strength and determination of these women in the face of adversity.
“Found Again” is a poignant and inspiring read that highlights the challenges that women face in the workplace and how they can overcome them with perseverance and determination. The authors have done an excellent job of capturing the essence of each woman's journey and presenting it in a relatable and engaging way. The stories are diverse and showcase the struggles and triumphs of women from different backgrounds, making it an inclusive read for all.
What I particularly appreciate about this book is its focus on flexibility in the workplace. The authors highlight the importance of work-life balance and the need for flexibility to achieve it. This message is particularly relevant in today's world, where the pandemic has forced many of us to re-evaluate our priorities and work arrangements.
I would highly recommend “Found Again” to anyone seeking inspiration and motivation to pursue their dreams. The stories of these women are a testament to the fact that with perseverance, determination, and a little bit of flexibility, anyone can overcome the obstacles in their path and build a fulfilling career. This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of resilience and the importance of work-life balance.
Found Again (appropriately named) is a compilation of stories of twenty simple, everyday women—just like you and me—who lost and found themselves again in more than one way. Taking the idea of ‘Returnship’ and turning it into an achievable possibility is what Flexibees does best, showing women (and men) that there is no one way to live or work. Every story in this book is relatable; we have all been in those circumstances at some point or the other in our lives.
In a society where women are expected to put their careers on the back burner while embracing motherhood or for the sake of their families, these soul-stirring stories bring forth the grit and determination that makes women who they truly are. Every woman wants and deserves to have a career of her choice as well as the pleasure of raising her kids whilst taking care of her family. She needs to feel validated, to feel like she is a part of something bigger and more important. She needs to have an identity other than being a mom, wife, sister, or daughter. This book features women from different backgrounds who have broken traditions, faced rejection or lost their professional identity. However, despite all this, they have emerged stronger, leading satisfied and happier lives. Be it Neti’s frustration at longing for conversations other than those of her kids’ milestones, or Vidushi, who wanted to work on her own terms, without compromising on what’s most important. These exceptional women have taken every setback in their stride to become the best versions of themselves.
Found Again highlights the many obstacles women face—stereotypical family values, societal pressure to stay home when the baby comes, postpartum depression, the guilt of long hours away from her child, rejection when looking for work after a long gap, and more. In spite of all these hurdles, these gusty women have achieved it all—flexible working hours, work-life balance, and the freedom to make their own decisions. Flexibees offers the perfect platform for women who want to return to work without comprising on their aspirations or family time.
I highly recommend this book to all who need a bit of inspiration to go after their dreams. It’s never too late to have it all!
This book can change your life - as it did for thousands of women who gave up a career to trail their spouses to small towns or to care for their children. They resolved to return to the workforce in months. But the months turned into years, and then they found that they could not get past the “unforgiving career gaps” in their resumes. Plus, they still had to “walk the tightrope between dream and duty.”
Found Again takes us through crisply-narrated, real-life experiences of twenty such women and how they found flexible workplace solutions that fit with their skill sets. And in the process ‘found’ their mojo again.
What I like most is that this is not a self-help book offering advice and checklists. This is a book that introduces you to a platform that can make it happen. That platform is Flexibees.
So, for a working woman dreaming of a flexi-solution or someone who is wistfully thinking of her career days, this book is not just a piece of good writing, it’s a game changer.
Found Again! is a collection of 20 real-life inspiring stories about how some women changed the trajectory of their lives after a break.
At first, I thought all the stories would follow a set pattern of education—do exceedingly well at work—get married—have children—start looking for work after the break—and their struggle thereafter. But that is not so, and that can't be because every person is different, as are their journeys. All the stories are very heartwarming, and one can see themselves or someone they know in these journeys as these protagonists strive to strike a work-life balance.
All the stories begin with a thought-provoking quote and end with some beautiful pictures of the achiever. I would have certainly preferred a better way of integrating pictures within each story.
After reading these stories, I must add that Flexibees has been doing a commendable job of providing flexible job opportunities to many women who are looking for flexible work options so that they can do justice to every role they play.
Restarting one's career after a break is difficult as it is, and when women want it to be flexible so they can be there for their families as well, it becomes an insurmountable ask. FlexiBees is a platform that has played a crucial role in several women's lives and helped them find jobs to their liking - remote and flexible. This is a collection of inspiring stories of 20 women finding their footing, professionally after a career break! Interspersed with statistics, these pieces are quite interesting and bring to us the struggles a woman faces while trying to make a comeback in her field. These stories are sure to connect with thousands of women who are in a similar position.
A lot of women who rejoin work after a career gap believe they need to justify it; without considering that whether paid or not, they are always working. This eye-opening collection of anecdotes doesn’t exalt unachievable perfection of the top 50 women billionaires in the world; but is an epiphany of the most talented, qualified, and skilled women, who covertly fight inner battles for having become unused talents with untapped potential and undeveloped skills; owing to their gendered priorities.
One would be oblivious to their predicament unless they’d tell you, and this book does that—it hits like a lightning bolt but also fires up its readers.