By HTE founder Erin Hughes and LinkedIn’s Director of Marketing, Dani Zikman
At Here, There, Everywhere. I spend a lot of time asking: how can we make the juggle of work and motherhood a little lighter? One of the biggest transitions is parental leave, so I turned to someone who’s been there: Dani Zikman, Director of Marketing at LinkedIn and a seasoned working parent.
We talked honestly about what helps, what doesn’t, and how to navigate this chapter — from signing off with confidence to finding your rhythm again when it’s time to return.
To keep things fun (and honest), we played a round of Red Flag or Green Flag: the parental leave edition. Here’s what Dani had to say.
Erin: Wanting so much to “leave well” that you take on “just one more project” before logging off?
Dani: 🚩 Red flag. Leaving well doesn’t mean burning yourself out in a final sprint. It’s about handing over clearly, tying up loose ends and giving yourself the headspace to fully step into your next chapter.
Erin: Switching off your emails and Teams while on parental leave?
Dani: ✅ Green flag. Switch off as much as you can. This time is for you and your new family. Work will still be there when you’re ready to return.
Erin: Staying in touch with work while on leave?
Dani: ✅ 🚩 Bit of both. Everyone’s different. As you get closer to returning, a quick message to your manager or a colleague can help ease back in. And don’t underestimate the power of community. Following people, publications and topics on LinkedIn is a great way to re-engage with your industry without diving straight into your inbox.
Erin: Posting on LinkedIn while on mat leave?
Dani: ✅ Green flag. If it feels right, go for it. Share your journey, insights or even just a great article. But don’t post out of fear of being forgotten — your value doesn’t disappear just because you’re on leave.
Erin: Not taking the full amount of parental leave available?
Dani: 🚩 Red flag. But it’s personal. My advice? Plan to take as much time as you’re able to. If you feel ready to return earlier, that’s your call. It’s much harder to extend leave once you’re back — so give yourself the space upfront.
Erin: Returning to work full-time straight away?
Dani: 🚩 Red flag. That’s a tough adjustment. Chat with your employer about a phased return — maybe start with three days a week or shorter hours. It’ll help you and your little one settle into the new routine.
Erin: This is all brilliant, thank you! Any last advice?
Dani: Be kind to yourself.
Being a working parent is a juggle, and no one gets the balance perfect all the time. Give yourself time to adjust and celebrate the small wins.
