What Do Women Who Leave Their Careers Actually Want?

What do women who choose to leave their careers actually want? 

It's really much simpler than we sometimes make it, they want real genuine support in their decision...

Lately, my feed has been overflowing with doom and gloom about my generation of women. Marriage? A trap. The workplace? A rigged game. Raising kids? Something we can hire others to do. Think tanks and panels are scrambling to "solve" why women are leaving their careers, churning out endless articles on how to help us "stay in the game."

Here's the thing - I get it. I'm a 28-year-old woman who's spent her entire career in male-dominated industries. I'm the primary breadwinner while my husband finishes school. I'm battling morning sickness, chasing around an 18 month old, and doing my best to keep the house from descending into total chaos. Trust me, I understand the struggle.

But there's something crucial missing from all these conversations: not every woman who leaves the workforce is being pushed out. Some are simply choosing to walk away. They’re not looking for more flexible schedules, mentorship programs, or culture initiatives. They’re looking for something simpler and far more meaningful.

Many women want the freedom to prioritize family and home life. They want their husband's wages to stretch far enough that a one-income household actually works again. They want the world to celebrate their contributions as homemakers and mothers (because heaven knows we're not getting any praise from our toddlers). They want their choices - whether to build a career, nurture a family, or somehow do both - to be respected and celebrated through every messy, beautiful phase of life.

Growing up, I bought into today's narrow version of feminism - the one that measures success solely by professional achievement and quietly pities women who are "just stay-at-home moms." I once asked my mom how it felt knowing she'd never be successful or have a big career. (I still cringe remembering it.)

Her answer stopped me cold: "I think you define success differently than I do. I am successful. I am a Domestic Innovator."

She wasn't kidding. My mom was the CEO of our home - leading our family with vision, purpose, and creativity. She was a student of parenting, building a secure home with strong culture, intentional values, and a spirit of service. Her leadership taught my five siblings and me accountability, productive habits, kindness, and entrepreneurship. With her guidance and time, each of us had started at least one business by age 15 - something a demanding corporate job would never have allowed her the bandwidth to do.

Now that I'm a wife and mother, with a professional career, my perspective has completely transformed. It's time for a new wave of feminism - one that actually puts women at the center. One that celebrates what's truly exhilarating about being a woman: the endless opportunities we have to reinvent ourselves throughout our lives. One that doesn't box us into a single definition of success, but celebrates the many shapes our lives can take - whether we're leading boardrooms or bedtime routines.

This belief inspired me to start polygon - a brand built to celebrate the many sides, shapes, and seasons of women. Just like a polygon, we aren't defined by a single facet. We're beautifully complex, made up of many sides - and every single one of them matters.