By Kshalini Nonis

Returning to work after a career break is challenging for most mothers. Besides the emotional guilt, there are various obstacles, such as the expectations of society and career-related obstacles. We had a chat with Gayani Punchihew,  Founder of FireCircle by G and Hello Amma, about a programme she has commenced to help mums returning to work.   

Can you tell us about Hello Amma and the reasons for starting this programme?

There are women who once thrived in their careers but pressed pause to raise families. When they are ready to return, many find that the world has quietly moved on.

That’s where Hello Amma comes in. It’s a return-to-work and confidence-building initiative designed for mothers who have taken career breaks, not just maternity leave. We help them rebuild their professional identity through workshops, mentoring, and career readiness training, but just as importantly, we connect them with employer partners who are genuinely open to hiring returnees.

· What are the challenges faced by mums who return to work after taking maternity leave due to societal expectations?

For most mothers, the biggest challenge is the emotional weight of returning. “Mom guilt” is real. Many women constantly question themselves: Am I being selfish for wanting a career? Will my children suffer if I’m not around all the time?

At the same time, society still holds on to outdated expectations that a “good mother” stays home, while an ambitious one is somehow less nurturing.

The truth is, Hello Amma isn’t for women coming straight off maternity leave. It’s for those who have taken an extended career break, a few years or even longer, often stepping away completely to raise children, manage households, or care for family. When they are ready to return, they face not only skill gaps but also self-doubt and bias from employers who view a career gap as a weakness. Hello Amma helps bridge that gap.

· What are the career-related obstacles?

Once mothers overcome the emotional hurdle of deciding to return, they often face a new set of practical challenges: the career barriers.

The first is the confidence gap. After years away, even the most capable women can struggle to find their footing again in professional settings.

Then comes the skills gap; industries evolve fast, technology changes overnight, and what once felt second nature can suddenly feel out of reach.

Finally, there’s the bias gap, where employers, often unconsciously, see a career break as a loss of ambition instead of a choice made out of love and responsibility.

Hello Amma helps mothers rebuild that professional confidence.
 
· How does Hello Amma help to deal with the challenges faced by mums who return to work?

Hello Amma is designed as both a support system and a springboard, helping mothers rebuild confidence, regain visibility, and reconnect with employers who value their potential.

We start with the Hello Amma WhatsApp Channel, a vibrant online community that has quickly become the heart of the programme. It is where mothers find guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging long before they walk into a session. Through the channel, we share skill-building resources, motivational and support circle tips, CV and LinkedIn guidance. It keeps mothers connected, learning, and inspired throughout their re-entry journey.

From there, they move into our in-person workshops and online sessions, which focus on confidence building, interview readiness, and digital skills, helping women rediscover their professional identity and prepare for modern workplaces.

Once they begin their return-to-work journey, we continue to stay by their side. Each participant receives six months of post-placement support through monthly online check-ins to help them navigate real-life challenges,  from adapting to new work cultures to balancing home and professional demands.

At the same time, we work hand-in-hand with employer partners to foster flexible, inclusive hiring practices.

· Are such mums discriminated and if so how?

Yes, but often not in ways that are openly visible. Many mothers who return after a career break face what we call “quiet discrimination.” It rarely comes as harsh words; it appears in assumptions and missed opportunities.

A résumé gap can make a recruiter hesitate, or a returning mother may be asked if she can “handle” full-time work, travel, or responsibility, questions that are almost never asked of fathers.

Even after rejoining, many mothers face discrimination in terms of growth opportunities, being passed over for projects, leadership roles, or promotions simply because they are seen as less available.

Much of this bias stems from unawareness rather than intent.  Many organisations have never had structured returnship models.’That is why Hello Amma works on both fronts, by preparing mothers to be job-ready and by sensitising employers to see beyond the gap.

· Can you mention the companies that have come on board and the role they play in the programme?

Global Bookkeeping Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Kapruka Holdings PLC, CXO Sweden, Wakkumbura Industrial Technologies Company (WiTCO), and Hemas Consumer Brands have come on board as employer partners. They have committed to offering opportunities for Hello Amma mothers based on their skills, talent, and role fit, while consciously removing the career gap barrier that often stands in the way.

In addition, our recently concluded workshop was supported by Norfolk Foods, Elephant House Beverages, and Janet Sri Lanka, not as sponsors alone, but as enablers and true partners in building this movement.

 · Tell us about your recent workshop.

Our first Hello Amma workshop was held at WSpace, Colombo 04, with a small but powerful group of 15 mothers.

It was a day filled with learning, reflection, and genuine emotion. We focused on rebuilding confidence, writing AI-friendly CVs, preparing for interviews, and overcoming invisible barriers such as self-doubt and fear of rejection. I led the sessions alongside our guest speakers, conducting a dedicated segment on Personal Branding to help mothers rediscover their professional identity.

 The sessions featured an inspiring line-up: Dhanishka Dharmaratne, HR Professional, Psychologist and Counsellor; Himali Dassanayake, Chief Operating Officer of CIPM Sri Lanka; Oshadie Korale, Co-founder and COO of XpressJobs; and Dulith Herath, Founder and Chairman of Kapruka Holdings PLC. 

A special highlight was the photo coverage by Prishan Pandithage Photography, who captured the day’s most heartfelt moments and extended discount vouchers for professional headshots to all participating mothers.

The workshop was supported by Norfolk Foods, Elephant House Beverages, and Janet Sri Lanka, who stood beside us not merely as sponsors but as enablers of change.

· Are there similar programmes overseas?

Yes, the idea of helping mothers re-enter the workforce is part of a growing global movement. In the United States, initiatives like The Mom Project connect mothers with companies that value flexibility and inclusion, particularly in sectors like technology and innovation. Across Europe, programmes such as MothersCan and Women ReBoot focus on professional reintegration, upskilling, and awareness to bring mothers back into meaningful work.

In addition, many international companies have developed their own returnship programmes, structured pathways for former employees to return after a break. 

What makes Hello Amma different is its community-first, ecosystem-based model. We start by building a sense of belonging through the Hello Amma WhatsApp Channel, which
connects mothers across Sri Lanka into a shared support circle. 

From there, we offer upskilling initiatives, in-person and online workshops, and personal branding sessions to rebuild confidence and professional readiness.

Beyond training, we are also working to normalise conversations around career breaks to shift how society and employers view motherhood in the context of ambition. 

Our partnerships with employers span diverse industries, ensuring that opportunities are matched to individual talent, not just convenience.

So while global programmes have shown the way, Hello Amma is Sri Lanka’s first homegrown movement, created for our realities, our workforce, and our women.

· How successful has the programme been so far and how do you hope to carry it forward?

The Hello Amma programme has been steadily gaining momentum. What began as an idea in late August came to life as an in-person workshop by the 30th of September. Since then, we have built a growing database of over 200 mothers, and the number continues to rise every week
.
The support we have received from women professionals, institutions, companies, and even male allies has been truly inspiring. The response from participating mothers has also been incredibly positive.

We have already started sharing CVs with our employer partners, and I am confident that very soon, we will begin to see mothers being placed in meaningful roles.

Our next step is to host an online Personal Branding Session at the end of October, where mothers will learn how to shape their comeback stories with confidence, craft strong elevator
pitches, and refresh their LinkedIn profiles to attract the right opportunities.