Interview with Natasha Kitson, the Maternity Mentor
Find out why Natasha Kitson launched Maternity Mentor, a platform to help working parents return to their careers after having children.
What is your career background?
I qualified as a Chartered Surveyor at 23 years old and after spending the first 5 years of my career managing institutional landlord’s property portfolios, I moved across to the corporate real estate world. I’ve spent the last five years focusing on the office market, both in the UK and across the globe.
Along the way, I’ve been able to refine my skills in asset management, financial analysis and leadership. My career has allowed me to work with a diverse range of clients and properties, always striving for efficiency and sustainable outcomes. This experience laid the foundation for my entrepreneurial side project, Maternity Mentor, which I launched to help working parents return to their careers after having children.
How did your career change after having children?
Having my daughter brought about a significant shift in my career and personal priorities. Motherhood gave me an incredible sense of perspective, along with all the other skills we develop whilst on maternity leave, that I felt empowered by my return back to work (I’m an advocate for recognising these mat. Leave skills!).
The return to work is undoubtedly challenging – managing sleep deprivation, in my case continued breastfeeding, relentless illness etc but I felt supported to be my authentic self, do my best and my career actually expanded quite significantly within my first 12 months.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
If I told you I don’t remember the moment I had the idea, would you believe me? All I remember during the maternity leave haze was that I couldn’t understand the concept of Shared Parental Leave and how to apply. It was frustrating to me why it was so complicated. The more people I asked about it, the more I realised that most people were confused!
I then set about writing down simplified versions of the process which then expanded in to me creating the guidebook, “From Bump to Boardroom”. Things have naturally grown from there. Maternity Mentor offers tools & guides to support parents and employers alike in facilitating smoother transitions throughout the parental leave journey.
What’s your USP?
In short, my USP is that I am living the experience in real time. I’m having the same conversations & challenges that a lot of my community are and I’m really able to understand those that need support, as well as the managers & leaders that want to support working parents. With my background in corporate real estate and experience as a working mother, I bring a unique perspective to the table.
There is more support out there for working parents than ever before, which is fantastic to see, but we are quite unique in that we specialise in simplifying the logistics of it all. Perhaps more notably I’m also quite adamant about the fact that any information/guides/resources I provide to working parents will always be FREE of charge.
Who’s your target audience?
There’s two elements to this. The first element to expand our reach is primarily working parents who are preparing to return to their careers after maternity or paternity leave. The second is companies looking to better support their employees through these transitions. We work with HR departments and managers, providing them with the resources and knowledge they need to create more supportive work environments for returning parents.
How do you spread the word about what you do?
We use a multi-channel approach to spread the word about Maternity Mentor. Social media plays a key role, particularly Instagram, where we share valuable content, tips and community stories to engage with our audience. We also utilise our website and email newsletters to keep our subscribers updated on the latest resources and developments. As we grow, we’ve recently started to work with a PR firm (Ambition PR) to amplify our message and help us connect with employers.
What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle I’ve faced has been managing the balancing act between growing Maternity Mentor and continuing my career in corporate real estate, all while being a mother. Time has always been a challenge, and finding the right balance between work, family, and building a business was difficult in the early stages. Another obstacle has been navigating the business side of Maternity Mentor—scaling it, monetising content and learning how to promote it effectively to companies.
And your proudest moment so far?
My proudest moment has been receiving recognition for the work I do with Maternity Mentor. Being shortlisted for the ‘Returner of the Year’ award for Inspiring Women in Property was a real highlight. It felt like a validation of the hard work I’ve put in to create meaningful change for working parents.
On a more personal level, hearing from parents who have used Maternity Mentor’s resources to confidently return to their careers has been incredibly rewarding and is my motivation to keep going. Knowing that I’ve helped make a difference in someone’s life and career is what makes all the effort worth it.
Why is work so important to you?
Work is important to me because it gives me a sense of purpose and allows me to contribute meaningfully both to the real estate industry and to the community of working parents. My career has always been a key part of my identity, and now, through Maternity Mentor, I can blend my professional experience with my passion for helping others.
I’ve also always believed in the power of work to create change, and that’s what motivates me to keep pushing forward with both my corporate and entrepreneurial roles. Work is how I challenge myself, grow and make a difference.
Who inspires you?
I’m inspired by so many people, but most notably by working parents who are carving out new paths in their careers while balancing the demands of family life. Their resilience and determination inspire me daily.
Professionally, I’m also inspired by female leaders who are breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries like real estate. Women who have redefined what leadership looks like and aren’t afraid to be themselves, have had a significant impact on my thinking. I follow various female entrepreneurs on Instagram such as Emma Grede and The Mortgage Mum and think they’re amazing.
What are your three top pieces of advice for someone wanting to do something similar?
1) Start small, but start now
You don’t need everything worked out from day one. If you have a passion or an idea, begin with what you can, and allow it to evolve.
2) Build a strong network
Surround yourself with people who understand your mission and can offer support and advice. Networking is crucial for both personal growth and business development. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people on social media etc – that helped me a lot!
3) Be patient, but stay persistent
Success won’t come overnight. There will be setbacks, but staying focused on your long-term vision and continually pushing forward will pay off. Some weeks I could only give 10 minutes and I was okay with that.
Find out more about Maternity Mentor.
