For years, Maili Wong was reluctant to contemplate starting a family. Instead, her mind was set on being successful in business upon graduating from the University of British Columbia in 2001.
When she was in her early 20s, the investment adviser pounced at the opportunity to leave Vancouver for Manhattan and hone her craft in the world's financial hub.
"When I was working in New York, I had no plans to have children. It is a struggle for women because just at the point you're ready to be promoted … that's your childbearing years."
But a major turning point in her life came on 9-11, when she and her co-workers escaped from a building adjacent to the World Trade Center after the second plane hit the Twin Towers.
Wong said the event reshaped the way she thought about her relationships and emphasized the importance of resiliency. After Wong returned to Vancouver in 2006 and married her university sweetheart the next year, the couple welcomed the first of two children in 2010.
"I really struggled with finding balance as I went back to work within three months of having each child," said Wong, who is now a vice-president and portfolio manager with CIBC Wood Gundy.
She was used to working as late as she wanted to, going for late-night dinners with her husband and hitting the gym whenever she could find an extra minute in the day.
Children ushered in a period of big adjustments.
"One day, after noticing I was burning the candle at both ends, my husband helped me put things in perspective. I learned to release myself from the guilt and instead become very structured and purposeful with my time and to accept the support of my family to help with many of the responsibilities I initially took on myself at home."
