Why I Quit Microsoft to Be a Present Mother

In October 2024, Kruthika Jayatheertha welcomed her first child into the world. Following her six-month maternity leave from a senior user experience researcher role at Microsoft, she made a life-altering decision: she resigned to take an extended career break. This was not a sudden impulse but a choice she had contemplated long before becoming a mother.

Her decision was heavily influenced by her academic background. Holding a Ph.D. in psychology, she believes the first three years of a child's life are crucial for development. For Jayatheertha, the opportunity to provide a strong, present emotional connection during this window was worth stepping away from her corporate career.

Stepping back from a high-profile career is rarely a simple choice, and Jayatheertha acknowledges the privilege involved in her decision. The financial feasibility was the cornerstone of her ability to pause her professional trajectory. The family's comfort stems from a combination of prior savings and her husband's continued income from his consulting job.

While they remain financially secure, the couple has made conscious adjustments to accommodate the loss of one salary. They have chosen to scale back on travel, opting for domestic trips over international ones to manage costs effectively. Their support system is robust, featuring a full-time nanny and frequent visits from Jayatheertha's parents to assist with childcare.

• Reliance on accumulated savings
• Continued income from a spouse's consulting role
• Employment of a full-time nanny
• Active support from extended family

The reward for this career break, according to Jayatheertha, is the ability to be present for her daughter's developmental milestones without the filter of a secondary caregiver. She describes the joy of witnessing her child's first attempts at crawling, standing, and taking wobbly walks firsthand, rather than hearing about them secondhand. This uninterrupted time has transformed the rhythm of daily life.

She cherishes the unhurried routines of feeding, bathtime, and bedtime. These moments, which might otherwise have been squeezed in between meetings, now form the core of her days. Her plan is to take an 18-month break in total, returning to work when her daughter is one and a half years old in April.

Being around my daughter full-time has allowed me to witness many of her 'firsts' without hearing about them secondhand.

Despite the focus on motherhood, Jayatheertha is not worried about finding a new job. She possesses a specific, calculated plan for her reentry into the workforce. Her strategy is built on the belief that skill diversification is the new form of job security. Her resume spans diverse roles, including assistant professor, consultant at a Big Four firm, and her tenure at Microsoft.

She intends to target roles similar to her previous position as a user experience researcher, with a strong preference for part-time or freelance opportunities that offer flexibility. Returning to Microsoft is on the table if a suitable part-time role exists. Her job search tactics are precise:

• Apply within the first 50 applicants for targeted roles
• Set notifications for new job postings
• Utilize AI tools to assist in the application process

She maintains that her network is a vital asset, adhering to the wisdom that "If you are not networking, you are not working."

Beyond the logistics of career gaps and job searches, Jayatheertha advocates for a broader societal shift. She argues that policymakers globally should make it easier for at least one parent to step away from work during a child's critical early years. While she recognizes that a career break is not the right choice for everyone, she emphasizes that happy, present mothers are essential for healthy child development.

Ultimately, she challenges the notion that a legacy is defined solely by professional accomplishments. For Jayatheertha, contributing to the next generation of emotionally resilient and mentally healthy children is a priority that supersedes a resume. As she prepares to reenter the corporate world in April, she does so with the confidence that everything is "figureoutable."

My legacy shouldn't be defined solely by my career or professional accomplishments — it's also about contributing to the next generation.

Kruthika Jayatheertha's story highlights the intersection of psychological research, financial planning, and modern parenting. Her 18-month break from Microsoft was a calculated decision to prioritize her daughter's formative years, supported by a dual-income household that adjusted its lifestyle to make it work. She approaches her return to the workforce not with anxiety, but with a structured plan and a diverse skill set.

Her experience underscores the importance of flexibility and the value of a professional network, even during a hiatus. As she looks toward April, her journey serves as a case study for professionals considering a pause to prioritize family, proving that a strategic break can coexist with long-term career ambitions.