Why L'Oréal CHRO struggled to return to the office as a parent

Woman wearing red clothing, sitting in a chair and smiling (Credit: Courtesy of Penguin Random House)

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Tesla's chair moves toward A.I., MacKenzie Scott sets off a grant application frenzy, and we share an excerpt from L'Oréal USA CHRO Stephanie Kramer's new book, Carry Strong. Enjoy your Thursday!

- Working out loud. It has been 10 years since I was first pregnant, then not pregnant, then pregnant again at work. Since then, I have often shared my own stories for support—nearly always behind closed doors. In 2020, inspired by both the dire circumstances of the pandemic’s effect on women in the workforce and the profound strength I saw because of it, I decided to do more. For the next three years, I wrote my new book, Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach to Navigating Pregnancy and Work, to create conversations to empower women to defy expectations without creating new ones—including for themselves. The edited excerpt that follows is from the book’s conclusion, which showcases a recent moment of “balance,” the second of five principles I outline in the book.