Laid Off at 8 Months Pregnant: Postpartum Depression, Career Loss, and Starting Over

Content Warning: This episode discusses Postpartum Depression. We cover topics including mental health struggles and parental burnout. Please listen with care.Building a career while navigating new motherhood can feel like an impossible balancing act.  But for Courtney Nugent, an unexpected layoff at eight months pregnant became the catalyst for something transformative. After years of thriving in leadership roles at top tech companies, Courtney found herself at a crossroads, one that would reshape how she thought about work, family, and what success really means.Courtney shares her journey of navigating career transitions during pregnancy and postpartum, and how she turned uncertainty into opportunity by building a more flexible, intentional work-life structure. She walks us through the emotional and mental weight of adjusting to motherhood, while staying professionally ambitious. She also opens up about the role self-care played in keeping her grounded and how she ultimately found peace in the unpredictability of it all.This conversation allowed Courtney to open up about the mentors who shaped her path, the moment she chose to redefine success on her own terms, and why speaking honestly about the real challenges of modern motherhood isn't just personal. It's a call to action for workplaces everywhere.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Courtney Nugent(01:17) Courtney’s remote work setup explained(04:42) On deciding when to have kids(08:01) The challenges of pregnancy commutes(12:13) Laid off at eight months pregnant(17:16) Opening up about postpartum depression(20:24) Planning a career return after birth(23:59) The reality of prenatal depression(26:07) Gaps in postpartum care system(28:31) Challenges of job searching as a new parent(33:22) Parenting roles shared out loud(35:37) Navigating digital work boundaries(38:22) Save of the week segmentConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Courtney Nugent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-steinkrauss/Check out Blue Onion: https://www.blueonion.ai/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com