A woman’s journey through motherhood and career setbacks has become an inspiration for many on Instagram. Priya Porwal, who describes herself as a PhD holder, has opened up about the obstacles she has faced over the years despite her academic achievements.
Porwal, 39, said she was 35 when she gave birth to her first child – a moment that brought immense joy to her life but also put her professional journey on hold. “And just like that, a 12-year career came to a halt,” she said.
Porwal worked as an assistant professor at an engineering school – a role she achieved after years of hard work. However, her life was rocked when she was dismissed after five years of service. “It took months to recover – it was like the ground had shifted,” she said.
Determined to give back, she explored opportunities as a visiting faculty member at several colleges and later secured another academic position. But things did not improve as expected. “The work culture didn’t align. Another door closed,” she said.
Although she had several degrees, including an M.Tech, an MBA and a PhD, Porwal admitted that restarting her career was far from easy. The challenges have been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and the responsibilities of motherhood. “Covid and motherhood changed everything,” she noted.
“I decided to reboot. On my own terms’
At 37, with a two-year-old child and after two layoffs, she decided to take control of her career. “I decided to reboot. On my own terms… Because my financial freedom was stuck and I refused to let it stay that way,” she wrote.
Porwal also spoke about overcoming personal fears as she entered a new phase. “I was scared. I wasn’t allowed to take pictures. I blocked friends and family before going online,” she admitted, adding that she was simply hoping for a return on her investment. “Not just for the money. For me.”
“I’ve become my own boss. I’m working and still being there for my son – every day. Last year I made 5 figures (USD) from my digital business. And I’m so glad I made that decision,” she said.
Her story earned praise and empathy from social media users. Here’s how social media users reacted:
One user commented: “This is so inspiring.” Another wrote: “Very inspiring and powerful message. Nothing can be stopped once there is strong will and focus.”
Others related to the emotional aspect of her journey. “The message you shared is something all of us as moms needed to hear,” one user shared, while another highlighted a deeper struggle: “This is powerful… But the hardest part isn’t restarting your career — it’s rebuilding your identity after everything has made you doubt it.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. LiveMint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)
