In the fall of 2017 I returned to work after my first parental leave. Because I had truly unplugged and focused on my son for three months, I was returning to work with a fresh perspective: big ideas, more ambition, and a desire to dive right back into the fast-paced chaotic world of a VC-backed startup. 

But my excitement quickly disintegrated as I realized exactly how my parental leave had negatively impacted the business, my team - and in turn, my career. 

I returned to a team...