Motherland in Adland: Georgina Leigh-Pemberton
Motherhood in advertising has long been an unspoken challenge – a career-defining crossroads where ambition is too often questioned, and support systems fall short. And while the industry has made progress in acknowledging the realities of working parents, tangible change is still slow, leaving many mothers to navigate the journey alone.
In this installment of Motherland in Adland, the series started by NERD’s founder Milana Karaica in celebration of women’s month, we hear from Georgina Leigh-Pemberton, managing director of Turner Duckworth London.
From her own experience, Georgina tells an all-too-well story of broken promises and settling for a lower-than-deserved role due to her pregnancy. Overworking herself due to the invisible pressure of the industry, and riddled with parental guilt, Georgina inevitably had to address the burnout and left her workplace with nowhere else to go to.
She calls it a "painful but valuable lesson" -- one she believes no mothers in the industry should have to learn due to the downfalls of their employers. Read on to find out more about Georgina's story.
---
My first personal experience of this came when a previous employer took me out to dinner after strongly implying that I was in line for a senior role — until, after declining a martini and, when pressed, confiding in the CFO that I was pregnant, the opportunity quietly disappeared.
When I returned to work in a different role after my first child was six months old, I was determined to prove that being a great MD and a wonderful mother was possible. I put myself under immense pressure to succeed — and in doing so, I set myself up for failure.
Every day, I left home before my daughter woke up and returned just in time to put her to bed. My company never explicitly pressured me to stay late, but I was acutely aware of the unspoken expectations. Exhausted, overwhelmed, and guilty, I left after six months, without another job to go to. It was a painful but valuable lesson, one I carry with me to this day: no one should choose between being present for their family and excelling in their career.
I’m incredibly fortunate to now work for a company that fosters a culture of genuine support for working parents. It’s not just about returning to work — it’s about ensuring ongoing flexibility and understanding throughout our careers.
No one should have to miss a sports day or a school play because of a presentation — these moments matter.
I know many in this industry are not as lucky. Parenthood is too often viewed as an inconvenient disruption rather than a natural part of life. This mindset has to change. Flexible working is part of the solution, but we need to go further and offer more adaptable hours, greater autonomy over office days, and a culture that values productivity over presenteeism.
While I’m encouraged to see attitudes shifting away from the expectation that working late into the night is just ‘part of the job,’ the change isn’t happening fast enough. And it’s not just parents who deserve better balance — no one’s time should be treated as less valuable simply because they don’t have children.
Everyone has responsibilities, relationships, and lives outside of work that deserve respect. Until we address the culture of systemic overwork across the board, creating a genuinely supportive environment for working parents will always be an uphill battle.
