At SentinelOne, we recognize that motherhood brings a wealth of skills that are invaluable in the workplace. From unparalleled multitasking abilities to innovative problem-solving and empathetic leadership, mothers contribute significantly to our company’s success.
However, studies from around the world reveal that mothers often shoulder a disproportionate share of the household’s mental load, managing tasks like scheduling, planning, and organizing family life. This invisible labor can impact their careers, with many mothers considering reducing their work hours or declining promotions due to parenting responsibilities.
Despite these challenges, mothers at SentinelOne continue to excel professionally, bringing heightened motivation and efficiency to their roles. Their experiences in balancing family and work life have honed skills that are invaluable in the fast-paced tech industry.
To support all of our Sentinel parents, we offer a comprehensive, gender-neutral parental leave policy: 16 weeks of fully paid leave for any new parent, regardless of gender or birthing status, plus two additional weeks of part-time pay to ease the transition back to work. Additionally, our flexible work arrangements empower parents with children of all ages to balance the demands of working and raising families, allowing them to thrive both personally and professionally.
This Mother’s Day, we’re taking a closer look at the real challenges—and real triumphs—of mothers navigating the complex worlds of work and family, as three incredible SentinelOne moms share their journeys, the obstacles they’ve faced, and the support that’s made all the difference.
Shani Hayun, Senior Manager, Technical Support, Tel Aviv, Israel
Shani never imagined she would build a career in technology. But, nearly a decade later, cybersecurity has become her home. She joined SentinelOne six years ago as a technical support engineer and, over time, grew into new roles that challenged and inspired her. Last month, after a yearlong maternity leave, Shani returned to work, this time with a new title she’s especially proud of: mom to her son, Ethan.
“I’m still figuring it out,” Shani says of balancing a one-year-old and a full-time career. “Unfortunately, my baby has this habit of not sleeping at night, so that’s definitely challenging to combine with work. But, we’re getting there.”
Originally, Shani planned to take just six months away from work. Extending her leave wasn’t an easy decision, especially in Israel, where longer maternity breaks are uncommon.
“There were many voices around me telling me not to do it, that it would hurt my career, that I was risking my job,” Shani recalls. “But, at work, it was the opposite. Everyone was understanding and supportive. When I came back, I received a very warm welcome, and the support didn’t end there. Due to the hybrid work model, I can work from home. If I need to leave early, adjust my hours, or handle something unexpected, the answer is always, ‘Of course.’ That’s definitely not a standard response from an employer.”
The support SentinelOne offers around parental leave isn’t standard either. The policy is gender-neutral, giving both mothers and fathers the option to take fully paid leave for up to 16 weeks.
“This gives you more time to spend with your child without worrying about income, which is definitely not common in Israel,” Shani said. “And, it applies to fathers as well, so it creates a healthier balance between parents, which I think is really important.”
Culturally, she adds, it’s often women who carry the weight of planning around family and career.
“It starts even before you’re actually a mom. We always think: what if I want to start a family, should I apply for this job? It’s always on our minds. And, I think it should be on men’s minds too.”
Today, Shani sees that shift happening at home as well.
“My husband does this now with me. He considers whether to take a new role depending on how involved he wants to be, both at work and at home. And I think that’s a good change. Yes, there will be roles that might not fit once you have a child. But, that shouldn’t mean you have to choose between having a career and having a family.”
Mona Mehta, Global Head of Employment Law, New York, United States
Mona, a practicing lawyer, began her career at law firms but found herself drawn to in-house roles where she could be part of a company’s story rather than advising from the sidelines. Cybersecurity, fast-paced and full of passionate people, became her field of choice. Just as she received an unexpected offer from SentinelOne, Mona discovered she was expecting herself.
“I had just gotten this amazing job offer. I was starting in a completely new environment with people I didn’t know yet, and then I found out I was pregnant,” Mona recalls. “I remember being really scared to tell them. I kept thinking: what would they think? How would it look, leaving for maternity leave before even finishing my first year? There was a lot of fear.”
Those fears, it turned out, never came to pass.
“I’m very lucky to have the most understanding manager, who is an extremely empathetic leader, but even more importantly, there are policies in place for situations like this,” Mona said. “As someone who works in employment law, I can tell you, SentinelOne is very thoughtful about giving parents enough space to focus on their children. I ended up taking almost as much leave as I had time at the company, and nobody even batted an eye. That’s just what you’re entitled to here. No questions asked. That made all the difference to me mentally, to be able to come back and work for a company like that.”
Now a working mom of two — her daughter, Devika, is five, and her son, Surya, is three — Mona says the toughest part is feeling like she’s always splitting herself between two worlds. “I can never feel like I’m giving either side my full time and ability,” she explains. “To optimize both at the same time is very challenging, but at the same time, it’s also what’s the most fun. I go from managing data breaches to diaper blowouts all within the same hour. And, sometimes I have to sign off from a work call for bedtime and chaos. That’s life, and my colleagues understand, because many of them have families, too. It’s very human, and it actually brings us closer.”
Motherhood, she adds, hasn’t just improved her time management; it’s deepened her commitment to her career. “I feel like my career is something I need for myself. As much as I love my children, I need an independent identity, too, and that makes me proud,” Mona says. “I enjoy being an example to them, telling them what I do and why I love it. Is it easy to juggle both? No. Does it always work perfectly? Absolutely not. But, it’s definitely worth it.”
Li Peng Pok, Principal Recruiter, Talent Acquisition, Singapore
Li Peng, known as LP, began her career in accounting. However, instead of looking back at history, as auditing often demands, she decided to look ahead, helping to hire the next generation of cybersecurity talent. The career shift came almost by accident, suggested during her own interview for a completely different role. Balancing her career with life as a mother to six-year-old Kayleb and three-year-old Jessie, LP has been with SentinelOne for three years.
“Coming to SentinelOne was mind-blowing to me,” she says. “I never knew much about cybersecurity, and now that I do, I think there’s a real purpose in what we do. It’s about protecting our customers, and I find that really meaningful.”
She still remembers her early days. “I was hired when I had two small children at home, which isn’t something every company would do,” LP recalls. “But, that trust reflects how we work here. We don’t micromanage. It’s about producing the results we came here to produce, and doing it together.”
In the APJ region, where many colleagues work fully remotely, LP notes that flexibility has made all the difference. “That is amazing for working moms!” she says. “If I compare it to my past jobs, where I had to be in an office five days a week, it was much harder. Now I can run errands during lunch or even skip lunch to handle things quickly. It just makes life easier.”
She believes the trust and flexibility employers offer working mothers is repaid many times over. “A working mom gets very good at prioritizing,” LP explains. “I juggle work and my kids’ priorities all the time, which means I have to be as efficient as possible with everything I do. That skill set comes straight into my work. I know how to compartmentalize, focus on what’s really needed, and tackle that first.”
Motherhood, she adds, has also deepened her ability to lead with empathy. “I’ve definitely gained more empathy as a mom,” she reflects. “Everyone, parent or not, has a lot going on in their lives, and it’s not always easy. I feel like I’m more in touch with my emotions now and can connect with people better. That’s made both my personal life and my work life feel easier and more fulfilling.”
Happy Mother’s Day from All of Us at SentinelOne!
At SentinelOne, we believe that supporting mothers isn’t just about offering benefits — it’s about recognizing the immense value they bring to our organization every day. The stories of Shani, Mona, and LP illustrate the resilience, adaptability, and leadership that mothers contribute to the cybersecurity industry. Their experiences underscore the importance of creating a workplace culture that embraces flexibility, empathy, and equal opportunities for all parents.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an environment where mothers, and all caregivers, can thrive both personally and professionally. We are proud to stand alongside these incredible women, supporting them as they protect not only our digital world but also nurture the next generation. To learn more about our inclusive culture and explore opportunities to join our team, visit our careers page.
