Marsha Waters

I tell my college-aged kids that fear of the unknown shouldn’t hold you back from your full potential. It’s a lesson I learned long ago when I stepped back into the workforce as a Deloitte consultant.

Eight years ago, I fought my own fears and started at Deloitte through the ENCORE program. It was designed to help professionals who spent time away from the workforce step back into the office. I took five years off to raise my kids while my husband ran his own business. I felt drawn to spend more time with my family, supporting three kids under the age of six. But as they got older, I felt pulled back to my former career in consulting.

I took a leap of faith. The ENCORE program ran for 12 weeks, putting us in front of clients and helping ease us into the high-paced environment again. It was equally a chance for Deloitte to make sure we were ready, and for participants to decide if it was the right fit. By the end of those 12 weeks, I was sold.

There were times I felt intimidated by the size and the expectations at a place like Deloitte, but I never did it alone. I had the resources I needed to grow and thrive. I had people to lean on and a community that was invested in seeing me succeed. My role as a mom and the skills I used to run my home were recognized and valued in my position.

And maybe best of all, I can still be an active mom. I have flexibility to be present for my kids, sometimes working from the baseball field watching my son play. Deloitte has helped me grow my career, and it’s helping me continue to be the mom I was always meant to be along the way.