When I became a mother, there were times when I felt I had to choose—between continuing to fulfill my leadership roles or fulfilling my new role as a mother. My schedules overlapped, as did my responsibilities, and I felt frustrated by the desire to do both well while feeling that, perhaps, I couldn’t. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to handle everything at once.

I’ve been engaged in leadership roles since I was 17. My work has focused on civic and social issues, the defense of human rights and women’s rights, and peacebuilding. For years, being part of these efforts has been an important part of my life. But with motherhood came a question I had never had to face before: How could I continue to be a leader and, at the same time, be the mom I wanted to be?

At first, it was very difficult. There was a moment when I even thought about stepping down from my leadership role to free up my time and be a “really good mom.” I thought I couldn’t be both. Balancing those two roles has been a process. I had to realize that life didn’t stop with motherhood. My daughter was going to grow up, and many of the struggles I’d worked to address would still be there. So I also realized that continuing was about her and her future.

I want to leave her a legacy. I want my name to be associated with something important to my community, and I want my daughter to one day feel proud of what her mom helped build. Thinking about that became one of my driving forces to keep going.

Today, my daughter is 18 months old. I work, study, and am writing my thesis to graduate with my second degree. I’m also still deeply involved in leadership initiatives and currently serve as president of the Umoja Foundation, where we work to empower women and strengthen their role in peacebuilding. 

However, doing all of this doesn’t mean I’ve found a formula for achieving perfect balance. The hardest part is still trying to do both things well: being a mom and being a leader. Not neglecting one to do the other. Through this process, I’ve come to understand something fundamental: I can’t do it alone. Having a support network has been indispensable. There were times when I couldn’t attend a meeting, and the people I worked with would come to my house. On other occasions, my family would take care of my daughter, allowing me to continue participating in leadership activities.

Sometimes we stay silent because we believe we have to handle everything on our own. But we also have to learn to ask for help when we need it. Looking at the stories of other women leaders who have managed to keep going also helps. It reminds us that we’re not alone and that motherhood doesn’t have to mean giving up what we’ve built—what we’ve worked so hard for over so many years.

I want to continue being part of the leadership efforts in my region. I want to be a role model for other women and for my community. I want to contribute to building a better Chocó, where our actions foster peace and better coexistence.

Becoming a mother transformed my life, but it didn’t end my leadership. Now I also know for whom I want to keep building that path.