Mother’s Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible women who shape not only their families, but also our workplace and communities. Mothers bring empathy, adaptability, and resilience into everything they do; qualities that align deeply with Protiviti’s purpose-driven approach and commitment to people. Whether navigating school pickups, client meetings, or unexpected curveballs, working moms demonstrate every day what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and excellence.
At Protiviti, we are proud to support our people through every stage of life. Flexibility, trust, and understanding are foundational to how we work, helping our professionals thrive both personally and professionally. To celebrate Mother’s Day, we connected with several incredible Protiviti moms to hear how motherhood has influenced how they show up at work and what makes them proud to be working parents here.
Michelle Passantino
Lead, Executive & Operations Administration
Chicago
What has motherhood taught you that has positively influenced how you show up at work?
Motherhood has taught me a lot about resiliency – things often do not go the way you expect as a mom, and you need to quickly pivot your plans while calmly reassuring your kids you’ve got things under control. This is so transferable to the workplace, since often you can’t control what will happen, but you can always control your response to it. I feel like if I can handle the unpredictable nature of motherhood, I can certainly handle whatever comes my way at work!
What makes you proud to be a working parent at Protiviti?
I am always so proud we have such a strong Parents Network at Protiviti, and that no matter what parenthood challenge I might face, there will always be someone else at Protiviti who has experienced the same thing and can offer guidance or simply commiserate with me.
Amber Chastain
Manager – Enterprise Data and AI Governance
Atlanta
What has motherhood taught you that has positively influenced how you show up at work?
Caring for my daughter has profoundly deepened my sense of empathy and patience. Parenting requires me to meet my daughter where she is – recognizing her feelings, challenges, and unique way of processing the world. This constant practice of understanding and supporting her growth has naturally extended into my professional life. I find myself more attuned to the emotions and needs of colleagues and clients, allowing for more compassionate interactions.
What makes you proud to be a working parent at Protiviti?
One of the most meaningful aspects of being a working parent at Protiviti is the unwavering support I receive from my advisors and teams. As a first-time mom, their flexibility and understanding have been invaluable. They consistently accommodate my schedule, allowing me to balance work commitments with daycare pickups and school events. This support not only helps me manage my responsibilities but also enables me to set a positive example for my daughter. By working at Protiviti, I can show her that it is possible to pursue a successful career while nurturing a family. I want her to see that hard work and dedication can coexist with parenting, inspiring her to believe in her own ability to achieve her dreams.
Melissa Desjardins
Director, Technology Consulting
New York
What has motherhood taught you that has positively influenced how you show up at work?
Motherhood has taught me many lessons that also apply at work and with respect to leadership. First, making effective use of my time is definitely on the list of lessons, as both motherhood and leadership require effective time management and the ability to multi-task! Next, especially as my kids have been getting older and are now teens, I have learned the lesson of letting go and trusting that the tools I have given them will help them to thrive as they begin to make more of their own decisions. The same can be said about leadership; I enjoy my role as leader and mentor at work and love seeing my team members thrive based in some way on how I have guided them and/or skillsets I have helped to develop in them. Lastly, motherhood has helped me to also know when to listen and when to speak up, as my children tackle challenges in their own lives. This understanding also applies as work, in particular as I work to help solve client challenges; often times it is best to listen first when meeting with clients in order to hear the details first rather than to dive in with solutioning. Once I can grasp the extent of the client’s situation, I am better able to bring the best of Protiviti in order to be an effective client partner and advisor.
What makes you proud to be a working parent at Protiviti?
I am extremely proud to be a working parent at Protiviti! I have especially loved getting involved in Protiviti’s Parent Employee Network Group (ENG), through which I have connected with other working parents and have been able to both give support to others as well as benefit from the connections made. In addition, I love speaking about my work with my family, especially sharing about my role on the Protiviti C-Suite Solution team, my involvement in the industry, and my passion for leadership and building the next generation in technology consulting! I hope that my role here at Protiviti has inspired my children to accomplish their goals, wherever life may take them.
Motherhood brings incredible demands—but also profound perspective, empathy, and strength. These stories reflect what we see every day at Protiviti: professionals who show up fully for their families, their teams, and their clients, supported by a culture that values flexibility, belonging, and shared success.
To all the moms at Protiviti and beyond—thank you for everything you do, both at work and at home.
