Sargam's story is unlike any I’ve heard on Have It All so far. What was meant to be a six-week trip to India in early 2020 turned into an eight-month stay when COVID-19 changed the world overnight. Suddenly, she found herself navigating early motherhood, distance from home, and the uncertainty of a global pandemic all at once.

In this conversation, Sargam shares what that time looked like: the mental health challenges of being far from her support system, the small daily practices of gratitude that kept her grounded, and how that season reshaped her perspective on work, family, and ambition.

What stands out most is the way Sargam talks about ambition.

For her, being ambitious doesn’t have to mean climbing the corporate ladder or chasing the next big role. Instead, it’s about creating a life that works for both her and her family, supported by workplaces that truly value parents.

We also talk about what supportive systems at work can look like, how communication around parenting needs can shift culture, and why the conversation about the “motherhood penalty” urgently needs to evolve.

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