Balancing Parenthood and an MBA: Insights from ESMT students
Can you really manage an MBA while raising a family? At ESMT Berlin, many professionals have proven it’s possible—successfully combining the demands of study, career, and parenthood.
In a recent webinar, students and alumni from the Part-time and Executive MBA programs shared their experiences making it all work. From managing coursework and family responsibilities to staying focused on long-term goals, they spoke candidly about the challenges, the trade-offs, and the unexpected wins along the way.
Read on for key takeaways to help you approach your MBA journey with clarity, confidence, and the right mindset.
Watch the full webinar: Balancing Parenthood and MBA – Q&A with Students
Don’t wait for the “perfect” time
There will always be reasons to wait: a demanding job, a new baby, family responsibilities, an uncertain future. But waiting for “perfect timing” often means putting growth and goals on hold indefinitely.
Instead of waiting, the better approach is to assess your support system, understand the trade-offs, and move forward with intent. Challenges are part of the deal but the right mindset and people around you can turn obstacles into momentum.
Involve your family from the start
An MBA isn’t a solo project. The commitment touches every part of life, especially at home. Making the decision together with your partner—and even looping in your children—lays the groundwork for a stronger support system.
That means sharing your reasons for doing the MBA, the time demands ahead, and how your availability might change. When everyone has clarity, expectations stay realistic. Including children, even in simple ways, can also help them understand the temporary sacrifices and take pride in the journey.
“When you're really making that big decision, I feel it's important to make your partner aware of what's coming. Since I'm a bit of a planner, I could already foresee that some workload would fall on her shoulders.
”
I think it’s very important to talk about that with your partner—to make sure you’re aligned while making the decision. Later in the year, when things get difficult, it somehow becomes easier to talk about giving each other support. So from that point of view, it was, in a way, a decision we made as a family, not just on my own.
Communicate early and often
Balancing an MBA with family life requires long-term planning. Keep a shared calendar that tracks assignments, residency weeks, family events, and work peaks. Communicate when workloads will spike, when you’ll need space to study, and when you’re available to support others.
Early, transparent planning avoids misunderstandings and helps everyone adjust their expectations—not just once, but throughout your MBA program.
Lean on your support network
Trying to do everything yourself is a fast track to burnout. Whether it’s a partner, extended family, classmates, colleagues, or friends, accepting help is not a weakness, it’s a strategy. Support may come in many forms: someone picking up the kids, a colleague covering you during a busy week, or a friend keeping you grounded. Giving help when you can and receiving it when you need to creates trust and sustainability.
“For the group works, it’s a give and take. If you have a deadline for work and can’t participate as much this time, then you take the lead next time.
”
There’s a big part you need to do yourself, where you need to be present, but there are also parts that you can distribute and see who can pitch in where and when. That helped a lot.
Use structure to your advantage
A well-designed program format makes a big difference. For instance, the Executive MBA at ESMT Berlin includes ten one-week residencies planned across 18 months. This clear structure helps you organize family life, prepare for busy periods, and manage work responsibilities alongside academic deadlines.
When you know what’s coming, you can plan for it—and avoid the mental load of constant juggling.
Think integration, not balance
Striving for a perfect balance between work, study, and family often leads to frustration. Life doesn’t fall into clean categories, especially when pursuing an MBA. A more sustainable approach is integration: finding ways for these parts of life to co-exist.
This means blending priorities throughout the day instead of trying to keep them separate. That might be squeezing in a study session after bedtime, taking calls between school pickups, or using early mornings to prep for the week. Blending responsibilities with care and intention helps you stay present without feeling stretched thin.
“It’s literally work, life, and study integration. The blockers are not just day by day or week by week. There are days—almost every day—that I’m combining all three.
”
It needs to fit together. So, it’s not only about balance, which people usually talk about; it’s really how you are able to integrate that.
Maintain habits that support energy and focus
When time is limited, self-care can feel like the easiest thing to cut. But skipping sleep, movement, or moments to reset only makes things harder. Protecting your energy is essential for staying focused, healthy, and emotionally available.
Even small, consistent routines—like walks, early nights, or 20-minute workouts—can improve resilience. They become non-negotiables that keep you steady when the schedule gets intense.
Say yes, and commit to the process
Pursuing an MBA while raising a family is a bold decision. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and the ability to constantly adapt but the payoff goes far beyond academic achievement. It sharpens your focus, strengthens your resilience, and shows your children the value of commitment, growth, and following through on a goal—even when it’s hard.