The world needs more leaders like this.
Just when we needed a little good news to get us through the week, a great professor came to our rescue. Managers, take note.
Troy Littleton, Ph.D., a professor of biology at MIT, showed up when it really mattered for one of his students. He took to Twitter with his newest lab purchase, and his mom grad student is sure to be elated.
“My favorite new equipment purchase for the lab–a travel crib to go in my office so my graduate student can bring her 9-month old little girl to work when necessary and I get to play with her while her mom gets some work done. Win-win!!” Troy wrote.
A simple gesture, but we bet it really means a lot to a student mom who won’t have to worry about back-up child care–or if her professor is willing to accommodate her needs as a parent. It’s managers, leaders and professors like Troy who remind us there is still good in this world–and hopefully more bosses will follow his lead.
After his tweet went viral with over 9,000 retweets, he followed up with a clarification: “I wish people were able to spot the real hero here. It’s the graduate student mom, not me. She’s amazing to do all she has to with her daughter and still keep up her thesis project research. Happy Mother’s Day to all–they deserve it!”
He’s absolutely right. Working moms are incredible employees (and students)–but that’s exponentially true when we have a supportive manager (or professor). When leaders like Troy realize that with a little flexibility, working moms can do everything we need to succeed, it really is a win-win. And maybe it helps a little bit when his student’s daughter is this cute.
In all seriousness, moving forward post-COVID, managers and professors alike are going to need to support working parents more than ever before. The working world will never be the same, and it’s time for those in power to embrace a more flexible future.
Lifestyle
The world needs more leaders like this.
A professor bought a crib for one of his grad students, and we need every manager to take note.
