This piece is part of our “Act II: Career changes after motherhood” series, where we dive into the personal stories of locals who shifted careers (and often reinvented themselves) after parenthood. Read the full feature here, including other stories of Seattleites who made a post-child career move, and tips from experts on how to make a successful post-parenthood career shift.
Wendy Wong’s big career switch happened not after the arrival of her first baby, but during the months leading up to it. A former tech industry worker, Wong recently moved from Toronto to Seattle for her husband’s job and to be closer to family in Vancouver, BC, where she grew up. In moving to Puget Sound, she gave up Canada’s generous benefits for new parents and families.
Knowing the pitfalls around parental leave and child care costs in the U.S., Wong did what she felt was best. She parted ways with her old job in August 2024 to focus on the very personal passion project she’s been working on since 2021. With her baby due any minute, Wong’s now working full-time on JuneAdaptive.com, a clothing business connecting people with disabilities with comfortable, easy-to-don threads.
A business born from family experience
When Wong was 17, her aunt June became a quadriplegic after a car accident and was unable to dress herself. Wong was determined to find clothes for her aunt, but she came up empty. These days, the fashion industry has been catching up with the broader needs of consumers like Wong’s aunt. “Adaptive clothing” makers incorporate features — magnetic fasteners, Velcro, side openings, zippers — to make getting dressed easier, while maintaining comfort and style.
“I wish I knew about adaptive clothing 15 years ago,” Wong says. “I felt ashamed that, even though I was going to fashion school, I couldn’t find the clothes that would work for my aunt.”
Wong felt guilty about her inability to help her aunt, but recently realized that the fashion industry has failed to address the needs of people living with disabilities. As a result, Wong launched JuneAdaptive.com to help families, including her own.
The right background for a new career
Wong’s mother-in-law, who has multiple sclerosis, as well as kids in her extended family, also have challenges with getting dressed.
With the rising awareness around neurodiversity and inclusivity, Wong’s nephews and niece, whom she occasionally cares for, inspired JuneAdaptive.com’s Inclusive Threads collection, a line for neurodiverse people which celebrates mental health.
Wong’s professional background in e-commerce and fashion provided the skills to get her business off the ground — even while working full-time in tech — but focusing solely on JuneAdaptive.com was more of a dream than an actual goal. However, when Wong became pregnant and knew she was moving to Seattle, she realized it was the right time to take the leap. Having saved some earnings during her years in the corporate world, and with her husband’s income and health benefits, Wong acknowledges that their privilege made her long-held dream possible.
Redefining her path
“It just made sense to take a side step from the corporate life and see if I can make this work full-time and spend more time with the kids,” Wong says. She also feels passionate about creating something that can make a difference in people’s lives and finding a better balance between career, family, and personal well-being.
While Wong was still at her corporate job, she chose to keep her pregnancy private, knowing the challenges that women face in the workforce, especially in tech. “While there’s been progress toward gender equality, I’ve witnessed firsthand how biases — often subtle and unspoken — can still impact women and mothers in the workplace,” she says.
Owning her schedule means more flexibility to care for her health, her family, and other needs — things difficult to prioritize before. “The shift feels empowering, and it’s a reminder that, even though there are still many challenges, there are also opportunities for growth and resilience — especially when you’re willing to redefine your path,” Wong said.
Read more
Act II: Flexing at Lions and Tigers | After giving birth to her son, Brea Starmer wanted to work at a different pace even as she craved the challenging, high-level projects that had built her consulting career. Her career change after motherhood means she’s now CEO of Lions & Tigers, a flexible consulting firm offering high-level expertise with part-time, remote work for parents.
Act II: From cosmetics to the classroom | Having a child with autism, changed Alexis White’s trajectory. She decided in 2022 that she needed to expand her teaching skills and make a career change after motherhood. Today she’s doing just that as an instructional assistant at Stevens Elementary in Seattle.
Act II: How a newspaper reporter became a birth worker | In walking away from daily news, reporter Cheryl Murfin walked right into an identity crisis. She needed a career change after motherhood, one aligned with her newish motherform. Strangely, she found it in the birth experience itself.
