The Local Project Trap: Why 'Family-Friendly' Assignments Might Hurt Your Career (Or Might Propel It)
And how to evaluate opportunities that truly serve both your ambitions and your family
Sarah was thrilled when her practice leader offered her a local project. "I thought you'd appreciate not having to travel," he said with a smile. "Perfect for someone with young kids."
Six months later, Sarah watched as her peer who'd taken on a high-profile international client was fast-tracked for promotion. Meanwhile, Sarah's "family-friendly" local project had turned into a maintenance contract nightmare with limited scope, junior team members, and zero visibility to senior leadership.
Sound familiar?
The Well-Intentioned Career Killer
Here's the uncomfortable truth: many "accommodations" designed to help working mothers actually derail our careers. The local project is often the most insidious because it feels like a gift with no travel, reasonable hours, proximity to home. But scratch beneath the surface and you'll often find:
Lower-stakes work that doesn't showcase your capabilities
Reduced exposure to senior clients and leadership
Smaller teams with limited development opportunities
Projects that are "maintenance" rather than transformational
Work that doesn't align with your expertise or growth goals
The Hidden Cost of "Convenience"
When we accept assignments primarily based on logistics rather than strategic value, we inadvertently signal that we're on a different track: the "mommy track" that leads away from partnership consideration. Meanwhile, our childless colleagues and male peers continue taking on the challenging, visible assignments that build reputations and open doors.
The irony? We often work just as hard or harder on these "easier" projects, but the impact on our careers is minimal.
There's a Third Option: The Strategic Conversation
Early in my career, when my daughter was young, I found myself at this exact crossroads. Leadership offered me a local project that felt safe but uninspiring. Instead of immediately accepting or declining, I requested a strategic conversation.
I sat down with my practice leader and was honest: "I want to continue growing toward partnership, and I also need to be present for my family. Help me understand how we can make both work." We discussed my long-term goals, the skills I needed to develop, and the visibility I required for advancement.
The solution surprised us both: relocating for a high-profile transformation project rather than taking on constant travel assignments. My daughter and I moved to Vermont for four years, and it became one of the best decisions of my career and my life. My daughter learned to ski, developed a serious Ben & Jerry's ice cream habit, and collected more Vermont teddy bears than our suitcases could handle. Most importantly, I was home every evening for dinner and bedtime stories while building the strategic experience and client relationships that propelled my career forward.
That project became a cornerstone of my career progression and proved that creative solutions exist when you advocate for what you really need.
A Better Framework for Decision-Making
Before you say yes to that next local opportunity (or any opportunity), use my Strategic Project Evaluation Checklist below. The goal isn't to always accept travel assignments or uproot your family; rather it's to ensure that every project you accept moves you closer to your long-term goals while working within your family's reality.
Strategic Project Evaluation Checklist
Ask yourself these questions before accepting any project opportunity:
Strategic Alignment
• Does this project build capabilities I need for my next career level?
• Will this experience position me in a growing or strategic practice area?
• Does this complement my existing experience or fill an important gap?
Visibility and Influence
• Will I work directly with or present to senior partners or C-suite clients?
• Can I develop relationships with key decision-makers through this work?
• Will this project be visible to the people who make promotion decisions?
Growth Opportunities
• Will I lead a team or have significant management responsibilities?
• Is this a high-value project that demonstrates measurable business impact?
• Can I pilot new approaches or develop thought leadership through this work?
Work-Life Integration
• Are the travel demands manageable given my family situation?
• Can I anticipate and plan around the work demands and schedule?
• Does the timing and structure work with my childcare and family support system?
Network and Relationships
• Will I work with high-performing colleagues who will elevate my work?
• Is there opportunity to build relationships beyond my current firm?
• Will I be exposed to potential mentors or sponsors through this project?
Deeper Reflection
• What would I advise my most ambitious mentee in this situation?
• How will I explain this experience in my next performance review or promotion discussion?
• What am I saying "no" to by saying "yes" to this?
• How can I maximize the strategic value of this assignment?
• What additional responsibilities or visibility can I negotiate?
• How will I position this experience in my career narrative?
• What will my next project be, and how does this set me up for it?
The Bottom Line
Your career doesn't have to be either/or either family-friendly or advancement-focused. But it does require you to be strategic about the opportunities you accept. Use this framework to ensure that every project, local or not, moves you closer to partnership rather than away from it.
If you choose to take a "mommy-track" project, that's great and embrace it for what it is. Don't look back with regret but instead enjoy the track as it has many perks. When or if you're ready to explore other tracks in the future, considering having that strategic conversation at the best time.
Remember: the best family-friendly career move is building a sustainable path to senior leadership. Be in the driver's seat for your next move and carefully analyze the opportunities before accepting them.
What project decisions are you facing right now? I'd love to hear how this framework applies to your situation: DM me on LinkedIn or email me directly and let's discuss.
Until next time.
Karin
