In conversation with Jane-Anne Raath

1. Introduce yourself
   I’m Jane‑Anne, a 40‑year‑old first‑time mom living in Johannesburg, South Africa, with my husband and our adorable, very BUSY 15‑month‑old who basically runs the household schedule.

2. What is your job title?
   I am the Dean of Campus at AFDA, a private university that lives and breathes the creative economy – film, acting, writing and business.

3. Who looks after the kids when you are working?
   A nanny, AKA an angel named Nelly – she’s basically my son’s second mom and his favourite person between breakfast and bedtime.

4. How long did you take off work after having your baby?
   Four months – it felt like four minutes and four years at the same time.

5. Would you say that you have a good work/life balance?
   I’d say I have a good work/child balance; life (as in time for my husband and myself) is still a work in progress. I’m very grateful that I can balance an intense career with being properly present for my son.

6. Are you job-sharing or working flexibly?
   No – that’s not really an option in South Africa or in my current context, so we make it work within a very traditional setup.

7. What do you think is the hardest part of being a working/industry parent?
   Never feeling fully “caught up” – I’m always behind on something at home or in mom‑land. The expectations and comparisons in motherhood are intense and often unrealistic. Mom guilt is VERY real and has zero chill.

8. What are your tips for any other women out there wanting to have kids and keep a career in film?
   Consider a role in education if that appeals to you – it gave me more structure while I did my Master’s in Entertainment Law. Being a mom is far more constant and demanding than studying, and I honestly don’t know how one survives full‑time set life or a production office with a little one. I worked in production for years and I can’t imagine juggling that with this season of motherhood.

9. Any advice for anyone about to return to work after maternity?
   It really does get easier with time. You’re an amazing mom simply by showing your child that you have your own “thing” – that’s how they’ll learn to go out and find their own thing too, which is exactly what we want for them, right?

10. What advice did you wish someone had given you?
    That it truly gets easier, that the systems we put in place to keep our babies safe while we’re away are enough, and that it’s actually harder for us than for them. So much of the guilt is hormones and biology playing tricks on us.