Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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Meet little Miss Blake. A big thank our employers (RSM US LLP and the US Army) for giving us both great leave (RSM offers 18-20 weeks of maternity & 12 weeks parental leave for non-birthing parents), and the US Army offers 12 week’s of parental leave. When I was pregnant, I was surprised to hear from mothers who told me I didn’t need dad at home long - many saying I would be ready for him to go back to work after a week or two, tops. However, in my five weeks of experience as a mama so far, that couldn’t be further from the truth for me, personally. After an extended hospital stay for me, and an 11-day NICU stay at our birthing hospital and the University of Iowa in which I was separated from Blake / Dad for four days/nights beginning 12+ hours after her birth + being a first time mom and dealing with postpartum anxiety and continuing to deal with high blood pressure from labor induced preeclampsia, it’s been great to have the extra support at home.Things a non-birthing parent/partner can do on parental leave past the first week or two to support birthing mother (or, parent of adopted child on leave):- Bond with baby - Wash pump parts and / or bottles- Change diapers- Feed baby (formula, or bottled breast milk if using bottles)- Make meals- My favorite: let partner sleep in after the 4-5am feed by getting up with baby- Keep partner hydrated (fill up their water)- Hold, soothe and calm baby to give partner a break- Household chores- Help take care of / play with other kids, pets, etc.- Grocery / errand runs- Go to doctors appointments with partner and baby- Take care of yourself with some self-care- Household projects- Take a nap, read a book or lay on the couch and watch Netflix with partner💙💚🩶
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Rebecca Sullens Buchanan
Project Manager, Community Cheerleader, Connections Enthusiast
10h
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congrats, friend! Gorgeous pics and what a journey! Glad things are going well and what great wisdom to share with others about your experience!
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Kawalpreet Kaur
1d
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Beautiful pictures, love and blessings 🎉❤️❤️
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Isabel Cristina Hernandez, CPA, MST
Business Tax Senior Manager at RSM US LLP
20h
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Many blessings for the family, enjoy this precious time together 🤗
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Lisa M. Ong, PCC, CPA
Award-winning Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker | #Dallas500 | DEI+ Belonging Consultant | ERG Leader | Board member
7h
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Erika, congrats, and thanks for sharing the joy of the "Moms" we live for!
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Traci Broyles
Manager, Technology Consulting | NetSuite at RSM US LLP
1d
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Congratulations! Thank you for sharing the pics and a bit of your experience. Best of luck to all of you for a happy and healthy time off together!
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Lindsey Gruber
Business Development Coordinator
16h
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Congrats on sweet baby Blake, Erika! I hope you and your family are doing well and adjusting to this new wonderful chapter in your lives!
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Nicolo Enriquez
Culture, Diversity, & Inclusion - Market Strategy at RSM US | Ex-C3 AI | Alumni Advisory Board Member - San Francisco State Dept. of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism
17h
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Future RSM Intern?! Enjoy the bonding time!
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Daniel Booth
Talent Acquisition / Attraction | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion | Employer Branding | Global Recruitment | People Analytics | Mentor | Public Speaker | Connector of Dots
1d
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I’m so proud of you!!!
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These pictures are wonderful! Congratulations to you both. So special!
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Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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Had a great time “Kickin’ It” at the annual Blue Door Bash a few weeks ago where we raised $170k for the club while dressed up and wearing our best kicks. I am so proud to be on this board and work for RSM US LLP who not only sponsored our table for the night, but recently, the RSM US FOUNDATION gave the club $5,000 through a Community Impact Fund grant that will support local youth programming.
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Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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I’m just five weeks away from welcoming our first baby into this world. When I am out on leave (18-20 weeks, fully paid 🙏🏼), I will celebrate 10 years with RSM US LLP. I’m incredibly grateful for the support, learning, encouragement and opportunities these last 10 years. If you would have told 17-year-old year old me, who struggled her way through HS, who was tested for reading disabilities, who needed a math tutor, who was told not to go to University of Iowa, but rather community college (which was the best fit for me), I would be where I am today: thriving, growing, leading, I would not have believed you. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up,” Jimmy V. Here is to the next ten! 💙💚🩶#rsm #rsmus #beyouatrsm #thepowerofbeingunderstood #maternityleave
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Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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Students graduating in 2027: The RSM Excellence Academy is an inclusive program for you! 2024 summer conference and 2025 internship. Learn more and apply today! #BeYouatRSM
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Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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So incredibly proud of you, Alyssa! It's been an honor and privilege to work alongside Alyssa and watch her shine.
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Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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OCD awareness week is in October. OCD is often first thought of by obsessive repetitive behaviors, counting, organization/cleaning, but it’s also obsessive and unwanted thoughts, such as:What if I didn’t lock the front door? Will someone get in? (Gets out of bed and checks locks)Runs into convenience store with my dog locked in temperature controlled vehicle... What if I accidentally hit and hold “open trunk” in my purse (somehow) and Remi jumps out of my vehicle and runs into traffic. (Heart races until I’m back in my car)What if my partner gets in an accident on his 90-minute ride home from work?What if the fence gate is open? What if someone broke the locks? What if my dog gets out? (Checks locked gates nearly every time he goes out)What if my thyroid numbers are off? How will that effect my health?What if I eat a little gluten, will it throw me into a hashimotos flare up?What if I lift a little more weight, will it hurt my neck?What if I don’t workout, will I become unhealthy?Did that car just drive by me slowly? What if they turn around for me? (Obsessively looks over shoulder)Why did my dad just call me? Is everything OK?Why isn’t my mom answering her phone?What if my moms cancer comes back and I lose her in the next few years?You should give yourself a breast exam. No, don’t because you might find something. But, if you don’t look, you’ll miss something. What if I have cancer? (Obsessed daily for a couple of months, finds lumps that aren’t there)What if I take my dog on a walk and a loose dog is out, and he is reactive and hurts the dog? (So I don’t walk him)Should I take 80 or Hwy 1? What if I pick the wrong way and get in an accident? (Braces the wheel as every oncoming car passes me)What if I veer off the road right now? What if I jumped off this bridge into the water? What if I jumped in front of that train?What if…What if…What if…
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Erika Brighi
RSM Culture, Diversity and Inclusion strategist, communicator and advisor | #BeYouAtRSM
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Hi! I'm attending Leadership Convention by NAAAP. Let's start connecting with each other now. - via Whova event app https://lnkd.in/gZqZzrTy
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