Growth can take on many different forms. For Miriam based in Sydney, it isn’t just about advancing her career. She also navigated the transition into parenthood while working full-time. Juggling these big life changes, she found the support and flexibility she needed to thrive both at work and at home.
With that, we caught up with Miriam to learn about her three-year journey at Klook, including how she took parental leave to spend quality time with her little one.
Miriam Mouahbi
Business Development Manager, Sydney
Let’s take a trip down memory lane! What career milestones did you achieve when you first joined Klook? Share details about your role and the projects you tackled during your first few months.
That feels like a lifetime ago! I joined Klook in May 2021, right in the middle of COVID. I remember how excited I was to start at such a cool company, especially since I’d previously been working in hotels and wasn’t familiar with the experience space.
When I joined Klook, I took on the role of managing acquisitions for the Gold Coast and Brisbane, which was a perfect fit for my passion. I was thrilled to work with some of Australia's most vibrant cities and was eager to dive right in and get started!
My first project came about in a pretty funny way. I casually joked about how much I loved going to bottomless brunches on weekends. Next thing I knew, that was my first assignment at Klook—adding brunch spots to our platform! I guess that’s when I knew I was in the right place!
Representing Klook with our bucket hats!
With your experience participating in tourism events, namely ATE 2021 and 2024, how did each event differ for you as a professional in the Australian tourism industry?
ATE is Australia's premier tourism event. It highlights the country's diverse travel experiences and connects international buyers with Australian tourism operators. I always joke that it's my absolute favorite time of the year!
My first ATE in 2021 was so different as it was one of the first major events post-COVID so it wasn’t your normal ATE as it was on a smaller scale. I do remember thinking how fun it was meeting so many industry friends again (in my new role).
Back in 2021, I didn't have my own schedule; I was following the team, learning on the ground, and joining their meetings. 25 meetings a day over four days – it was one hell of a learning experience that’s for sure!
Fast forward to 2024, and ATE was held in Melbourne! It’s been amazing to witness the growth of both myself and Klook in Australia. It’s thrilling to see our brand recognition soar—people now know who we are and are keen to connect with us. It’s a huge shift from the days when we were relatively unknown.
Besides your day-to-day work, what other fun projects do you get to work on?
I really enjoy making TikTok videos with our Marketing team. Whenever our social media manager is in town, I’m always excited to dive in and have some fun.
Our Marketing team is great at connecting with our followers on socials. Since we usually work on our own and both teams are growing fast, we don’t get to collaborate often. So, when the chance comes up, I’m all in! It’s a fantastic chance to work together and create something special.
Oh yes! We remember your special appearance in the FRYday challenge where you did a Macca’s (McDonald's) run with the ANZ team.
That was actually a fun day but super spontaneous. I'm looking forward to more TikTok videos with them to come, so be sure to catch our shenanigans there – we are super fun!
FRYday challenge: How many packets of fries does it take to win a Klook prize?
That's fabulous! Is there anything you initially didn't feel comfortable with but you're getting the hang of now?
It's funny how much things changed due to COVID. When I first started at Klook, all meetings were online, which made it easier to manage notes and get comfortable in my new role.
But after returning from maternity leave and having my first face-to-face meeting in 2023, I was surprisingly nervous. Directly discussing business and Klook’s activities felt overwhelming, especially after getting used to virtual meetings and my main conversations had been with a newborn baby!
Once I had a few meetings, it was like riding a bike—I quickly got back into the swing of things. I settled in and built strong relationships with everyone, so it became much easier.
We are all great friends in our team, and I feel that helps us tackle challenges and get comfortable with our work. It’s fantastic to have that kind of connection, especially since we see each other daily. For instance, during our off-site this year, I made sure we all gathered for drinks and dinner as a team. Keeping that sense of togetherness is important to me.
At the opening party for the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Melbourne with the team!
How did Klook support you before and during your parental leave?
I have a seven-year-old stepdaughter, so I had some idea of parenting before I had my second daughter. I’ve been with my stepdaughter since she was three years old, so I’m familiar with that stage, but with my youngest being two and a half, I’m still navigating new territory.
When I went on maternity leave and returned to work, Klook was incredibly supportive and accommodating. Our team is relatively young, and I was the first to have a baby. At that time, it was just me navigating the balance between work and new motherhood.
Fast forward to now, and there are three of us with kids. It’s amazing to see how much has changed since 2020. It’s been a journey, and seeing more of my colleagues experiencing parenthood has been so beautiful.
How interesting! As the first mother on the ANZ team, how did you go about figuring out maternity leave and benefits with your manager?
When I first found out I was pregnant, there wasn’t a set maternity leave plan in place, so I worked closely with the team to figure things out. We discussed what would work best and identified what would be needed to ensure a smooth transition and continued support.
Returning to work after maternity leave was, to be honest, quite challenging at the beginning. Balancing the demands of work with the new responsibilities of parenthood was tough, but Klook’s support made a huge difference. Whenever I had childcare issues and couldn’t come into the office, I had the flexibility to work from home, which was a lifesaver.
Henry, our GM, had a baby just six months after me, which created a shared understanding of the ups and downs of new parenthood. I guess the shared experience was incredibly reassuring. I felt genuinely supported coming back to work, and that support has continued.
As more people in the office become new parents, we’re having these conversations more often and I have been sharing parenting tips with the soon-to-be mums! It's good vibes all around!
What advice do you have for mothers preparing to return to work?
- Connect with other parents: Reach out to fellow parents, whether they're in your company or not. It’s comforting to know you’re not alone and that others are dealing with similar challenges as you return to work.
- Check out parental benefits: Get familiar with what your company offers for parental benefits and make sure you’re using all the perks available to you.
- Talk to your manager: Keep the lines of communication open with your manager. Let them know how you’re feeling and if you need any changes to make your transition smoother.
- Plan your time: Balancing work and parenting can be tough. Plan your schedule with both your child’s routine and your job in mind.
- Treat yourself: Don’t forget to make time for yourself! Do something you enjoy unwinding and recharge.
- Be kind to yourself: Adjusting to a new routine takes time. It’s okay if things don’t go perfectly at first. You’ll get the hang of it!
- Business Development
- Career Growth
- Sydney
