Pioneers Praise Value of Flexible Work Schedules.

Being both a career woman on a modified/flexible schedule and a mother isn't about having it all--it's about "having the best of it all," according to a study that tracks 24 women who first began using flexible work arrangements more than 10 years ago. All of the women now hold mid- and senior-level

In the groundbreaking research project, conducted by Catalyst, a New York-based organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the workplace, 20 out of the 24 participants reported that they are satisfied with the tradeoffs they made to strike a better balance between their careers and personal lives.

"Findings from this report suggest that even though working mothers may reduce career involvement for a period of time--with the support of the right company--career advancement does not have to get sidelined," says Marcia Brumit Kropf, vice president of research and information services for Catalyst.