Together, we unpack the hidden emotional labor of caregiving, the impossible standards placed on Mothers, and the powerful leadership skills developed through raising children. Rebecca reflects on leaving corporate life, navigating fertility struggles, redefining ambition, and learning how to advocate for both herself and her daughter. From emotional regulation and nervous system awareness to perfectionism, burnout, and identity loss, this conversation offers an honest and deeply validating look at the transition into Motherhood — and the growth that can come from it.

Rebecca also shares the inspiration behind her book Me to We, why she believes Mothers need language and support for the experience of Matrescence, and how slowing down helped her become both a better parent and a better leader.

Key Takeaways

• What Matrescence really means — and why every Mother should know the term
• Why Motherhood often triggers a major identity shift
• The hidden leadership skills developed through caregiving
• How emotional regulation and advocacy become essential parenting tools
• The connection between burnout, perfectionism, and modern Motherhood
• How redefining success can lead to a more fulfilling life and career

Find Rebecca Hogan at https://www.rebeccahogancoaching.com/

Continue the conversation:  

Learn more about Motherhood Advantage, recommend a future Mother-leader guest, or explore the podcast at Motherhood Advantage

Follow along on Instagram: @motherhoodadvantage

For the complete Intuitionship research results and a free copy of the report, visit Intuitionship Research

You can also connect with Dr. Laura Marie on LinkedIn for research updates, podcast conversations, and reflections on Motherhood and leadership. https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-marie-rivera-intuitionship/

Stefanie O'Connell, author of The Ambition Penalty, unpacks the hidden costs women continue to pay for ambition. Together, we explore how cultural narratives around Motherhood, caregiving, leadership, and success shape everything from pay equity to promotion opportunities—and why progress for women and Mothers remains frustratingly slow despite decades of advancement.

Stefanie shares insights from her own experience navigating postpartum life while launching a major book during a period of increasing societal backlash toward women’s ambition. We discuss the persistent gender pay gap, the Motherhood penalty, and the double standards that reward ambition in men while often punishing it in women. From leadership perceptions to caregiving expectations, this conversation reveals how bias becomes normalized in both subtle and structural ways.

Grounded in research, storytelling, and practical insight, this episode examines:

• Why women remain underrepresented in leadership and overrepresented in unpaid caregiving
• How assumptions about Motherhood continue to shape workplace inequities
• The cultural narratives that frame women’s ambition as threatening rather than valuable
• Why individual resilience alone cannot solve systemic inequality
• What collective, structural change could actually look like

This powerful conversation is both validating and galvanizing—a reminder that women are not failing the system; the system is failing women. It’s an invitation to rethink how we define ambition, leadership, and success, and to imagine workplaces and communities that genuinely support both caregiving and achievement.

Whether you are a Mother, leader, advocate, employer, or someone navigating your own ambitions, this episode offers powerful language, research, and perspective for understanding the forces shaping women’s experiences today—and how we can begin changing them together.

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Learn more about Stefanie O'Connell at Too Ambitious

Follow Stefanie on Instagram: @stefanieoconnell

Continue the conversation:  

Learn more about Motherhood Advantage, recommend a future Mother-leader guest, or explore the podcast at Motherhood Advantage

Follow along on Instagram: @motherhoodadvantage

For the complete Intuitionship research results and a free copy of the report, visit Intuitionship Research

You can also connect with Dr. Laura Marie on LinkedIn for research updates, podcast conversations, and reflections on Motherhood and leadership. https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-marie-rivera-intuitionship/

Together, we explore how managing the complexity of home life mirrors leading an organization—demanding resilience, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and rapid problem-solving. From reading nonverbal cues with children to thinking three steps ahead in constantly shifting environments, Mothers are practicing leadership in real time, every day.

Drawing on research with nearly 1,000 Mothers across the globe, Carolyn shares key insights into the leadership traits most commonly developed through motherhood—empathy, adaptability, conflict navigation, and systems-level thinking. Yet these competencies remain largely absent from traditional leadership frameworks, which have historically excluded the maternal experience from definitions of “effective leadership.”

This episode challenges that gap head-on. It invites HR leaders, career Mothers, and anyone interested in leadership development to reconsider where leadership actually begins—and what we lose when we overlook caregiving as a training ground for high-impact skills.

Links and References:

https://intuitionship.com/

Find Dr. Carolyn Burroughs at LinkedIn Carolyn Burrough

Find Dr. Laura Marie Rivera at LinkedIn Laura Marie Rivera

Download the full dissertation for FREE from ScholarWorks: Exploring Leadership Capabilities Developed as a Mother: Toward a New Theory of Mother-Leader Intuitionship

Connect with us on social media Motherhood Advantage Instagram

Carol is a mother of five, retired emergency room nurse, master problem-solver, and the embodiment of capable, compassionate leadership. Long before the research, podcast, and movement took shape, Carol’s willingness to say “yes” gave Laura Marie the courage to begin.

This special Mother’s Day episode reflects on the roots of Motherhood Advantage, exploring how Motherhood cultivates resilience, adaptability, crisis management, and leadership in ways society often overlooks.

Through Carol’s story, listeners are reminded that some of the most powerful leaders may never hold formal titles—but they shape generations through care, strength, and unwavering presence.

Takeaways

• Motherhood often develops extraordinary leadership skills long before they are formally recognized.
• Caregiving, crisis management, and adaptability are foundational forms of leadership.
• The origins of powerful movements often begin with small acts of trust and support.
• Family stories can illuminate broader social truths about women’s invisible labor.

This episode honors not only Laura Marie’s Mother, but all Mothers whose unseen leadership has shaped families, communities, and futures—often without recognition. It is a tribute to where this movement began, and a reminder of why it matters.

Find Dr. Laura Marie Rivera at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-marie-rivera-intuitionship/

Download the full dissertation for FREE from ScholarWorks: https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/eoll-dissertations/22/

Connect with us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodadvantage/

Together, they unpack:

• Why Motherhood is one of the most overlooked leadership training grounds
• How invisible labor impacts power at home and in the paid workplace
• The organizational systems behind Fair Play
• Why flexibility, equity, and recognition matter for Mothers
• How Mothers can reclaim power, identity, and ambition beyond burnout

From the “blueberries” breaking point to global policy change, this episode challenges outdated narratives around caregiving and offers a bold reframe: Motherhood is not a career disruption—it is leadership experience.

Links and References

For information on Eve Rodsky's New York Times best-selling books FAIR PLAY and FIND YOUR UNICORN SPACE, visit https://www.fairplaylife.com/

Eve Rodsky's Fair Play Policy Institute https://www.fairplaylife.com/

Reese Witherspoon's HELLO SUNSHINE https://hello-sunshine.com/

In 1943, Congress allocated $20 million to create the nation’s first and only universal childcare program. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/childcare-on-the-world-war-ii-home-front.htm

in 2022, 4 women set world record rowing across Pacific Ocean. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-28/four-women-set-world-record-rowing-across-pacific-ocean#:~:text=In%20June%202022%2C%20four%20women%20rowed%20across,*%20Lifting%20*%20Cross%2Dtraining%20*%20Life%2Dpreservation%20exercises

Find Dr. Laura Marie Rivera at LinkedIn Laura Marie Rivera

Download the full dissertation for FREE from ScholarWorks: Exploring Leadership Capabilities Developed as a Mother: Toward a New Theory of Mother-Leader Intuitionship

Connect with us on social media Motherhood Advantage Instagram

Drawing from her experience leading both at home and in the workplace, Heather reframes Motherhood as high-level management—requiring decision-making under pressure, emotional intelligence, and constant adaptation.

The conversation moves from leadership and career transitions to caregiving, community, and the often invisible skills Mothers develop every day. Together, we explore how language shapes what we recognize as “real work”—and what becomes overlooked.

Because when we start naming Motherhood differently, we start valuing it differently.

TAKEAWAYS:

• If we don’t name Motherhood as leadership, we don’t value it
• Language shapes recognition—and recognition shapes opportunity
• Motherhood develops real, transferable leadership skills
• Emotional and financial “runway” matters for growth
• The work Mothers do is already complex, strategic, and impactful

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Find Heather A Campbell:

https://www.heatheracampbell.com/book

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-a-campbell/

For more information or to recommend a Mother, please visit us at motherhoodadvantage.com

Find Dr. Laura Marie Rivera at LinkedIn Laura Marie Rivera

Download the full dissertation for FREE from ScholarWorks: Exploring Leadership Capabilities Developed as a Mother: Toward a New Theory of Mother-Leader Intuitionship

Connect with us on social media Motherhood Advantage Instagram

In this episode, chef Andria Armas Harris breaks down the unseen systems that keep both worlds running—from written prep lists in commercial kitchens to the endless mental lists Mothers carry every day. The planning, the timing, the anticipation—none of it is accidental, and none of it is easy.

Motherhood is leadership under pressure. It’s constant decision-making, emotional regulation, and showing up—again and again—as your child’s biggest cheerleader. Every hour. Every day. And yet, while Mothers pour out support, they’re met with a workplace that offers far too little in return.

We dig into the reality of returning to work in the culinary and hospitality industries, where demanding schedules and lack of flexibility push many Mothers out—and keep them out. This conversation challenges what we value as “real work” and makes the case for better systems, better support, and a long-overdue recognition:

Mothers aren’t just doing the work behind the scenes—they’re leading it.

Takeaways

• Motherhood as a Multifaceted Role
• Organization as a chef and a Mother
• Support for Mothers in the Paid Workplace

@AndriaArmas on Instagram

For more information or to recommend a Mother, please visit us at motherhoodadvantage.com

Find Dr. Laura Marie Rivera at LinkedIn Laura Marie Rivera

Download the full dissertation for FREE from ScholarWorks: Exploring Leadership Capabilities Developed as a Mother: Toward a New Theory of Mother-Leader Intuitionship

Connect with us on social media Motherhood Advantage Instagram

Discover how Carmen’s personal resilience and strategic mindset transformed systemic barriers into opportunities for growth—whether helping farmers break into big retail or advocating for inclusivity in healthcare. You'll learn about the leadership skills that transcend roles, such as adaptability, empathy, and the courage to admit what you don’t know—skills that make a difference in both families and organizations.

In this episode, Carmen breaks down:

• Some of the similarities between leadership in Motherhood and in corporate environments
• Specific strategies for supporting and empowering marginalized communities, including rural farmers and people with disabilities
• How her experience as a Black woman with a disability shapes her approach to advocacy, management, and parenting
• The untapped power of vulnerability, empathy, and boldness in leadership roles, whether in the White House or your living room

If you're a parent, leader, or advocate seeking practical insights on navigating tough transitions—like managing disabilities, launching new initiatives, or mentoring others—this conversation will inspire you to see your challenges as growth opportunities. Perfect for anyone eager to bridge the gap between personal resilience and transformational leadership, especially in underrepresented spaces.

Carmen’s unique perspective shows that leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about showing up authentically, building trust, and inspiring change from within. This episode is a compelling reminder: the skills we develop as Moms—empathy, patience, strategic thinking—are just as vital in shaping the future of our communities and workplaces.

Tune in to hear how embracing vulnerability and leveraging lived experience can unlock new levels of influence and impact. Whether you’re a parent navigating adolescence, a manager leading diverse teams, or someone passionate about social change—this episode will leave you motivated to lead with integrity and purpose.

Links and References

Find Carmen Daniels Jones at LinkedIn Carmen Daniels Jones and Solutions Marketing Group

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Book

For more information or to recommend a Mother, please visit us at motherhoodadvantage.com

Find Dr. Laura Marie Rivera at LinkedIn Laura Marie Rivera

Download the full dissertation for FREE from ScholarWorks: Exploring Leadership Capabilities Developed as a Mother: Toward a New Theory of Mother-Leader Intuitionship

Connect with us on social media Motherhood Advantage Instagram

Together, we unpack the often-overlooked skills developed through Motherhood—empathy, adaptability, resilience, and clarity—and how they translate directly into effective, values-driven leadership. Amy shares how coaching and parenting mirror one another, requiring a balance of accountability and compassion, structure and flexibility, seriousness and joy.

The conversation dives into the core elements of AMPLIFY—Accountability, Mindset, Purpose, Planning and Parenting, Leadership, Innovation, Integrity, Family, and You—highlighting how these pillars support both personal and professional growth. We also explore the lasting impact of caregiving experiences, the shifts brought on by the pandemic, and the critical role of self-care in sustaining leadership over time.

At its heart, this episode is an invitation: to recognize Motherhood as a source of strength, to reconnect with your “why,” to ask for support, and to embrace change as a constant companion in both life and leadership.

Takeaways:

• Motherhood builds essential leadership skills—empathy, resilience, adaptability—that are highly transferable to the workplace.
• Leadership and parenting both require balancing accountability with compassion and clarity with flexibility.
• The AMPLIFY framework provides a values-based structure for integrating Motherhood and leadership.
• Self-care and support systems are not optional—they are foundational to sustainable leadership.
• Growth comes from embracing change, staying connected to purpose, and recognizing the power of lived experience.

Learn more about AMPLIFY or book a free call with Amy Miner-Fletcher at https://amplifyjourney.com/

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera

In this episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera sits down with Karen Sigalas to explore how the everyday realities of Motherhood—decision-making, emotional labor, constant adaptation—are quietly shaping confidence, influence, and resilience in the workplace.

Through stories of raising her children and navigating her own career pivots, Karen reflects on a powerful truth: success is rarely linear. Instead, it’s built through presence, authenticity, and learning to trust yourself—especially in uncertain moments.

Together, they unpack the leadership skills Mothers develop every day but rarely name: empathy, communication, flexibility, and the ability to lead through unpredictability. This conversation offers practical insights on quieting self-doubt, approaching difficult conversations with clarity, and leading with compassion both at home and at work.

From embracing the seasonality of life to redefining what effective leadership really looks like, this episode challenges a common narrative—that Motherhood is a distraction from professional growth—and replaces it with something far more accurate: Motherhood is a masterclass in it.

Whether you’re returning to work, navigating a transition, or simply looking to better understand your own strengths, this conversation will help you recognize what’s already there—and learn how to use it.

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If you'd like to contact Karen, please reach out through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karensigalascareercoach/

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera

In this episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera speaks with nonprofit consultant and author Sherry Whitaker Budziak about Motherhood, leadership, and resilience. Sherry shares her experience balancing parenting, running a business, and navigating the loss of her husband, and how those experiences reshaped how she leads.

They explore the leadership skills developed through Motherhood—communication, compassion, flexibility, and decision-making under pressure—and introduce Sherry’s HEART Framework: Humanize, Empower, Ascend, Reimagine, Transform.

This conversation is about grief, growth, and the reality that leadership isn’t about control—it’s about how we respond when things fall apart.

References:

About Sherry: https://orgsource.com/our-team/sherry-budziak-2/

https://rugthebook.com/

Newly released book: RUG: How To Move What You're Tripping Over and Lead with H.E.A.R.T. https://www.amazon.com/RUG-Youre-Tripping-H-R-T/dp/1963732235

H.E.A.R.T. outline: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sherryb_in-my-newest-keynote-i-talk-about-the-power-activity-7206744856323317760-vnRD/

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera

As the first woman of Asian descent elected to the Port of Seattle, Toshiko is helping shape the future of regional trade while expanding what leadership looks like in spaces historically dominated by white men. But this conversation moves beyond titles and policy into something deeper: the intersection of public leadership and the private realities of Motherhood.

Toshiko speaks candidly about her experiences with pregnancy loss and the profound lesson many Mothers come to know—that we are not always in control. In a culture that often equates leadership with certainty and control, her story offers a different perspective: one rooted in trust, resilience, and intuition.

We explore how the body, in its own wisdom, knows how to release what is not viable—and how, in a different way, Mothers often know how to guide and raise their children without a map. These experiences shape not only how women Mother, but how they lead.

Toshiko also reflects on how her childhood in Seattle shaped her commitment to community, and how her leadership is working to expand opportunity and equity across the port’s aviation and maritime industries. Her work challenges systems built for exclusion while advocating for environmental sustainability, economic access, and long-term community investment.

In this episode, we explore:
• the unseen influence of port governance in our daily lives
• how representation transforms systems from the inside
• the tension between control and surrender in both Motherhood and leadership
• the role of intuition in navigating uncertainty
• and what it means to lead while holding both personal loss and public responsibility

At its core, this conversation asks a powerful question:
What if the experiences that shape us most deeply as Mothers—loss, uncertainty, intuition—are also what make us stronger, more human leaders?

This episode is for anyone interested in leadership that is not just strategic, but deeply lived. It’s about politics, Motherhood, and the quiet, often invisible experiences that shape how we show up in both.

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera

------------- References --------------------------

Port of Seattle established by RCW Title 53 in 1911. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_District_Act

Toshiko Hasegawa's vision for the Port of Seattle Port Commission President's Teal New Deal

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Pramila Jayapal prioritizes the Care Economy for Build Back Better CBS News--Jayapal Build Back Better

Port of Seattle Childcare Navigation Services

Takeaways

• Motherhood as a joy and a job
• The collision of forces in Motherhood
• Releasing Good Girl Conditioning

instagram @iamdanielledowling

GOOD GIRL BAD MOM Book on Amazon

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera