Amy Miner-Fletcher—executive leadership coach, Licensed Medical Health Counselor, and Mother of two—joins the conversation to explore the powerful intersection of Motherhood and leadership. Through her AMPLIFY framework, Amy reframes Motherhood not as a competing force to professional growth, but as a dynamic training ground for it.

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

What if the moments that make you question yourself as a Mother are actually the ones building your strength as a leader?

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

What does Motherhood teach us about leadership—especially in times of loss and uncertainty?

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

Port Commissioners are elected officials, but often remain behind the scenes. In this episode, Toshiko Hasegawa brings that role—and her own story—fully into view.

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

Dr. Danielle Dowling shares her journey as a Mother and author of 'Good Girl, Bad Mom,' a memoir manifesto that addresses the challenges of Motherhood. She discusses the Motherhood fantasy, the burden of Motherhood, and the role of Mother. Additionally, she explores the leadership aspects of Motherhood and the collision of forces experienced by Mothers. The conversation delves into the concept of Motherhood as a job, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and valuing the work of Mothers. It also explores the process of releasing the 'Good Girl' conditioning and the impact it has on personal growth and transformation.

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

Join Dr. Laura Marie Rivera and Dr. Carolyn Burroughs as they explore the intersection of Motherhood and Leadership, uncovering the unique strengths mothers bring to the workplace and the gaps in traditional leadership theories.

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera

What if some of the most important leadership work in our society is happening in kitchens, carpools, living rooms, and bedtime routines—and hardly anyone recognizes it as leadership?

In this deeply personal episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera sits down with her sister, Catherine Temkin, a publishing professional and Mother of three, to explore the often-invisible work of Motherhood and the leadership skills it quietly develops over a lifetime.

Together, they unpack the foundational responsibilities of caregiving that most people take for granted: keeping children safe, healthy, loved, supported, and prepared for adulthood. Catherine reflects on more than three decades of parenting, sharing how motherhood evolves as children grow and why the work extends far beyond meeting basic needs.

The conversation explores how Mothers become experts in resilience, communication, problem-solving, relationship-building, and long-term development—all while balancing careers, households, and the ever-changing needs of their families. Catherine also draws powerful parallels between parenting and leadership in the paid workplace, discussing her mentoring approach, the importance of trust, and why effective leaders know when to step back and allow others to grow.

This episode is a reminder that leadership is not defined by titles or authority. Often, it looks like nurturing potential, creating opportunities for others to succeed, and doing important work that may never receive public recognition.

Whether you're a parent, manager, mentor, educator, or someone who has benefited from the care of others, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what leadership truly looks like—and why the skills developed through motherhood deserve far more recognition than they receive.  

Keeping children fed, clothed, and safe is only the beginning. Mothers are also responsible for helping children develop confidence, resilience, character, and independence.

Many of the most important leadership responsibilities happen behind the scenes and often go unrecognized, both at home and in organizations.

Motherhood cultivates communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, long-term planning, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

Whether raising children or managing employees, growth happens when people are trusted to take ownership of their responsibilities.

People thrive when their efforts are acknowledged. The same principle applies to children, employees, and caregivers.

Just as parenting changes across developmental stages, effective leadership requires adjusting support as individuals gain competence and confidence. Strong leaders understand that success often means helping others become capable enough to operate independently.

Links

Learn more about Motherhood Advantage

Follow along on Instagram: @motherhoodadvantage

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

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/

What if Motherhood wasn't viewed as an individual responsibility, but as a shared community commitment?

In this episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera sits down with  Rayna Tabanera-Geras to explore how Indigenous perspectives on Motherhood, advocacy, and community challenge many of the assumptions embedded in mainstream parenting culture.

Drawing from her tribal traditions and her experience raising a son with autism, Rayna shares how Motherhood extends far beyond biological relationships. In her community, everyone has a role to play as a caregiver, mentor, advocate, and protector. This collective approach to raising children creates powerful networks of support while reinforcing cultural identity and belonging.

Rayna also offers an honest look at the realities of advocating for children with disabilities in tribal and rural communities. She discusses navigating IEPs, IFSPs, private services, and educational systems while working to ensure her son receives the support he needs to thrive. Through these experiences, she demonstrates the leadership skills that so many Mothers develop: persistence, relationship-building, strategic communication, systems navigation, and unwavering advocacy.

The conversation also explores the Tribal Early Learning Fund, Indigenous language revitalization, culturally responsive education, and the critical role of tribal sovereignty in shaping educational opportunities for future generations.

At its heart, this episode is a powerful reminder that Motherhood is not limited to caregiving—it is leadership. Whether advocating for a child, preserving culture, or navigating complex systems, Mothers are often developing and exercising the very skills that define effective leaders.

Indigenous perspectives expand the definition of Motherhood beyond biological ties, emphasizing collective caregiving and shared responsibility for children's wellbeing.

Navigating educational, healthcare, and support systems requires strategic thinking, persistence, communication, and relationship-building—all core leadership competencies.

Through advocating for her son, Rayna developed deep expertise in educational plans, disability services, and systems navigation, demonstrating how Motherhood often requires professional-level knowledge and problem-solving.

Children thrive when they see themselves reflected in their education, language, traditions, and community.

Revitalizing Indigenous languages protects culture, strengthens identity, and ensures future generations remain connected to their heritage.

Families in tribal and rural areas often encounter significant challenges accessing services, highlighting ongoing inequities in educational and healthcare systems.

Links:

https://pgst.nsn.us/

https://wsaheadstarteceap.com/parent-ambassadors/

https://www.nihsda.org/about-c1x1t 

@MotherhoodAdvantage with Dr. Laura Marie Rivera - motherhoodadvantage.com

Follow along on Instagram: @motherhoodadvantage

Dr. Laura Marie on LinkedIn

In this episode, Heather A. Campbell—CEO, author of Good Is Amazing, and primary caregiver—explores a powerful idea: if we don’t have the language to name the work of Motherhood, we can’t fully value it.

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

What do professional kitchens and Motherhood have in common? Everything.

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

Unlock the parallels between the leadership in Motherhood and the paid workplace—especially when facing life's unexpected challenges. Carmen Daniels Jones, a Mother of two, disability advocate, and former Obama appointee at the Department of Agriculture, shares her powerful journey navigating Motherhood with a wheelchair and leading diverse organizations to serve marginalized communities.

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

What do Motherhood, leadership, logistics, and fashion have in common?

In this episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera sits down with Ambika Singh, founder and CEO of Armoire, the Seattle-based clothing rental company transforming how women approach their wardrobes. As a Mother of two and a leader of a company managing hundreds of thousands of garments, Ambika offers a fascinating perspective on the invisible systems that make both businesses and families run.

Together, Laura Marie and Ambika explore the surprising parallels between raising children and building organizations—from letting go of control and supporting growth, to managing the endless logistics that often go unseen. Ambika shares how Motherhood deepened her understanding of leadership, how her company has reimagined parental leave and workplace flexibility, and why trust, rather than surveillance, creates stronger teams.

The conversation also examines the mental load carried by Mothers, the operational complexity behind both family life and business success, and the ways women leaders can design workplaces that acknowledge the realities of caregiving. From soccer cleats and school schedules to RFID-tagged inventory and AI-powered styling, this episode reveals that logistics is not merely administration—it is leadership in action.

Whether you're a parent, entrepreneur, executive, or anyone trying to balance competing responsibilities, this episode offers powerful insights into the skills Motherhood develops and why those skills belong at the center of conversations about leadership.

1. Learning to guide without controlling.

2. Logistics is one of the most valuable leadership skills.

3. The invisible work is often the most important work.

4. Trust is a leadership strategy.

5. Flexibility matters because no two parenting experiences are alike.

6. Motherhood cultivates systems thinking

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Check out Armoire at armoire.style

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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-marie-rivera-intuitionship/

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of traumatic birth experiences, NICU hospitalization, maternal mortality, medical trauma, and pregnancy complications.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera speaks with doula, advocate, and maternal health leader Ana Rodney about the realities of Motherhood, leadership, and Black maternal health in America.

Ana shares her journey from a traumatic premature birth and NICU experience to becoming a nationally recognized advocate working to improve maternal health policy and expand access to doula care. Together, Laura Marie and Ana explore the invisible labor of Motherhood, the leadership skills Mothers develop every day, and the resilience required to navigate parenting, advocacy, and professional life simultaneously.

The conversation dives into postpartum support, the importance of doulas, single Motherhood, healing after trauma, and the urgent need to address racial disparities in maternal healthcare outcomes. Ana also reflects on the lessons Motherhood has taught her about communication, emotional regulation, accountability, and leading with humanity.

This episode is both heartbreaking and hopeful — a reminder that Mothers are already doing extraordinary work, often without recognition, support, or grace.

• What doulas do — and why every family can benefit from birth and postpartum support
• Ana Rodney’s experience surviving a traumatic premature birth and raising a thriving child against overwhelming odds
• The emotional labor and “repair work” involved in parenting with intention and compassion
• Why “just” is one of the most harmful words we use when talking to struggling parents
• The realities of the Black maternal health crisis and why racial disparities in birth outcomes persist
• The importance of giving Mothers grace — and recognizing their power

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Ana Rodney LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anarodney/

Doula Alliance of Maryland

https://www.doulaallianceofmd.org/

More than 80% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable:

https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality/preventing-pregnancy-related-deaths/index.html

Black maternal health outcomes:

https://www.cdc.gov/womens-health/features/maternal-mortality.html

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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-marie-rivera-intuitionship/

In this deeply reflective and inspiring episode of Motherhood Advantage, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera sits down with storyteller, strategist, and founder Laura Nespoli for a conversation about Motherhood, identity, transformation, and the power of story.

Laura shares the personal journey behind her debut book, Threads of Me and You, exploring how Motherhood and self-discovery led to transformation in her life. Together, Dr Laura Marie and Laura Nespoli discuss caregiving, learning to Mother ourselves,  breaking generational patterns, and what it means to become the protagonist of your own story.

The conversation also explores the intersection of Motherhood and leadership — from raising courageous daughters and navigating work-life integration to building purpose-driven communities rooted in care and growth. The author reflects on her emotional transformation journey, lessons she’s learned from her children, and why meaningful change often begins with one small decision at a time.

This episode is a thoughtful and hopeful exploration of what happens when Mothers allow themselves to grow beyond limitation, embrace complexity, and weave together all the threads of who they are.

Key Takeaways

• Why motherhood can be understood as both caregiving and long-term community leadership
• The difference between patriarchal leadership models and matriarchal approaches rooted in care and connection
• How storytelling can help people process transformation, identity, and personal growth
• The role of creativity, art, and shared storytelling in building connection and community
• The power of small daily choices in creating lasting personal transformation
• Why being “worthy of being the protagonist” in your own life matters

Links

Threads of Me and You is sold at major book retailers: Threads of Me and You

Contact Laura Nespoli and learn more about her work at Meshin Movement

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/

This episode explores the profound transformation of Matrescence — the physical, emotional, psychological, and identity shift that happens when women become Mothers — and why so few people are talking about it. Rebecca Hogan, author of Me to We, shares how Motherhood reshaped her understanding of success, work, leadership, and self-worth, and how becoming a Mother ultimately led her to coaching, writing, and a more intentional life.

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.

• 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/

Most women are told that if they work hard enough, speak confidently enough, and lean in strategically enough, success will follow. But what if the barriers women face—especially Mothers—aren’t personal obstacles to overcome, but systemic penalties deeply embedded in our workplaces and culture?

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.

--

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/

Motherhood is one of the most powerful and underrecognized leadership experiences on the planet—where resilience, intuition, and strategy are practiced daily in real time, often without ever being named. In this opening episode of Season 2, we continue our conversation with Dr. Carolyn Burroughs and go deeper into the emerging Intuitionship research, revealing how the lived experience of Motherhood develops powerful, often overlooked leadership capabilities.

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

In this deeply personal season finale, Dr Laura Marie Rivera returns to where Motherhood Advantage first began—with the very first interview she ever recorded: a conversation with her own Mother, Carol Crosta.

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.

• 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/

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Laura Marie Rivera sits down with Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Unicorn Space, to explore the hidden systems shaping Motherhood, labor, and leadership.

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

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