In this first interview on Leadership and Motherhood, executive coach Leanna Laskey McGrath sits down with top-performing NYC real estate leader Rebecca Blacker to explore the real challenges high-achieving executive women and mothers face. From people pleasing and mom guilt to delegation struggles and confidence at work, this conversation dives deep into the tension between building a successful career and being the present, engaged mom you want to be. Rebecca shares how becoming a mother became the catalyst for a major career transition when she chose not to step back, but instead, to lean into more aligned, fulfilling leadership and work. If you’re an executive woman navigating work-life balance, managing a team, building confidence, and raising a family, this episode offers honest insight, practical reflection, and reassurance that you’re not alone. Connect with Rebecca Connect with Leanna  Let us know what you think about the new show! Click the microphone on the bottom right to record a voice message. We want to hear from you!

Welcome to the very first episode of Leadership and Motherhood! After 2.5 years and 153 episodes, The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast has evolved into something bigger. In this episode, Leanna Laskey McGrath, Executive Coach for Moms, shares why she made the intentional decision to end her previous show. It was not because she stopped loving podcasting, but because she felt called to create something more aligned, more expansive, and more impactful. Leadership and Motherhood is not just a podcast. It’s a movement. Launched intentionally on March 1st to kick off Women’s History Month, this new initiative exists to: Elevate women’s voices Redefine motherhood as a leadership advantage Inspire women to create lives and careers they truly desire If you’ve ever felt disoriented after becoming a mom…If you’ve questioned your value at work…If you’ve wondered whether it’s possible to feel fulfilled in both career and motherhood… You are in the right place. This podcast will bring you real conversations, mindset shifts, leadership tools, and inspiring stories from women who are navigating both worlds… not perfectly, but intentionally. Because you have one precious life. And you deserve to build it on purpose. You deserve to love it. Subscribe, connect with Leanna on LinkedIn , and join the Leadership and Motherhood movement. Let’s change the conversation. Together.

I created the Holiday Tips series for ambitious high achieving women trying to juggle everything this holiday season -- closing out the fiscal year at work, coordinating holiday events, hosting, cooking, cleaning, communicating, shopping, wrapping. The mental load is extra heavy this time of year, and I'm hopeful these holiday tips will help make things a little lighter for you. Connect with me on Instagram @execcoachleanna or LinkedIn to tune into the full series.

Join Leanna and guest Jessica Trammell as they dive deep into the intersection of personal healing and professional leadership. Jess shares her journey of processing powerful emotions to enhance her leadership skills and explains how nurturing authenticity can improve employee engagement and infuse joy into the workplace. Leanna and Jess discuss the crucial role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership, why authenticity is essential for fostering a collaborative team culture, and how healing from emotional traumas can unlock your full potential as a leader. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Jessica here.

Welcome to the Greatest Hits Summer Series! We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the first year of the podcast and sharing Leanna’s take on them from her current vantage point. In this episode, Leanna discusses the process of making conscious decisions. She shares her own experience of leaving her executive job to focus on her daughter and highlights the importance of aligning decisions with personal values and vision. Leanna provides four key insights to help listeners navigate decision-making and encourages conscious decision-making and empowers listeners to make choices that bring balance and joy to their lives. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Thank you for tuning in to the Executive Coach for Moms podcast, and please remember to rate, review and subscribe!

Welcome to the Greatest Hits Summer Series! We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the first year of the podcast and sharing Leanna’s take on them from her current vantage point. Laura Nguyen joins this compelling episode as a seasoned executive mom who not only weathered the storm of burnout herself but has since become a guiding force for others facing similar struggles. Laura shares her unique journey, mirroring the experiences of many high-achieving women, as she climbed the corporate ladder and encountered the stark reality of burnout. Laura delves into the pivotal moments that led to her career transition, shifting her priorities and perspectives dramatically. She candidly discusses her three-month immersion into her Play, Pause, Plan approach, providing a glimpse into her path of rediscovery. The episode concludes with a sneak peek into her upcoming book, slated for release September 2025, offering a comprehensive guide for navigating career breaks and cultivating a life aligned with core values. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Laura here or on her website at Lauranguyen.co Re-visit the Holiday magic episode here. (ep21) Remember to review the podcast in June, wherever you listen to podcasts, for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

Dr. Corey Seemiller joins Leanna for an inspiring and enlightening conversation this week! Corey is a leadership and higher education professor, author of 11 books, Gen Z expert, mom, avid hiker, podcast host, and an all-around amazing human. Here are some highlights: Despite her many accomplishments, Corey shares that "rejection is the story of my life," and discusses how she perseveres through setbacks. How Corey integrates her daughter into her career and sees her as a partner in her success. Her perspective on time and success: "Time is going to pass whether you do with it what you want, and what I want to do with my time is to make great contributions to make the world a better place." Corey's passion for leadership and inclusion, and her belief that anyone can be a leader. How COVID led her to reflect, prioritize, and cut out the unnecessary, enhancing her life. Both Leanna and Corey’s Type A personalities evolving to embrace more spontaneity and reduce stress. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Corey here and tune into her podcast, Rock That Relationship!

Welcome to the Greatest Hits Summer Series! We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the first year of the podcast and sharing Leanna’s take on them from her current vantage point. On this week’s episode, Leanna shares how she used to feel like she was failing at everything, despite her accomplishments, due to five factors: perfectionism, all or nothing thinking, people pleasing, valuing work ethic as identity, and recurring negative thoughts. Unfortunately, many working moms can relate to these experiences, which is largely due to a broken system that fails to support working mothers. To combat these negative feelings, Leanna recommends noticing and challenging those negative thoughts and emotions. It's also important to seek support from others who understand the unique challenges that come with being a working mom. By doing so, you can feel less alone and create a more balanced and fulfilling life for yourself and your family. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Remember to review the podcast in June, wherever you listen to podcasts, for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

Happy Podcast-versary; the Executive Coach for Moms podcast has been airing for one whole year on June 1st! Leanna reflects on what she’s learned about herself this past year, including her perspective on the importance of doing hard things. She shares her acknowledgements to those who make the podcast possible, along with the upcoming plan for the podcast. Don’t miss the giveaway! Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna on LinkedIn and Instagram Remember to review the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

In this inspiring episode, Leanna is joined by Shannon Talbot, happiness coach, speaker, and author, to discuss her transition from a corporate role to entrepreneurship driven by a quest for fulfillment and a new definition of success. They explore Shannon's book, Breaking Free: Stop Holding Back, Start Being You, sharing stories and introspective exercises that can help listeners to create their dream lives. Shannon highlights the importance of self-compassion, visualization, and small, intentional actions to maintain focus and balance. Her insights and anecdotes stress that confidence follows action, underscoring the transformative impact of authenticity and vulnerability, and demonstrating the power of overcoming fear to achieve remarkable outcomes. Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Shannon here and check out her book, Breaking Free: Stop Holding Back, Start Being You - Your Guide to Creating the Career and Life of Your Dreams

In the fifth episode of the Transition to Motherhood Series, Leanna is joined by Arielle Wozniak, a Health Coach who has triumphed over postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD. Arielle shares her personal story as a two-time survivor of postpartum mental health challenges and how it fueled her passion for guiding mothers through these turbulent times towards a fulfilling motherhood experience. With a focus on recognizing symptoms and practical strategies for moving from surviving to thriving, she provides a foundational understanding of postpartum mental health while sharing actionable steps forward. This conversation promises insights, empathy, and empowerment for every mother navigating the complex landscape of postpartum mental health. The Transition to Motherhood Series highlights the challenges and the beauty of becoming a mother as a career focused, success driven, achievement oriented woman. Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Arielle here and check out the Defeat Postpartum Depression podcast. Listen to previous episodes in the Transition to Motherhood Series.

In a very special episode, Leanna interviews her own mom (!!), her biggest supporter and #1 fan of this podcast. Michele Laskey has devoted the past 41 years of her life to motherhood and being an unwavering supporter, friend, and teacher of her three daughters and now 4 grandchildren. They discuss her unique journey, from the perspective of a mom with three grown children – what she’s learned, what she’s proud of, what she’d do differently, and her legacy. Throughout the conversation, you’ll hear and feel the love between mother and daughter. You’ll also hear cameos from the most important kids in Leanna’s life – her daughter, nieces, and nephews. Happy Mothers’ Day to all the moms out there doing the very hard work and making the world a better place! Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna here.

In this deeply candid fourth episode of the Transition to Motherhood Series, Leanna is joined by Suzanne Yatim Aslam, author of Post Pardon Me, a book that fearlessly confronts the unspoken realities and dark thoughts countless new mothers grapple with silently. Suzanne shares her own raw encounters with postpartum depression and anxiety, delving into the complexities of maternal instincts, the pressures of media on our emotional responses, and the changes in self identity that can coincide with having a baby. Through this intimate conversation, Leanna and Suzanne illuminate the profound impact of postpartum mental health, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and fostering self compassion in the journey of motherhood. The Transition to Motherhood Series highlights the challenges and the beauty of becoming a mother as a career focused, success driven, achievement oriented woman. Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Suzanne here and check out her 5-star Amazon bestseller, Post Pardon Me. Re-visit episodes one, two, and three of the Transition to Motherhood Series.

As the holiday season ramps up and time and energy feel especially scarce, this episode dives into one of the biggest hidden drains for high-achieving moms: negative thought spirals. Building on last week’s conversation about mom guilt, Leanna breaks down how these spirals form, why executive brains are particularly prone to them, and how quickly a single moment of disappointment, overwhelm, or uncertainty can turn into shame, self-doubt, and paralysis. She shares practical, compassionate tools to help you interrupt spirals, regain a sense of control, and redirect your thinking without forcing toxic positivity. This episode is a reminder that your thoughts are optional, progress matters more than perfection, and with a little practice, you can reclaim precious time and energy during the holidays and beyond. Full transcript available here. Re-visit last week’s episode, Holiday Mom Guilt for High Achievers. Check out Leanna’s Holiday Tips Series by connecting with her on Instagram @execcoachleanna or LinkedIn. Sign up for Leanna’s email list at coachleanna.com/connect for the latest information on her third annual January Reset for High Achieving Women!

In the third episode of the Transition to Motherhood Series, Annemieke Rice returns to recount her personal journey through fertility challenges, career changes, and her new role as a mother. She shares the emotional toll of infertility, the impact of work stress on fertility, and her long and grueling journey to conception. Annemieke sheds light on the difficulty of caring for a newborn while unable to reconcile the inability to physically perform as she had before a C-section, while also recovering from the trauma of a traumatic childbirth experience that varied greatly from her birth plan. The conversation extends to co-parenting dynamics, relationship management, and the intersection of parenting skills with work life. The Transition to Motherhood Series highlights the challenges and the beauty of becoming a mother as a career focused, success driven, achievement oriented woman. Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Annemieke here and re-visit episodes 8 and 38 to hear more from her! Re-visit the first episode and second episode of the Transition to Motherhood Series.

In the second episode of the Transition to Motherhood series, Amy Diehl, PhD, author of Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work, and IT executive, returns to discuss her personal story of becoming a mother via IVF in her late forties. She shares the journey from working long hours on her research and at her full time job to coping with postpartum anxiety during maternity leave and returning to work. Amy discusses the challenge of a new role at home and an evolving role at work, and the ultimate joy of caring for one’s own child. The Transition to Motherhood Series highlights the challenges and the beauty of becoming a mother as a career focused, success driven, achievement oriented woman. Full transcript here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Amy here. Re-visit episode 35 about Dr. Diehl’s gender bias research. Re-visit the first episode of the Transition to Motherhood Series.

In this first episode of the Transition to Motherhood Series, Leanna is joined once again by Andrea Palmer, this time for Andrea to share her story of becoming a mother. Andrea gets vulnerable, recounting the decision to have children, her heartbreaking loss, and ultimately the arrival of her beautiful daughter. The discussion explores the importance of support for new mothers in the workplace, the rewards of balancing work, family, and health, and the obstacles of recovering after pregnancy while propelling one’s career. Andrea also shares about her journey through postpartum depression and anxiety, and discusses the value of evaluating and strengthening your core values to serve your partnership as well as your parenthood. The Transition to Motherhood Series highlights the challenges and the beauty of becoming a mother as a career focused, success driven, achievement oriented woman. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here.  Connect with Andrea here. Revisit Leanna's interview with Andrea in part 1, part 2, and part 3.

Leanna hosts a dynamic panel of executive moms, including Annemieke Rice, Emily-Rose Barry, and Kate Griffin, delving into the challenges of working mothers in leadership roles and remote work settings. They emphasize the importance of nurturing family-friendly work cultures that prioritize flexibility and support for working parents to better manage the intricate balance between career and family.  Panelists share personal anecdotes and insights, emphasizing the need for authentic dialogue and a recalibration of societal expectations surrounding success and failure. Through vulnerability and introspection, the panel uncovers the complexities of navigating executive leadership roles while maintaining a fulfilling family life. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Annemieke here and revisit episode 8. Connect with Emily-Rose here and revisit episode 14. Connect with Kate here and revisit episode 12.

Leanna sits down with Elaine Benfield, a seasoned professional in the software tech industry with over 25 years of experience. Elaine shares her unique journey balancing a thriving career with motherhood, offering invaluable insights into work-life integration and the power of prioritization. From her early days navigating career choices to finding balance as a working mom, Elaine's story resonates with authenticity and resilience. Leanna and Elaine delve into the challenges faced by working mothers, including the importance of supportive work environments and the impact of female mentorship, as well as making decisions from an empowered position of knowing what matters most to you. More inspiring stories can be found on Elaine’s podcast Herstories. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Elaine here.

Leanna welcomes Sloan Echavarria, also known as “Sloan The Beast,” a successful entrepreneur running multiple businesses, mom of four, and chaos coach. Sloan shares her journey of embracing a life full of excitement and adventure, challenging the traditional suburban lifestyle. As a chaos coach, Sloan helps women navigate the delicate balance between motherhood and entrepreneurship, crafting intentional work-life harmony tailored to individual family dynamics. With a bustling household, multiple businesses, and an off-grid RV lifestyle, Sloan reveals her strategies for managing it all. She shares her strategy of prioritizing tasks through delegation, batching, and elimination. Sloan’s insights are a testament to the power of embracing chaos, nurturing family bonds, and designing a life that resonates with purpose and fulfillment. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Sloan here.

Leanna is joined by award winning IT leader and gender bias researcher, Amy Diehl, to shed light on the gender biases and challenges that women face in leadership, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of work-life conflicts on women in the workplace. Through discussions on gender barriers, including dismissal of ideas and diminishment, Amy reveals the systemic issues hindering women's advancement in the workplace. Drawing from personal stories and Amy’s qualitative research, Leanna and Amy explore how gender biases intersect with other identity factors such as age and parental status, leading to criticism and barriers to advancement. Through the lens of societal forces and systemic biases, the conversation highlights the complex dynamics of gender inequality in professional settings. Amy offers insights from her recently published book, Glass Walls, co-authored by Leanne Dzubinski, sharing strategies to navigate and challenge gender biases, including calling out discrimination, building support networks, and exploring alternative career paths when necessary. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Amy here.

In this educational episode, Leanna is joined by her sister, Laura Laskey, as they delve into the complex and evolving historical landscape of women's rights. The discussion explores pivotal moments such as the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the United States in 1920, marking a significant milestone in the quest for gender equality. Moving through the decades, they navigate the ebbs and flows of progress, acknowledging the challenges and triumphs that shaped the narrative of women's rights. From the Women's Liberation Movement to landmark legislation like Title IX, the conversation uncovers the foundations that paved the way for greater gender equality in education, the workplace, and beyond. They also discuss contemporary challenges, celebrating achievements while recognizing the ongoing global struggle for truly equal rights. Join them as they reflect on the strides made and the road that lies ahead. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Re-visit previous episodes with Laura: Unboxing Barbie and Holiday Burnout

This episode delves into the common self-reflective questions we often ask ourselves, such as "Am I doing it right?" and "Did I make the right decision?", while exploring the subjective nature of right or wrong. The episode addresses the tendency to second-guess decisions and the societal conditioning that leads many to believe they are not good at making decisions. Through real-life examples, Leanna discusses how individuals often internalize external situations, assuming they are doing something wrong. The importance of questioning these beliefs and choosing thoughts that serve personal well-being is emphasized, encouraging listeners to harness the power of self-authoring one's own journey. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Re-visit Episode 2.

In this episode, Leanna explores how overwhelm often precedes burnout, especially for high achievers. She delves into common responses to overwhelm, such as pushing forward without pause, withdrawing or escaping, and feeling paralyzed or stuck. Leanna emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging overwhelm as a normal part of the human experience, suggesting practical strategies for navigating it, including thought work, self-compassion, and the therapeutic practice of writing to release the burden of racing thoughts. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here.

I created the Holiday Tips series for ambitious high achieving women trying to juggle everything this holiday season -- closing out the fiscal year at work, coordinating holiday events, hosting, cooking, cleaning, communicating, shopping, wrapping. The mental load is extra heavy this time of year, and I'm hopeful these holiday tips will help make things a little lighter for you. Connect with me on Instagram @execcoachleanna or LinkedIn to tune into the full series.

In episode 31 of The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast, host Leanna Laskey discusses how the concept of “all or nothing” thinking can impact various aspects of life, from career expectations and parenting to goal setting and friendships. She highlights the limitations of this binary thinking and encourages listeners to embrace the gray areas, recognizing that excellence doesn't always require perfection. The episode provides valuable perspectives on self-care, decision-making, identity, and the challenges high achievers face when getting stuck in this way of thinking. Leanna offers practical insights for finding balance and joy amid the complexities of being a leader both at work and at home. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Check out the episodes where all or nothing thinking has shown up: Episode 30 Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 14 Episode 19 Episode 21 Episode 22 Episode 26 Episode 29

In today’s episode, Leanna dives into the self-coaching model, where she talks about how our thoughts shape our reality. She explains that our brains are meaning-making machines, turning neutral events into thoughts that can either empower or hinder us. Whether it's an email from the boss or a big life change, our interpretations of these events can profoundly impact our feelings and actions, and ultimately, our results. Leanna emphasizes that we often assume our thoughts are facts without questioning them. But she urges listeners to challenge these thoughts, especially the negative ones that might be holding them back. She shares stories of how lingering negative feedback or self-doubt can affect our confidence and performance, even long after the initial event. The episode wraps up with Leanna offering some thought-provoking questions for listeners to ponder. She encourages them to reflect on their own thought patterns and consider which ones might need a little tweaking to lead to more positive outcomes. Full transcript available here. Learn more about Leanna here.

In this episode of "Executive Coach for Moms", host Leanna Laskey McGrath reflects on the challenges of balancing independence and the need for help. Leanna discusses the societal emphasis on self-sufficiency and the impact it has on authentic connections. She explores the fear and resistance associated with asking for help, revealing how it can hinder meaningful relationships. Leanna delves into the concept of shedding the armor of self-sufficiency. Leanna shares her personal struggles and invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences with vulnerability. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Listen to the We Can Do Hard Things podcast episode. Listen to Brene Brown’s take on armor on the Tim Ferriss Show.

In this week's episode, Leanna discusses the practice of "shoulding" ourselves—believing we should be different, do more, or already know certain things—which is so common for high achieving women. She explores the reasons behind this mindset, such as high expectations, fear of public failure, and comparison. Leanna highlights the negative consequences of constantly feeling like we should be somewhere else and provides practical strategies for overcoming this mindset. She encourages the practice of curiosity, acceptance, reframing language, and finding purpose and enjoyment in the learning process. As with many other topics, Leanna encourages awareness and self-reflection, urging listeners to notice and question their "should" thoughts. Full transcript available here. Learn more about Leanna here. 

In this episode of the Executive Coach for Moms podcast, host Leanna Laskey McGrath delves into the importance of looking into the future and reflecting on how we want to live our lives. Drawing inspiration from the book "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" by Bronnie Ware, who worked as a palliative caregiver, Leanna shares the key regrets expressed by individuals at the end of their lives. Leanna encourages listeners to reflect on their own lives, prioritize what truly matters, and make intentional choices aligned with their values to ensure a future without such regrets. Full transcript available here.  Connect with Leanna here.  It’s not too late to join Leanna in the January 2024 Reset for High Achieving Women. 

In this episode, host Leanna Laskey McGrath reflects on the common pitfalls of New Year's goal-setting and proposes a more practical approach. Drawing from her personal experience, she introduces a more sustainable goal-setting framework based on focusing on two or three significant, overarching goals for the year. Leanna recounts her successful experience in 2017, emphasizing the importance of aligning decisions with priorities and remaining flexible to reassess goals. Leanna concludes by sharing her own goals for 2024, encouraging listeners to approach goal-setting with thoughtfulness and intention for a balanced and fulfilling life. Full transcript available here.  Connect with Leanna here.  It’s not too late to join Leanna in the January 2024 Reset for High Achieving Women here.  Check out 5 Reflection Questions for the End of the Year on The Connected Mom Life podcast. Check out New Year, Same You: Good News about Bad January Branding on We Can Do Hard Things podcast.

2024 is here! Happy New Year!! Join Leanna in the January 2024 Reset for High Achieving Women here.

Join Leanna in the January 2024 Reset for High Achieving Women here.  In this episode, Leanna and her sister, Laura Laskey, delve deep into the emotional rollercoaster that the holiday season often becomes for mothers. As the festive lights twinkle, many moms find themselves navigating through a maze of expectations, societal pressures, and personal desires. In this candid conversation, our hosts discuss the choices and consequences that come with managing the holiday hustle. They explore the dilemma of deciding whether to embrace the endless tasks or risk facing the guilt and judgement that may follow the decision to let go of certain traditions. Our hosts share their experiences with the mental load that often falls heavily on moms during the holiday season. From the intricate planning of festivities to managing the expectations of family members, they shed light on the complexities of balancing work, family, and personal well-being. The episode delves into the challenges of delegating tasks, the ongoing battle with perfectionism, and the struggle to find joy amid the overwhelming demands. It is an honest and enlightening conversation that validates the experiences of moms navigating the holiday maze, providing a space where listeners can relate, reflect, and find solace in shared stories. Full transcript available here.  Connect with Leanna here.  Re-visit the Unboxing Barbie episode here.

Sign up for the January 2024 Reset for High Achieving Women! https://www.coachleanna.com/january2024 Laura Nguyen joins this compelling episode as a seasoned executive mom who not only weathered the storm of burnout herself but has since become a guiding force for others facing the same struggles. Laura shares her unique journey, mirroring the experiences of many high-achieving women, as she climbed the corporate ladder and encountered the stark reality of burnout. Laura delves into the pivotal moments that led to her career break, shifting her priorities and perspectives dramatically. She candidly discusses her three-month immersion into her Play, Pause, Plan approach, providing a nuanced glimpse into her path of rediscovery. The episode concludes with a sneak peek into her upcoming book, slated for release next September, offering a comprehensive guide for navigating career breaks and cultivating a life aligned with core values. Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here.  Connect with Laura here or on LinkedIn.   Re-visit the Holiday magic episode here. Join Leanna in the January 2024 Reset for High Achieving Women here. 

Jess Kitt is back for part 2 to discuss her recent departure from her executive role, examining the profound impact on her life. As a high achiever, Jess candidly explores the fears and uncertainties accompanying unexpected job loss, delving into the complexity of expressing vulnerability and the anxiety surrounding future decisions. The episode captures Jess's journey of self-discovery, discussing the emotional intricacies beyond the initial task-oriented response and offering a relatable narrative for listeners experiencing unexpected career transitions. The conversation unfolds into Jess questioning her instincts and self-awareness, revealing the dual narrative of hope and fear as she grapples with the unknown. Leanna and Jess discuss the delicate balance between safeguarding against future pain and summoning the courage to embrace new opportunities, offering a raw and authentic exploration of the emotional aftermath of unexpected career shifts. Listen to the first episode with Jess here.  Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here.  Connect with Jess here. 

I created the Holiday Tips series for ambitious high achieving women trying to juggle everything this holiday season -- closing out the fiscal year at work, coordinating holiday events, hosting, cooking, cleaning, communicating, shopping, wrapping. The mental load is extra heavy this time of year, and I'm hopeful these holiday tips will help make things a little lighter for you. Connect with me on Instagram @execcoachleanna or LinkedIn to tune into the full series.

In today's quick episode, Leanna is sharing gratitude for her listeners, guests, and supporters, and one tip for enjoying the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here.

Today, Leanna is joined by Jess Kitt, who is talking about her experience in her first executive role, and her recent transition out of it. They explore navigating tough waters in a male-dominated company when our values and the organization’s values don’t align. Should we abandon our authentic selves to be successful in the organization, or stay true to ourselves and potentially risk our jobs? How much time and energy do we spend questioning ourselves and experiencing imposter syndrome, assuming that we must be the problem? And, perhaps most importantly, who determines our worth and value — us? Or our organization? Full transcript available here. Connect with Leanna here. Connect with Jess here.

The holiday season is upon us! Are you feeling excitement, or dread, or a little bit of both? Holidays can be tough for moms, who often take on the brunt of the mental load. And while of course we love making the holidays magical for our families, it can be really draining trying to balance all the magic making and holiday events on top of everything else in our day-to-day lives. Today, we welcome Emily Rose Hardy to the podcast! Emily is a Motherhood Mindset Coach and host of The Worthy Mother Podcast, and today she and Leanna are talking about one of her favorite topics: self care for busy moms. We’ll discuss the extra challenges moms face during the holiday season and some strategies for actually enjoying them this year, rather than spending the next two months stressed out and overwhelmed while everyone around you enjoys the fruits of your labor. We hope this conversation helps you kick off the holiday season with a fresh perspective, because we ALL deserve to enjoy the holidays with our people. Happy holiday season everyone! Connect with Emily here. Connect with Leanna here.  Full transcript available here. 

Today’s episode is a quick update on The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast, including: Please share your feedback! As we’re planning episodes for 2024, we’d love to incorporate listener feedback. Tell us what you want to hear more about in written or voice format on the podcast website.  The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast will be moving to biweekly episodes in November & December during the holiday season. Coming soon: a new email list to keep in touch with and engage our listeners, and a January group program for women in leadership + executive moms to start off the year strong! Listen to the episode for more details. Thank you for being a valued listener and member of The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast community! Full transcript available here.  Connect with Leanna on the podcast website: https://podcast.coachleanna.com/contact/

Today’s guest is Emily Siegel, host of the Connected Mom Life Podcast and creator of the Mom Friends community. She has relocated multiple times and has therefore had to create her village in each place. She’s learned a lot through these experience and she shares some of her valuable insights about making friends and building community in motherhood. Emily and Leanna discuss some of the mindsets holding us back from true connection, and she also shares some practical advice for actions to take to foster more connection. They talk about strategies for creating authentic connections at the playground, in our neighborhoods, and at work. Sometimes building and maintaining friendships can feel like one more thing on our massive to do lists, and it’s often something that gets deprioritized, and Emily shares helpful reframes and perspectives to start looking at it in a way that feels more doable. Connect with Emily here.  Connect with Leanna here. Full transcript available here.

In today’s episode, Leanna is talking with Erica Music, an athlete, educator, mother, speaker, and author, who shares her inspiring journey of resilience. Erica's story emphasizes the importance of building a strong support network and setting and achieving goals as a working mother. She challenges the belief that we must do everything alone and highlights the power of intention and focus on a goal. Erica and Leanna explore the theme of resilience and how it can empower women in their dual roles as leaders at work and at home. Erica’s message of determination and strength will leave you feeling inspired and motivated! Learn more about Erica Music at www.ericanmusic.com.  Connect with Leanna here.  Full transcript available here. 

Content warning: miscarriage and pregnancy loss October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and today Leanna is having a beautiful conversation with Kami Wernimont, certified life coach, miscarriage doula, and Founder & President of Let the Light In (LTLI). LTLI is a new nonprofit to support women through their journeys with miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Kami shares her own story, which includes two losses after her fist two children, and a long journey to healing. She talks openly and honestly about the struggles she experienced emotionally and with her mental health. Kami and Leanna discuss how we can better support the 1 in 4 women experiencing the grief of these devastating losses, and where to find help. Find Kami Wernimont at ltli.org. Connect with Leanna here. Full transcript available here. 

Dr. Miranda Walichowski joins Leanna for a highly impactful conversation for working moms. Miranda does it all — she is a business owner, a professor, a mother of 5, a devoted wife and woman of faith, and a competitive powerlifter. Trying to balance all of this might feel leave one feeling regularly stuck in stress and overwhelm, but Miranda has found a way to juggle it all while genuinely enjoying her life. She shares how she does it with some tangible strategies, like focusing on the highest impact activities, regularly checking in with herself and those around her, carving out time for herself and honoring it, prioritizing her health and mindset, and giving herself grace. She shares how she overcame her own anxiety and freed herself from all the pressure she was putting on herself. There is so much to learn from this powerful conversation! Connect with Miranda here. Connect with Leanna here.  Full transcript available here. 

This week, Leanna coaches Allie, who has been feeling stuck in her career and comes to the conversation looking for strategies for how to advance her career. But through the coaching conversation, she discovers that her definition of success and how she "should" be living is very much informed externally, and it may be time for her to rewrite her own definition of what success means to her. They discuss leadership, worthiness, success, and so much more in this incredibly powerful coaching conversation.  If you enjoy this format, also check out Episode 7. If you're interested in participating in a coaching conversation with Leanna for the podcast, please complete this form. Full transcript available here.

In this special back to school bonus episode, Leanna and her young daughter talk about the challenges of the transition to preschool and what helped to make the drop off process a lot smoother. Knowing there are children and caretakers out there struggling with this too, we hope this episode is helpful to share both solidarity and ideas to help make the transition easier for everyone. Connect with Leanna here. Full transcript available here. 

I created the Holiday Tips series for ambitious high achieving women trying to juggle everything this holiday season -- closing out the fiscal year at work, coordinating holiday events, hosting, cooking, cleaning, communicating, shopping, wrapping. The mental load is extra heavy this time of year, and I'm hopeful these holiday tips will help make things a little lighter for you. Connect with me on Instagram @execcoachleanna or LinkedIn to tune into the full series and join us for the Seasonal Support Sessions.

Imposter Syndrome. It’s something that so many of us experience, especially women. It’s that crushing feeling that everybody’s going to find out we’re a fraud. That belief that we were put in our positions by accident or by luck, and if only everybody knew how flawed we are, our whole world would come crashing down. So we put on our tough skin and we “fake it til we make it” and we hustle and work ourselves into the ground and keep running so fast so nobody can catch us and find out who we really are. It shows up at work, often the higher we climb, and it shows up in parenthood. Today’s guest is Emily-Rose Barry, VP Product and mom of two, and she and Leanna discuss how imposter syndrome has shown up for them in their various leadership roles. Emily-Rose shares the strategies and practices she’s used to move past imposter syndrome, which are so helpful for anyone experiencing this. Connect with Emily-Rose here.  Full transcript available here. 

As ambitious women and moms, we’re often our toughest critics. We can be so hard on ourselves, and often we attribute this “being tough on ourselves” to how we’ve gotten to where we are today, making it a more difficult thought pattern to want to change. While it may be true that being tough on ourselves and beating ourselves up when we don’t meet our own (often unrealistic) expectations may have been a factor in our success in the past, it’s not the only way to reach our goals. And one could argue, it’s not the best way if we want to actually enjoy our lives. When we consciously practice being kinder to ourselves, we may find it actually unlocks so much more potential — and helps us enjoy the journey to our many success destinations. Join host Leanna Laskey McGrath, recovering perfectionist and workaholic, as she shares the process she used to start being kinder to herself, and what she’s discovered as a result of this practice. Full transcript available here.

Leanna interviews Kate Griffin, Vice President of a management consulting firm, and mom of 3 young children. She shares her journey through higher ed and tech, as well as some career pivots she’s made along the way that have been instrumental in leading her to her current situation, which is very ideal for her. She’s in a leadership role at a company that she loves and that supports her as a working mom and affords her the space to show up as the mom she wants to be, and the leader she wants to be as well. She shares some of her struggles and challenges along the way, but listeners will walk away with some hope that there are companies out there who value and support working parents and families, and that is possible to find that balance of influential executive and amazing mother. Connect with Kate Griffin, VP Delivery Services, here. Connect with Leanna Laskey McGrath here.  Full transcript available here.