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Achieving a balance between work and motherhood is necessary for sustained success and personal fulfillment. Yet, finding that balance always seems to be elusive. Here, 12 dynamic moms and trailblazing CEOs share their best strategies and tips on how they aim to achieve this balance.
Accept imperfection
As working parents, we carry a ton of guilt and set ourselves up for disappointment when we try to adhere to society’s standards of doing it all or carrying it all. As a former network news anchor turned founder/CEO, I’ve learned to drop the perfectionism and, instead, accept that every day I’ll drop a ball or two…or even three.
The key is: Keep the glass balls in the air (because those ones shatter), and let the plastic ones fall. In doing that, I drop the perfectionism, get my priorities in order, and embrace my humanity, showing my family what it means to give oneself (and others) plenty of grace.
Paula Faris
Founder of CARRY Media, Journalist, & Author
Build a support network
As a CEO and mom, I’m navigating a complex maze. I’ve learned to ask for help. I’ve built a strong support network both at home and at work, and I’m not afraid to ask for help when I need it. Whether it’s delegating tasks to my team or leaning on my husband and extended family for support, I’ve come to realize that I don’t have to do it
all alone.
I will mess up, I will miss out, I will make it happen, and all of that is okay.
Netta Jenkins
CEO, Aerodei
Teach kids entrepreneurship
As the mom of two teenagers, one of the best ways that I balance being a mother and a CEO is by including my children in
conversations surrounding my business and teaching them facets of entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
Not only does it keep them engaged and interested in what I am working on, but it also keeps us connected. Sharing what I am working on gives them insight into entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, branding, and, most importantly, how they too can pursue their dreams. Their time left with me at home is limited, and I am focused on making the very most of it as a family while modeling what entrepreneurship is in practice.
Alexis Rivera Scott
Founder & CEO, The Fairy Job Mom
Embrace chaordic leadership
I’ve been a mother, also known as a leader, for 10 years now. Having said this, the essential strategy I learned was the chaordic leadership model.
“Chaordic” is a term combining the words “chaos” and “order.” Usually, we think about a CEO as representing order and motherhood as representing chaos. When we learn that both are required to find creativity, balance, safety, and innovation, our satisfaction and performance are enhanced.
Paula Costa
Working Moms Mentor, Yes Mom, You Can
Set clear work availability boundaries
The most powerful strategy I’ve adopted is to use my values to clearly identify boundaries. The most impactful boundary I’ve created—and clearly communicated—is around my paid working availability.
For example, I do not have Slack app notifications on my phone to limit distractions. If I receive a message after working hours, colleagues and clients know they will not receive a response until the following day. This boundary has created a powerful separation between my paid work and home life that empowers me to be fully present and bring the best version of myself to both.
Tara Ryan
CEO & Founder, InfiniDEI
Manage expectations and establish rhythm
Managing life as a mom and CEO can be challenging, but one of the greatest things that helped me in the transition was to manage my expectations about this season of life. Understanding that my capacity was different allowed me to release the pressure of what productivity looked like previously.
When it came to motherhood, I changed my mindset from, “I have to” to “I get to.”
Phylicia Pough
Founder, Operations Consultant, The Mom CEO Suite
Dedicate [your] full attention to each role
As a child-life specialist in hospitals, I always dedicated myself fully to every family I encountered because they deserve nothing less from their care team. Now, as a mom and CEO, I apply the same principle.
When I’m with my children, they receive all my attention, and when I’m working, I’m completely focused. I’ve learned that attempting to juggle everything simultaneously only dilutes my ability to fully excel in each role I take on.
Katie Taylor
Cofounder & CEO, Child Life On Call
Create CEO-support systems
I’ve taken several steps to create my ultimate CEO-support model, including documenting all company standards and processes, ensuring I have the right administrative and strategic support, onboarding my team to a highly effective project management tech stack, and ensuring widespread transparency and communication with my team and family about my flexibility goals as CEO.
Being intentional about these CEO hacks have allowed me to never miss a milestone with my business and, most importantly, feel immense satisfaction and fulfillment as a new mom to my little guy.
Maggie Olson
Owner & Founder, Nova Chief of Staff
Create a routine and delegate
The best strategy I can give on balancing being a mom and a CEO is to prioritize and delegate. One way to do this is by creating a schedule or routine that works for both roles. This could mean setting aside specific blocks of time for work and family and making sure to stick to it as much as possible. It’s also important to communicate with your team at work and your family at home about your schedule so that everyone is on the same page and can support you in maintaining this balance.
Amira Irfan
Founder & CEO, A Self Guru
Acknowledge the pendulum swing
As a mother and CEO, I remind myself daily that there will always be a swing to the pendulum [when] my career will require more of me one day, and then the next day, the pendulum shifts, and parenting has to come first.
Too often, our expectations of ourselves are beyond our reach when it comes to being the perfect parent and the entrepreneur expected to do it all. In those hard days of self-doubt, I tell myself that there is perfection in imperfection, which has more powerful learnings to support building a successful organization and being the parent I strive to be [rather] than reaching for flawlessness in both.
Kimberly Didrikson
CEO, Learning Motherhood
Quality time over quantity
I am a single mom raising two boys, and life is beautiful.
As a mom, I’ve learned that it’s okay not to be present at every soccer game or school pickup. Each of us has our unique path to navigate. What matters most is the quality of time we spend together. Quality over quantity has been the cornerstone of my parenting philosophy, allowing me to excel in both my roles as a mom and a CEO.
Remember, moms, you are not measured by the number of hours you spend at home but by the love and wisdom you impart during the moments you share. Quality time is indeed the key to nurturing strong bonds and building resilient relationships with our children.
Nageen Riffat
Leadership Development & Training Specialist, Nyn’s Dreams
Adjust client schedule for family
I was a busy mother of two before I left my job as vice president of human resources to start my own executive-coaching business.
I struggled with switching between work and family time, so I decided to adjust my client schedule to serve clients only on Monday and Tuesday, allowing me to spend the rest of the week with my family.
I have an amazing support system, and my husband is an equal partner who helps me manage the day-to-day tasks, especially during my workdays.
As a working mom, I often experience mom guilt, feeling like I’m not doing enough for my kids and around the house. Most days feel like organized chaos, but as long as my family and business are thriving, I know that I’m on the right track.
April Little
Founder & CEO, Little Talent Group
How do you balance being a mom and a CEO?
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