Why Motherhood Was the Best Leadership Training I Ever Had
I thought I was pausing my career. Turns out, I was training for it.
The Expectations of Motherhood
“Being a mother will be the hardest and most rewarding thing you will ever do.”
As an expecting mother, I heard this a lot.
Of course, I thought. I was pressing pause on my career for this.
What I didn’t realize, was its full meaning—until I became one.
Sleepless nights. Warm cuddles. Tantrums. “Mama”.
Hard. Rewarding.
This, I expected.
But what I didn’t expect? A crash course in leadership skills.
I came out sharper—more resilient, clearer, and deeply thoughtful.
Now, over four years later, I continue to reap the rewards as a working mother.
I discovered that motherhood isn’t a detour; it’s leadership in its rawest form.
Leadership Training in Disguise
Each day, I juggle two identities: mother and leader.
And the parallels between them aren’t just reflections; they’re revelations.
Here’s what I learned from motherhood that made me a better leader:
1. When Pressure Mounts, Stay Steady
The Power of Composure
Motherhood. Three months in.
I’d lost count of the days. I was cranky. Self-loathing. Exhausted.
And then she cried. For me.
Deprivation drove me. I snapped.
Ah—
Too late. The cries pierced. Shame deepened. Anger rose.
I collapsed.
Be kind, I whispered. This is not the mother I want to be.
Over time, I grew. Became more aware. More in tune. Some days (still), I fell short. But each one made me steadier.
I learned: The energy you give is the energy you get.
So I showed up. Calm and confident. For her. For me.
I didn't see it then, but that lesson shaped how I lead under pressure.
At work, the stakes are different but the tension is similar.
My colleagues are smart. The problems are complex. The pressure, relentless. Excellence, a must.
But not everyone handles pressure well. Emotions rise quickly. The air can sour, fast.
Motherhood taught me to stay steady.
To focus on the deeper message; not just the emotion.
To be a calming force in the room.
At home and at work, I learned: how you respond can change the room.
2. From “More” to Meaning
The Power of Clarity
Motherhood. Nine months in.
My daughter started solids at six months. We taught her sign language: “Hungry”. “More”. “Done”.
We could communicate. It gave her autonomy—and me, freedom.
As she learned to speak, we distilled everything.
“Wait”. “Poo poo”. “Scary”.
No fluff. No excuses. Just clear meaning.
At work, we forget this. Jargon creeps in.
A marketer asks, “Based on our media strategy, what are the segments for this GTM plan?”
A product owner says, “I need to write this story’s AC in time for pre-refinement.”
To anyone outside their domain, it’s noise.
Miscommunication is often the root of workplace problems.
Speak plainly so everyone understands. Always.
3. Empathy Starts on the Floor
The Power of Listening
Motherhood. Two years in.
Ah, the terrible twos. The year of tantrums. “I wanted to open it”, “I’m hungry”, “I don’t know”.
Too many to count.
At two, children feel everything but don’t yet understand why.
Tell a toddler to “calm down” mid-meltdown? Good luck.
So I learned to wait. To kneel. And to speak in a way she could hear.
“You’re angry because I said no. I get it. It’s hard not getting what you want. But you don’t get what you want with aggression. Here’s how you ask…”
Acknowledge emotion. Create space. Then guide.
At work, it’s no different. People want to be seen. Heard. Understood.
Only then can you lead them.
Motherhood is Leadership
I honed many other skills as a mother: time management, context switching, mental stamina, to name a few.
But these three—restraint, clarity, empathy—have shaped my career in ways I never expected.
Leadership doesn’t always start from titles or training. It often comes from lived experience.
If you’ve made it through the 2am feedings, the endless negotiations, and the irrational emotions—you’ve led.
Own that.
Motherhood is a Superpower—lead with it.
