Motherhood CEO Leadership Skills: Unlock Your Power Moves
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- Jan 3
- 5 min read
From Playdates to Power Moves: How Motherhood Makes You a CEO Rockstar
Hey lovely ladies, Carlene here! Let's talk about something super close to my heart – motherhood. Juggling four kids (my teenage daughter testing the limits of Wi-Fi patience with her endless streaming, my six-year-old’s sudden fascination with incredibly loud musical instruments, a toddler who believes everything is a climbing frame, and a baby who communicates primarily through adorable yet indecipherable gurgles), a PhD, two energetic Miniature Pinschers (Cappuccino, the serene matriarch, and Espresso, the furry tornado), and running a business… well, let's just say "organised chaos" is my middle name. Sound familiar? Thought so!
For a while, if I'm honest, I struggled to see how all this "mum stuff" was actually an asset in my business. It felt more like a never-ending obstacle course than CEO training.For a while, if I'm honest, I struggled to see how all this "mum stuff" was actually an asset in my business. It felt more like a never-ending obstacle course than CEO training. But then, a funny thing happened. I remember when I completely botched a client proposal because I was so sleep-deprived from night feeds that I mixed up the numbers, completely undermining my credibility. It taught me, painfully, that even "mum-brain" needs systems and support to function effectively in the business world. I started noticing patterns, connecting the dots between the daily juggle of motherhood and the very skills that make a successful entrepreneur.
Now, honestly, I've noticed something interesting. This beautiful chaos of motherhood, the constant juggling, the unexpected curveballs (like the time my toddler decided to "decorate" my laptop with peanut butter moments before a crucial video conference, or when my carefully planned webinar launch coincided with a stomach bug epidemic in my household), it’s actually shaping us into some pretty incredible CEOs. In fact, I’d argue that motherhood is a secret weapon, a leadership bootcamp that traditional business schools just can’t replicate.
The Unexpected CEO Training Ground
Think about it. What does a CEO do? They lead, they strategize, they build teams, they make tough decisions under pressure, and they adapt like chameleons to ever-changing market conditions. Sounds a lot like the daily reality of motherhood, doesn’t it?
Remember that time your carefully planned family outing turned into a full-blown meltdown extravaganza because your toddler decided shoes were the enemy? Or when your meticulously crafted weekly schedule dissolved faster than a biscuit in a cup of tea because of a surprise school closure? You didn’t throw in the towel (even though you really, really wanted to). You pivoted. You improvised. You found a solution, even if it involved a questionable amount of screen time & bribery with chocolate. That’sCEO material right there!CEO material right there! I remember one time, my eldest needed a very specific type of glitter for a school project due the next day (naturally, this was discovered at 8pm the night before). After a frantic dash to three different shops, we finally found the right kind, only to realise we’d left the glue at home. Cue another frantic improvisation session involving sticky tape & a prayer. It wasn’t pretty, but it got done. That’s the mum-CEO magic in action!
Reframing the "Liability" Myth
For far too long, motherhood has been viewed as a liability in the business world. I’ve heard it all – the concerns about “divided attention,” the worries about “lack of commitment,” the assumption that we can’t possibly juggle the demands of a family & a thriving business. Well, let me tell you, that’s utter rubbish!
My own journey, juggling multiple businesses, four kids, a PhD (which often feels like trying to write a novel in a bouncy castle), & a household that could rival a small zoo, has proven that these perceived “limitations” are actually our superpowers. As Myron Golden says, “To become the tree, you have to cease being the seed.” We, my friends, are masters of resourcefulness. We can stretch a budget further than a toddler can stretch a piece of bubblegum. We can negotiate a truce between warring siblings with the diplomacy of a seasoned UN ambassador. We can operate on minimal sleep & still manage to string coherent sentences together (most of the time). These are not weaknesses; these are strengths.
From "Mummy Brain" to Strategic Brilliance
Ever feel like your brain is a browser with a million tabs open, all vying for your attention? Yeah, that’s the “mummy brain” they talk about. But what if I told you that this seemingly scattered mental landscape is actually cultivating a unique form of strategic brilliance?
We’re constantly processing information. We’re anticipating needs, assessing risks, & making split-second decisions. We're masters of prioritisation. We're constantly evaluating what truly matters (like ensuring everyone is fed, clothed, and relatively sane) and letting go of the less important stuff. This constant filtering and focusing is a CEO superpower!
We’re juggling multiple priorities.
We're managing competing demands.
And somehow, miraculously, we're keeping everything (mostly) afloat.
This isn’t just multitasking; it’s a high-level form of strategic thinking that translates directly into the boardroom. We are, after all, the ultimate project managers. I mean, have you ever tried to organise a birthday party for a six-year-old? That’s project management on steroids!
Empathy: Your Secret Weapon for Building Powerful Teams
Motherhood hones another incredibly valuable CEO skill – empathy. We’re constantly tuning into the emotional needs of our children, deciphering their sometimes cryptic communications (like the toddler’s insistence that the cat is saying “banana”), & responding with understanding and compassion. This ability to connect with others on a deeply human level is invaluable for building strong, motivated teams. It’s about understanding that behind every employee, every client, every team member, is a whole person with their own unique set of needs, motivations, and challenges. That kind of emotional intelligence, that ability to truly see people, is the cornerstone of exceptional leadership.
Redefining Success: Building a Legacy, Not Just a Business
Finally, let’s talk about legacy. As mothers, we’re inherently focused on building something that lasts, something bigger than ourselves. We’re not just building businesses; we’re building legacies for our children. Did you know that, according to the 2023 American Express State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, women-owned businesses are growing at a rate significantly higher than the national average? We’re not just here to make a living; we’re here to make a difference. We’re teaching them about resilience, about resourcefulness, about the importance of following your passion, and about the power of creating something meaningful. This long-term vision, this drive to create a positive impact that extends beyond our own lifetime, informs every decision we make, every strategy we implement, & every team we build.
Carlene Nisbett
Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)
Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift
P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!
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