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Leadership & Motherhood

Leadership & Motherhood

By: WRKdefined Podcast Network
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Summary

 Leadership and Motherhood reframes motherhood as a powerful leadership development experience. Featuring candid conversations and practical insight, the show challenges outdated workplace norms and equips women to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact. Hosted by Leanna Laskey McGrath, former tech exec turned full-time mom, recovering perfectionist and workaholic, and certified executive coach.All rights reserved by WRKdefined Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • What a Nail in My Tire Taught Me About Resilience, Gratitude, and Empowerment

    What a Nail in My Tire Taught Me About Resilience, Gratitude, and Empowerment
    May 2 2026
    What do you do when something goes wrong at the worst possible moment? In this episode, I'm sharing a story from earlier this week — a flat tire, pouring rain, and a coaching mastermind I didn’t want to be late to — and the one sentence that kept me from completely spiraling. That sentence: "This is my curriculum for today." It sounds simple, but the shift it creates is profound. When we hit an unexpected obstacle, most of us default to resistance — why me, why now, this always happens — and without even realizing it, we hand over our power to the situation. This reframe does the opposite. It cuts through the drama, puts you back in the driver's seat (pun intended), and opens the door to something most people don't expect to feel in a hard moment: gratitude and genuine power. In this episode I walk you through exactly what happened, how I handled it, and why the way we think about our circumstances determines not just how we feel, but how we show up — at work, at home, and everywhere in between. This one is for every high-achieving woman who has ever let a curveball derail her day, her mood, or her confidence. In this episode you'll learn: Why fighting against reality is always a losing battle — and what to do instead How one sentence can interrupt a panic spiral before it takes over The difference between things happening to you vs. for you How your thoughts directly shape your emotions and your ability to show up powerfully Why gratitude is accessible even in the most frustrating moments — and how to get there quickly Coaching is the thing that’s helped me choose more empowering sentences to support me in these tough moments. If you’d like to experience the power of coaching for yourself, join me in May to celebrate ICF’s International Coaching Week with a “Try Coaching” session. It’s the one time a year I offer free 1:1 coaching. Sign up here.
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    11 mins
  • From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Why High Achieving Women Feel Stuck and How to Take Back Control

    From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Why High Achieving Women Feel Stuck and How to Take Back Control
    Apr 30 2026
    What if the reason you feel overwhelmed isn’t just about your circumstances, but also how you’re thinking about them? In this episode, Leanna Laskey McGrath explores the shift from feeling stuck and out of control to becoming truly empowered in your life and leadership. Drawing from her own experience as a corporate executive and new mom, she shares how easy it is to fall into a pattern of overwhelm, even when you’ve created the life you thought you wanted. Through a powerful comparison of two women with identical circumstances but completely different experiences, Leanna reveals the real difference maker: mindset. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re operating from a disempowered place, the subtle ways it shows up in your thoughts and stories, and how to shift back into control, starting with what’s already within your power. If you’ve been feeling stuck, stretched thin, or like life is happening to you, this episode will help you reconnect with your agency and take your power back. 🎯 Ready to go from overwhelmed to empowered? Free “Try Coaching” sessions are available this May. Come experience the shift for yourself. Schedule Now!
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    16 mins
  • Three High Achieving Women on Choosing Themselves in Motherhood and Leadership - with Annemieke Rice and Andrea Palmer

    Three High Achieving Women on Choosing Themselves in Motherhood and Leadership - with Annemieke Rice and Andrea Palmer
    Apr 23 2026
    This episode is a candid, thought-provoking conversation with three executive mom friends: Leanna Laskey McGrath, Annemieke Rice, and Andrea Palmer, on what happens when high-achieving women can no longer rely on the same habits, identities, and definitions of success that once drove them. Together, they explore the shift from effort-based value to experience-based leadership, and why motherhood doesn’t diminish ambition, but transforms it. This conversation challenges the idea that success comes from pushing harder, and instead invites a more nuanced question: What actually matters in this season of your life? They discuss: Why “doing what’s right for you right now” is more powerful than planning for forever How motherhood expands your capacity and your leadership The redefinition of value beyond hard work and long hours Choosing presence over urgency (and why you’ll “lose the time” either way) The role of aligned environments in making success sustainable Turning up joy instead of trying to eliminate difficulty The idea that there isn’t one path to fulfillment, leadership, or contribution At its core, this episode is about self-trust, seasons, agency, and the courage to choose a version of success that reflects who you are now, not who you used to be. Connect with Annemieke here. Connect with Andrea here. Last call for April "Defining Enough” Mini-Sessions! If you are constantly feeling like you’re not giving enough at work and/or at home, join me for a free 45 minute mini session. You’ll walk away feeling a little lighter and a lot more empowered. Register now!
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    55 mins
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