Can mothers do it all?
KeyNote - Women Speakers Directory
Bringing diversity to speaking stages around the world
With Mother's day coming around the corner we wanted to debunk a common myth - mums can't balance work and home life. Being a mother is hard work already and working as well puts a new level of pressure. But sadly the workplace instead of encouraging and supporting them have judged them and put stereotypes which makes working mums' jobs even harder.
What are some of the stereotypes out there?
There is a lot of expectation on working mums and what is usually the case is that they work even more because of the pressures. So we decided to ask our inspirational thought leaders and amazing mothers to share their own personal experiences and what they have to say about balancing work and home. Here is what they had to say:
Veronica Llorca-Smith ?? is a Public Speaker who focuses on Inclusion, Culture and Growth Mindset. As the published author of 2 books, she is an avid DEI advocate on social media and was nominated for the Diversity Lead of the Year Award 2023 by Women in IT Asia. She is also an amateur triathlete which has helped her to bring inspiration and actionable frameworks in her sessions. Veronica speaks 6 languages and uses the language of inclusion to bridge cultures and help individuals and teams excel in diverse environments. Veronica today shares how she is able to keep focus as she balances being a working mum:
"Juggling work and parenting is hard, but at the end of the day, I always remind myself that my most important job is CEM - Chief Executive Mum." Having this focus helps Veronica to prioritise as well as encourages to keep pursuing a professional career because all that she does isn't just for herself but for her family.
Ruchi Parekh, PCC is a trained lawyer by profession but with self-doubt, low confidence and an ugly divorce she became directionless. On a quest to discover her purpose she found her calling: Coaching. She is now an Executive Coach, NLP Practitioner and speaker who shares on Leadership, Empowerment and Self-Confidence. She helps high-potential professionals build emotional resilience and a positive mindset to get to the next level in their lives, professionally and personally. She supports executives and employees to improve individual, team, and company performance with a focus on wellbeing, stress management, and productivity.?Today she shares what it is like being a working mum:
"A working mother's heart is like a gorgeous cloth woven from threads of ambition and worry. We carry the weight of deadlines on our shoulders while chasing our kids. Our minds race with spreadsheets and spelling tests, our love a constant current beneath the ever-changing tides of guilt and pride. We are the architects of sandcastles built on the beach of time, knowing the tide will inevitably wash them away, we are the jugglers who try not to drop the most precious balls, even when exhaustion threatens to pull our hands down. We are the bridge between worlds, fierce protectors in the boardroom, storytellers tucked under warm blankets at night. The world may see us differently , but we are whole in the tapestry we weave, a testament to the boundless capacity of a mother's love."
Lissy Ann Puno is a counseling psychologist who has helped children, teens, couples, and families achieve emotional well-being. She is one of the founding directors of International Counselling & Psychology Centre and has authored two books on building and maintaining?genuine connectedness as the basis for lifelong relationships and marriages.?She is a resource speaker who has special interests on parenting, relationships and marriage, midlife transition, children and anxiety. Today Lissy shares the key in how she was able to main healthy relationships with her sons while working:
"Happy women, happy mothers! When we are able to practice self care and self compassion, it seems easier to give unconditional love and kindness as well. As a working mom and psychologist of 30 years, I was able to go with the ebb and flow of my career and my commitment to being an engaged and connected mother throughout the stages of life because of this. I enjoy my relationship with my two adult sons in spite of them having flown the nest as I look a back at the seeds of connection that I planted in their younger years."
Dalia Feldheim is an Organisational Psychologist, TedX speaker and Founder of Uppiness and Flow Leadership consultancy. She is also an ICF accredited coach, a qualified psychodynamic group therapist, and yoga & meditation trainer. She is a sought- after international keynote speaker, executive coach and organisational consultant on a mission to humanise the workplace and drive resilience and joy at work so more leaders men as well as women connect to their softer skills and dare to lead like a girl! That inspiration led her to write 2 books - 'Dare to Lead like a Girl' and her 2nd edition ‘Lead Like A Girl’ which is available now. Today Dalia shares how to be able to juggle it all as a mum:
In her book she talks about parenting and the key is to "be there for the moments that count and make the moments you there count." With the struggle to juggle we can miss the moments as we get caught to the distractions of being busy. Without realising we can loose our joy in the process. But if we're able to take pauses and soak all the little things it will help us not only be a better mothers but a better leaders.
Dalia speaks on Happiness, resilience and emotional bravery, to book her for your next event click here or to order her latest book 'Lead like a Girl' click here
It was during a successful professional life, combined with evolving family life, that Anupama Murali discovered that living life being inspired and relaxed at the same time is not so much about adopting new strategies, it is rather about realigning oneself. She now empowers professionals to shift from reactive to intentional living through her 'Achieve with Equilibrium' coaching, transformational talks, and leadership development programs. As a Leadership Coach & Facilitator, Keynote Speaker, Amazon Best-selling Author and mother she shares today her personal experience of motherhood:
"Becoming a mom was a whirlwind that temporarily swept me away from feeling human. I placed relentless pressure on myself to excel at every aspect of parenting, leaving me utterly drained and devoid of joy. It was a pivotal moment when I realized that it's perfectly okay to not have all the answers, to stumble, to feel lost, and to reach out for help. Embracing vulnerability transformed me into a more resilient and compassionate person. I've learned that true balance between work and life isn't about striving for perfection but rather about discovering inner harmony. Being a parent enabled me to learn this in a draining and rewarding way”.
Ivana Fertitta is an Italian Psychologist, Corporate Trainer & Consultant, Well-being and Happiness Coach, Professional Speaker and Author living in Singapore with her husband and son. Today she shares her experience being a mum and going back into the workforce once having her son:
"Being a first time mum I was surprised to find out how challenging it was to get back to work. As you are going through an identity transformation your priorities shift and plenty of adjustments need to be made. I have been fortunate enough to be able to pick those most meaningful projects to me and say 'no' to the rest so to be able to spend more time with my precious little one. As Jane Frazer mentions: 'You can have it all - just not at the same time' - there are times when you may want to slow down with work to prioritise family time."
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Senela Jayasuriya is a Leadership & Innovation consultant, Executive Leadership Coach and Top 10 International Women Speakers who specialises in Leadership development, DEI&B, and Communication. She was awarded the 'Exceptional Women of Excellence' by the Women Economic Forum, the 'Global Women in Leadership Award' and recipient of the 'Women Icons Asia Award'. She is also the?Global CEO of Women Empowered Global, a global leadership-building platform for women in Business, Corporate & STEM. Today she shares what lessons she's learnt along the way as a mother:
"As a working mom and entrepreneur doing business globally, I've learned that the challenges we face are as profound as the rewards we reap. Balancing the demands of business with the joys of motherhood is a delicate dance, but within this balance lies our greatest strength. Each day presents its own set of hurdles, but it's in overcoming them that we find our resilience and drive. For me, it's not about achieving a perfect balance. Rather, its about embracing the beautiful chaos of both worlds and finding fulfillment in every moment. On some days, this balance will feel more challenging to maintain and cope, but thats okay! Here's to all the working moms out there – may we continue to inspire, innovate, and nurture, both in the boardroom and at home."
Elke Duwenig is an inspiring senior expert, skilled in biotechnology and innovation on agricultural and life science challenges, with a passion for sustainable solutions. She gives expert guidance for strategies and roadmaps as well as for R&D projects and sales products. Elke is strongly engaged in legislation and authority work to safeguard biotech products and opening markets together with EuropaBio, EU SFI, FEFANA, AMFEP, and other trade associations. Today she shares what is the keys to balancing work and home life as well as the importance of working mums:
"A happy woman is a good mother. In my experience being a working mum, it‘s less about commonly perceived perfection in home duties and child care, and more about fulfillment at work and giving your kids quality time. Plus full time Kindergarten/school and a broad support system including husband and friends is essential. The goal is to train our kids to be independent who know how to take care of themselves, articulate their needs and enjoy their freedom. For them, working mums are a natural and an inspiration for their own lives. For a great future!"
Christine Amour-Levar is a French-Swiss-Filipina Philanthropist, Record-Breaking Adventurer, Best-Selling Author, Human Rights & Sustainability Advisor and TEDx Speaker. A passionate?champion?of female empowerment and environmental conservation, she founded two award-winning, non-profit organisations - Women on a Mission (WOAM) and HER Planet Earth. Christine has won multiple international awards including the GGEF Woman Eco Gamechanger Award 2022 and the United Women Singapore Gender Equality Impact Award 2020. Today she shares how she has been able to balance between work and home and what has kept her grounded:
"Being a working mother of four is a marathon of endurance and love, not a sprint for perfection. The challenges are constant; they demand resilience and adaptability, like navigating the ever-changing terrains of a complex expedition. But the rewards? They are immeasurable – in every spontaneous hug, every lesson learnt together, and every shared triumph, big or small. Balancing work and home life is akin to finding equilibrium on a tightrope – it requires focus, the willingness to adjust, and sometimes, the courage to pause and breathe. The key for me has been to navigate the journey with self-compassion and to cherish the unwavering support and unconditional love of my family."
Arthi S Rabikrisson, MBA, PCC (ICF) is a Global award-winning Leadership Coach, Amazon Best-selling Author and Neuro-agility assessment practitioner. She is also the Founder and Managing Director of Prerna Advisory, based in South Africa, which focuses on neuroscience-based coaching and assessment for individuals, teams and corporates; strategic business consulting to SMEs; and capital introduction to alternative funding sources. As a keynote speaker, Arthi talks on a range of topics on leadership development, career growth, entrepreneurship, sales, and finance – as viewed through the understanding of neuroscience.?Today she shares the benefits of being a working mum:
"One of the biggest upsides of being a working mum, has been to be candid about and enforce my boundaries. It allows better organisation and enough time spent on creating memories and being present with my biggest loves, my family. My son loves that mum is his role model and has started to become more business-minded even at a young age."
Dr Sarah Whyte has a doctorate in emotional intelligence, for which she created an emotional intelligence intervention for change and gained the specialist skills to create new knowledge and become an expert in her field. Her fascination with the impact of emotions began in her teaching career and led her to become a speaker and facilitator to reach a wider audience. Sarah works with leaders and teams in high-pressure environments who find themselves constantly under pressure to perform at peak levels. As a mother of two, Sarah shares how she is able to be a working mum:
"I feel very privileged to be a working mum. Being able to work as a mum has been made not only possible, but infinitely less stressful, because of our wonderful full-time helper who takes care of managing our home (cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning and washing and so much more), plus my husband taking a role as my equal partner in taking care of our children." As much as we would like to say we can do it all on our own - we can't! Having a support team is crucial to make sure there is a balance between work and home.
Magdalena Poulin has over 19 years of diversified and multinational experience in a mix of country and regional roles across EMEA, Asia, Pacific and Japan. She is currently based at Macquarie University where she oversees the design and implementation of the Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy, builds strategic partnerships, and fosters a culture of belonging. She is also the Oceania Lead for KeyNote Women Speakers where she overseas our speakers and placements. Today she shares what it is like being a working mum:
"As a working mom who treasures every moment with my family, I've learned that my professional journey isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder—it's about weaving a tapestry of love, inclusion, equity and purpose. Every holiday, family gathering or conversation becomes a canvas where I paint memories of togetherness and moments of joy and a great opportunity to broaden our shared knowledge about how to take better care of our Land. In the workplace, I strive not just for success, but for a legacy of equity and empowerment, so that our children can inherit a world where everyone has a seat at the table."
From seeing all the stories and advice from our speakers, we know that no one gets it right 100% of the time. With love and support of family and friends we can help to make life a little bit easier and most importantly more enjoyable.
So this Mother's Day thank all the women in your life who have worked tirelessly to make who you are today. And if you're a working mum - well done! It's not easy but you're doing it. It might not be perfect and that's ok - we don't need perfection, we need authenticity - we need you!