Celebrating Mothers - A Multifaceted Leadership

Five years ago, I would have hesitated to share Mother's Day messages on LinkedIn. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has blurred the lines between our personal and professional lives, making it more acceptable to embrace our multiple roles simultaneously. Gone are the days when we had to compartmentalize our identities – the enterprise community now welcomes the sharing of personal details, from new pet excitement to milestones like graduations and first jobs. LinkedIn transformed into a platform embracing personal-professional camaraderie.

Which brings me to today. I reflect on the ever-present role of motherhood, transcending the boundaries of the family room, meeting room, and Zoom room. I realize, motherhood is a continuum, intricately woven into every aspect of life, without the luxury of weekends off or paid time off. It is a constant presence - always available, reliable, and efficient in a way that is challenging to emulate.

Mothers and mother figures are among the most innovative communities, facing novel challenges daily and thinking on their feet to resolve them promptly. There is no blueprint or standard operating procedure for navigating the complexities of parenting, be it handling temperamental children, adolescent mood swings, or electronics addictions. Each mother-child relationship is unique, requiring a tailored approach that cannot be replicated or scaled.

The lessons learned from motherhood have undoubtedly aided my transition from an individual contributor to a people manager. I've developed empathy, compassion, and a sense of pride – qualities essential for building teams and developing the careers of others. Motherhood has taught me infinite patience – the patience to listen, choose my words carefully, and maintain composure. I've learned to remain calm under pressure, a trait honed during those moments when everything seemed to go awry – a sick (and whiny) child, a flooded basement, an absent spouse, an unavailable babysitter, and an important meeting to close a deal. Over time, I've learned to ask for help, influence others to empathize, prepare swiftly, and deliver stellar presentations with a calm and collected demeanor. We mothers have become masters of juggling, balancing, and, dare I say, invented the term "multi-tasking."

In the era of Generative AI, no job can be taken for granted. So, I asked ChatGPT, "Can LLMs replace mothers?" It responded: "No, large language models (LLMs) cannot replace the unique emotional bond, physical presence, and nuanced understanding of mothers."

To all the mothers and mother figures – Happy Mother's Day! You exemplify multifaceted leadership, and your contributions in the family room, meeting room, and Zoom room are unparalleled.