Leadership & Motherhood

In the final episode of the summer series, Leanna continues her conversation with Kiran Reddy, entrepreneur, attorney, mom, and founder of Reddy Consulting, as she reflects on four transformative years marked by motherhood, turning 40, separation and divorce, two layoffs, and the challenges and lessons of rebuilding her identity. Kiran shares candidly about the shift from survival mode to redefini...

If you're navigating the transition to preschool with a little one, this is the episode to listen to! In it, I interview my daughter about why it was hard for her and what helped the most, and I share our process for making the preschool transition work. This episode will give you some ideas and approaches to try out and find what works for your kiddo.

In part one of this inspiring two part episode, Leanna is joined by Kiran Reddy, attorney, mom, volunteer, and founder of Reddy Consulting. Kiran shares how she built a thriving consulting business, found meaning through volunteer work in prison reform, and embraced the lessons of saying no, prioritizing, and creating space for what matters most. She also opens up about her fertility journey and t...

In Part 2 of Leanna’s conversation with Ashley Chang, CEO of Sundays, Ashley shares how she channeled what she learned about women in the workplace into action by founding Sundays, a company designed to meet the needs of high achieving moms. For executive moms considering what’s next, whether a new role, a new rhythm, or a bigger leap, this conversation is full of practical wisdom. Ashley shares h...

In part 1 of this two-part conversation, Leanna sits down with Ashley Chang, Founder & CEO of Sundays and new mom, to explore how the experience of Ashley’s own mom inspired her mission to support working mothers. They reflect on how their similar upbringings, from being the eldest of three daughters to growing up with stay-at-home moms and entrepreneur dads, may have shaped their drive as high ac...

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Leanna continues the discussion with Erica Willie, founder of The ScienceSIS Foundation, sales leader, tech strategist, and mom of three, to explore what it means to fully embrace motherhood, not as a detour from ambition, but as a superpower. Erica shares how she chose to lean into her evolving identity, let go of outdated definitions of success, and ask t...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Leanna is joined by Erica Willie, a lifelong high achiever whose path spans tech strategy, corporate sales at firms like IBM and HubSpot, and nonprofit leadership, all while raising three children. With degrees in computer science and instructional design, Erica reflects on how her identity as a competitive student and driven professional shaped her early s...

In Part 2 of Leanna’s conversation with certified personal trainer, consultant, and mom Sarah Brelowski, they dive into the transformative power of strength training for women, especially women over 40. Sarah’s goal is clear: to help women feel empowered, confident, and strong in the gym and in life. Sarah breaks down the science and mindset behind strength training, and why it's especially import...

In Part 1 of this powerful two-part series, Leanna sits down with Sarah Brelowski, personal trainer, consultant, mom, and former corporate professional, for an honest conversation about personal transformation. Sarah opens up about her path from collegiate athlete to Big Four auditor, and how a high-pressure corporate career left her burned out, stressed, and out of alignment with herself. She sha...

It’s July already! How did that happen? In this mid-summer episode, Leanna’s taking a break from the summer interview series to check in and reflect on what this season has looked and felt like so far. She shares how she intentionally restructured her summer to allow more time with her daughter (while still studying for a major coaching exam, taking an online course, training for a triathlon, and...

In Part 2 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna continues the heartfelt exchange with senior communications executive, mom, and stepmom, Dina Silver Pokedoff. Dina shares how she’s learned to navigate the complex realities of career and motherhood, offering an honest, empowering look at what it means to lead with authenticity—both at work and at home. From delegating household tasks to prioritizi...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dina Silver Pokedoff, Senior Vice President of Communications, mom, and stepmom, shares the twists and turns of her 30-year career in the communications industry. From dreaming of med school to becoming a powerhouse in PR, Dina opens up about the non-linear path that shaped her leadership style, work ethic, and resilience. We explore: How Dina built a thriv...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Leanna continues her discussion with Dr. Lesley Robinson, entrepreneur, educator, and fierce advocate for women in leadership. Dr. Robinson unpacks what it really means to lead with a founder-focused mindset—whether you’re building a business or leading from within an organization. She dives into the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship, the cri...

In part 1 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna talks with Dr. Lesley Robinson, founder of Embolden Education and co-founder of the Ayana Foundation, about what it takes to lead as a woman, a mother, and a visionary. Dr. Robinson shares how she navigated a decade-long academic dissertation journey, embraced entrepreneurship, and made bold life changes to align her work with her values. From navig...

As the school year winds down, Leanna invites executive moms to take a breath before diving into the busy summer season. With a blend of mindset work and practical tools, she shares a powerful framework for creating a summer that feels intentional and aligned, without the heavy mom guilt or overwhelm. Drawing on lessons from both corporate life and motherhood, Leanna introduces the "Flawless Execu...

Today, we’re celebrating 100 episodes!! Leanna reflects on her two year journey of The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast. She shares five powerful lessons she’s learned from podcasting about living the life of your dreams, from letting go of perfectionism and embracing a beginner mindset to reconnecting with purpose and asking for support. She opens up about the fears and doubts that delayed her la...

In this incredibly inspiring episode, executive mom Angela Pontius shares how coaching helped her rediscover confidence, set boundaries, and redefine what success looks like after becoming a mother. As a self-identified perfectionist and first-generation immigrant who built her identity around achievement, Angela opens up about the challenges she faced after the birth of her first child: feeling l...

In the third and final installment of the Confidence Series, Leanna explores a confidence killer that often flies under the radar: the compulsion to shape-shift in response to others' expectations. Adapting oneself to meet the needs and preferences of others, aka being a chameleon, is a skill many high-achieving women have mastered. It can be a superpower. But when done unconsciously, it chips awa...

In today’s episode, Leanna explores the hidden beliefs many women and working mothers carry about compensation and overworking as they rise in leadership roles. As salaries increase, so do the unspoken assumptions: more money must mean more hours, more sacrifice, and less balance. But is that actually true? Leanna challenges the unspoken contract many high-achieving women are holding themselves to...

Leanna explores the theme of confidence and how it plays a pivotal role in professional success. Focusing specifically on women in the workplace, Leanna shares lessons from her coaching clients and her own journey, highlighting the shift from knowledge-based confidence to belief in one’s problem-solving abilities. Through real-life examples, she explains how a growth mindset can unlock unshakable...

Leanna sits down with leadership communication expert Dr. Laura Sicola to explore how executive women can communicate and lead with confidence and clarity, strengthening their executive presence. Dr. Sicola shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and offers practical tools for mastering the “prismatic voice”—adapting your tone, delivery, and message to connect with any audience. From...

In this heartfelt episode, Leanna explores the often-overlooked importance of female friendship, especially for working mothers juggling careers, families, and the ongoing challenge of finding life balance. Reflecting on a recent trip with close friends, she shares thoughtful insights and a moving poem that captures the deep value of staying connected to the women in our lives. Through the lens of...

In this episode, Leanna teaches a simple tool to help you feel less drained and more empowered and energized throughout your day. Using the transformative power of shifting the language we use when talking about our daily tasks and responsibilities, we can reduce feelings of dread and exhaustion, replacing them with a sense of purpose and desire. This simple but powerful perspective shift can help...

In this episode, Leanna explores the concept of "slow down to speed up" and how it applies to high achieving working mothers balancing work, family, and personal well-being. She discusses how constantly pushing forward without pausing can lead to stress, overwhelm, and misalignment with long-term goals. Through real-life examples, Leanna shares how intentional slowing down, whether in decision mak...

In this episode, Leanna dives deep into a familiar topic for so many ambitious women: how to overcome perfectionism. As a recovering perfectionist, Leanna shares the four key mindset shifts that have helped on her journey. She talks about embracing the reality of the human experience, adjusting unrealistic expectations, knowing your limitations, and learning to practice self compassion.  Tune in f...