Still doubting working mothers? Read this.
I’ve taken client calls while feeding a baby or during school pick-ups. Discussed job offers or people issues while preparing dinner. Solved work problems after dealing multiple toddler tantrums at home, sometimes all before 8am. To me, this is just life as a working mother. But, this is, in fact, a crash course in leadership. I believe working mothers leadership is one of the most underrated strengths in today’s business world.
What I’ve been noticing
In my job, I’ve worked with all kinds of leaders, from loud and assertive to analytical and people-focused. But then there’s one group of leaders that stand out more than others (to me). Those are the ones who are calm, steady, focused and know how to handle pressure with grace. Truly, a good number of these are mothers.
Unfortunately, when a woman returns back to work after maternity leave, we still question:
- Will she still be as committed?
- Have her priorities changed?
- Can she handle both the child and work?
The truth? She’s probably already leading, just not in ways we’re used to recognising or measuring.
The skills you can’t see on a CV
Motherhood teaches us time management, emotional awareness, resilience, and the ability to focus on what really matters.
As a mother, you learn to:
- Stay calm
- Pick your battles wisely
- Communicate with care
- Get things done, even when it is hard to do so.
These are exactly the skills that come into play when work goes off track, when a client is unhappy or when a team needs re-direction.
I’ve seen women come back from maternity leave more focused, more decisive, and less caught up in the noise. They care less about being perfect and focus more on getting results.
Why are we still getting it wrong?
Employers are looking for emotionally intelligent people, strategic thinkers and people who are resilient. The very people who bring these qualities, mothers, are underestimated. This could be because employers look at career breaks or part-time roles, or even sometimes, flexibile working, as a weakness or as someone who isn’t ambitious.
That’s not just unfair. It’s bad business.
What smart companies should start to see
Smart employers are paying attention. They’re not just looking at who talks the most in meetings or stays the latest. They’re watching who delivers, who supports the team, who keeps things going. Often, it’s the mother who is quietly holding it all together.
Final thoughts
There’s a reason why we refer to mothers as ‘supermums’. Because whether it’s at home or at work, they keep things going, stay calm, and somehow still show up for everything and everyone.
That’s not just care but that’s leadership.
While not everyone will walk the path of motherhood, for those who do, it can forge powerful and often overlooked leadership qualities.
If you’re building a team, don’t overlook working mothers’ leadership. Chances are, they’re already leading, but most likely, without making a fuss about it.
At SurgeAdvisory, we work with organisations to recognise and elevate leadership in all its forms, including the strengths developed through caregiving. It’s time to rethink what leadership looks like and where it comes from. Working mothers aren’t just coping. Many are quietly leading, without making a fuss about it.
About the author
Maria Bartolo Zahra is Managing Partner and HR & Compensation Specialist at SurgeAdvisory. She has over twenty years of human resources and business advisory experience.