From CEO To Mom: Leadership Lessons For Life

While I’ve learned a lot as a CEO, it’s also true that the wisdom and insights I have garnered as a mother that I bring into the workplace allow me to be a more effective leader.

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While the Industrial Revolution occurred well over a century ago, it’s only within the past few decades that we have slowly begun to see attitudes towards mothers and their abilities to lead in the workplace shift. The data and studies reflect what women have known for generations: the lessons and skills we grow and cultivate as mothers and in the workplace serve one another and empower us to become dynamic and incredibly effective leaders.

Companies led by mothers experience a 13% increase in productivity, which is attributed to vital emotional intelligence, resilience, and decision-making prowess. When women are in leadership roles, companies see a 34% higher total shareholder return and a 35% higher return on equity compared to male-dominated businesses. The 41 female-led companies in the S&P 500 consistently and significantly outperformed their male-led counterparts, sometimes by as much as three times better.

Yes, there are valuable lessons I have learned as a CEO that I have shared with and will benefit my children. Yet the reverse is equally, if not more, true: the wisdom and insights I have garnered as a mother that I bring into the workplace allow me to be a more effective leader.

Here are five of the most powerful lessons I have imparted to my children, and that every leader should make key learning objectives for their teams:

Understand the Value of Time

We often don’t realize how precious time is until it’s too late. Every minute and second counts, yet we let time slip by, wasted on distractions and things that offer little joy, connection, or impact. Using your time wisely is not just about being efficient—it’s about value.

When you value your time, you won’t squander it, stress about things outside your control, or waste energy on projects that don’t fulfill you or drive your progress. Valuing your time means showing up fully—at work or with family—and giving it your complete attention to make every moment matter.

Balancing Priorities

Despite having six children early in my career, I was determined to prove that my family responsibilities would never hold me back and that I could have both. It was a different era, and I was often the only woman, let alone a mother, in leadership positions. I took pride in never missing a meeting or work event, even at the cost of not attending many of my children’s school plays, games, and other activities.

One day, my boss overheard me on the phone with my husband, ensuring our child had everything needed for their costume. Afterward, he asked why I wasn’t attending my son’s play. I explained that the play overlapped with the important client meeting we had on the books that afternoon. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Rachelle, there is nothing more important than your children and your family.” He then ordered that I never miss any of my children’s activities again and told me to leave immediately to catch the play.

Shocked, but grateful, I left the office that day with a valuable lesson learned: Balancing work and home life isn’t easy, but prioritizing family is non-negotiable. I am forever grateful to that boss who empowered me to prioritize my family.

Leading by Example

The boss who ordered that I never miss another family event led by example, and he never missed any of his kids’ activities. I make sure to do the same for my employees. Whether it’s a father taking the afternoon off to go with his partner to take their baby to its three-month appointment or a mom attending a holiday play, every parent knows their family comes first.

We can never underestimate the power of leading by example and its long-term impact. A big part of leading by example is taking stock of how you’re treating staff. For instance, as a high-performing person, I have high expectations for my team and can push them hard. However, I must be mindful of this, ensuring that I don’t set unrealistic expectations, as leaders are responsible for setting the tone, culture, and atmosphere. I also need to ensure that my own stress doesn’t negatively impact the office environment.

We can all reflect on when we rose through the ranks and the boss who made everyone else’s life miserable with their mood swings. We do not have to carry the same legacy forward. Instead, we have the opportunity to be leaders who inspire, mentor, and cultivate the next generation of leaders.

Own Who You Are

In a world filled with monotony, being different is an advantage. Many times in my career, I was the only woman in the room, in leadership, on the board, you name it. Whenever I realized I was the odd one out, I had a decision to make. I could either see it as something that would hold me back or use it as my competitive edge. Yes, all eyes were on me, which meant if I showed up as the most powerful version of myself, I was sure to wow them. Use the spotlight to your advantage, and take the opportunity to use that space to bring your skills, value, and expertise to the table. It will only open up greater possibilities for you in the future.

In addition to often being the only woman, I was frequently made to feel as though my curiosity and desire to explore alternative solutions—like asking why we couldn’t try something a different way to improve efficiency—was too much. I was often labeled as too inquisitive, too resistant, or too “challenging” for simply wanting to understand and explore other options. While I’m skilled in etiquette, negotiation, and handling situations where I may feel out of place—something I became accustomed to as the only girl working on my father’s construction site from the age of five—I remain polite and direct. I won’t spend three hours convincing you it was your idea in the first place. And when you’re a woman, some people describe you as blunt; when you’re a man, they say you’re assertive, but I digress.

Despite the criticism, I have continued to own who I am, and I have begun to realize that not only have I opened up doors of opportunity for myself, but I have set other people free to do the same. Brandi Smith, our VP of Development at Kids on the Move, shared, “Rachelle sets the example for a powerful change: leadership isn’t about maintaining power but about empowering others. Ideas are met with encouragement, ambition is recognized rather than questioned, and growth feels limitless. It’s invigorating to be in a space where success isn’t viewed as a threat —where women lead, inspire, and set the bar for what leadership looks like for the future. We don’t have to fight for a seat at the table, because a chair has already been pulled up for us.”

Believe in the Impossible

Circumstances should never have the final say in what is achievable. Throughout life, many people will try to tell you that circumstances, people, places, and money limit what is possible. While money, people, and resources can be helpful, whether or not you have them in the first place doesn’t determine your ability to succeed.

When you make a promise to yourself, keep it. Let your convictions and dreams power you. Anything is possible through hard work, dedication, education, and perseverance. You are the only one who writes your story.

Despite what others might think, you can accomplish anything through belief, desire, and persistence. This conviction drives my professional endeavors and is a lesson I passionately endorse for my children. By maintaining a strong belief in their capabilities and committing to each step toward their goals, they can achieve what seems impossible. Keeping the promises they make to themselves and persevering through effort is essential for realizing success in any chosen path. Starting with small, consistent wins builds confidence in my children, my team, and myself. When challenges arise, we can tackle them together, adjusting as needed to keep moving forward.

In today’s often cutthroat corporate world, we are constantly hit with training, courses, and strategizing on optimization, time management, and achieving key metrics. Making it easy to forget the foundational lessons that make an organization great or empower someone on your team to truly reach their full potential. Listen, I know that we are all in business to make money or lead our organizations because we would like to create more impact, but our legacy, at the end of the day, is not what we decided in the board room and the effect it had on the stock market.

Our legacy is defined by the impact we have on others. As leaders, we have the opportunity to impact hundreds of future leaders through the ways our decisions affect or shape their lives, for better or worse. While I am grateful for a fulfilling and rewarding career, I am even more so for the lessons that have shaped me into a more intentional, kind, and courageous person. In turn, I’ve grown as a mother, friend, spouse, leader, and CEO, positively impacting those around me and making my life intentional and deeply meaningful.