How can you as an executive mom reconcile your career aspirations with the reality of being a full-time working mom?
Having high-level work responsibilities while trying to be present for your kids feels like an uphill battle – and often, you’re the only woman in the room.
I hear you! As a CEO of a fast-growing company and a mom of three young children, I know exactly what you’re going through.
The good news? You can have both.
Ready to find out how? Let’s go!
Jump straight to the steps…
- 1. Create routines
- 2. Get support
- 3. Create work-life balance
- 4. Set boundaries
- 5. Delegate and automate
- 6. Learn to prioritize
- 7. Plan ahead
💡Key takeaways:
- Executive moms can have both: One in five CEOs are women, proving that it’s possible to succeed in leadership while being a present parent.
- Work-life balance requires structure: Executive moms don’t just “balance” work and family; they design their lives with structure.
- Asking for help is a strength: Trying to do everything alone leads to burnout. Delegating at work, outsourcing household tasks, and leveraging support from a partner or hired help allows executive moms to be fully present in both their careers and family life.
Can you really be a CEO or executive AND a present mother?
YES! Full stop.
The data doesn’t lie: one in five CEOs today is a woman, and many are mothers thriving in both roles.
Here are just a few examples:
- Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent the Runway
- Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq
- Corrie Barry, CEO of BestBuy
But it doesn’t just happen.
As a CEO and mother of three, I’ve struggled with this for years. I’m the CEO of Lifehack Method, a company I started together with my husband Demir.
Both of us used to work 80-hour weeks at corporate jobs (I was managing CPG brands and Demir worked on Wall Street). But after Demir ended up hospitalized from the stress, we decided to figure out how to get more done in less time and build a lifestyle we enjoyed.
We built a productivity system that worked so well that we both felt more energized, less stressed, and had more time for other things than just work – and that’s how Lifehack Method was born.
But when I had my first daughter, Gigi, I had to figure out how to run a business and be a present parent at the same time. I panicked about how my business would survive my maternity leave – but fast forward to my third daughter, and I had created systems that allowed me to thrive in both worlds.
Something I talk about here…
Of course, because I run a business, I’m fortunate to have flexibility many working moms don’t.
But here’s what matters: The strategies I’m about to share work regardless of your specific situation—whether you’re in corporate America, heading your own company, or somewhere in between.
Let me show you how.
1. Create routines (that actually work)
Having solid routines in place helps keep your life and work organized.
- Start your days the night before. Pack lunches, lay out clothes, and prep breakfast items before bed. This simple evening ritual takes just 15 minutes but makes your whole day so much easier.
- Create a wind-down routine that works for everyone. Research shows consistent evening routines improve family function and help kids (and you!) sleep better. This isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for your performance as both an executive and a mother.
But here’s the reality check: even the best routines get derailed.
My secret? Build in a 10-15 minute buffer for inevitable disruptions. This small cushion prevents smaller mishaps from cascading into a day-ruining disaster.
Watch how I handle it when routines fall apart (without losing my mind):
2. Get support (instead of trying to do it all on your own)
3 in 5 moms drive themselves to exhaustion trying to do everything alone.
Let me be blunt: you cannot do it all by yourself. And trying to is the fastest path to burnout.
Ask for help, whether it’s professionally, personally, or both.
At home: Partner with your spouse, family members, or paid help. When our family moved away from relatives, hiring nannies became my secret weapon—they enabled me to focus 100% on work during business hours and take six full months of maternity leave with each daughter.
That said, my husband Demir and I also have
At work: Build your support network strategically. Find mentors who understand your dual roles, cultivate peer relationships with other executive parents, and be intentional about creating a team that complements your strengths.
Remember this: asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s the strategy of every successful executive.
3. Create work-life balance
Executive moms who want work-life balance have to create it. So, start being intentional with your time.
The first step? Define what balance means to YOU.
Is it logging off at 6 PM sharp? Having uninterrupted weekend time? Having more family time? There’s no universal formula—only the one that serves your unique priorities.
Here’s my advice: Stop task-switching.
It drains your mental energy, spikes your stress levels, and makes everything feel more chaotic than it really is.
When you’re working, be fully at work. When you’re with your children, be completely present. It’s good for you and your kids.
For example, I take breaks every hour and schedule a pedicure every Friday afternoon. These aren’t luxuries; they’re non-negotiable appointments that boost my confidence, happiness, and productivity.
Find what works for you and put it on your calendar, just like you do for other commitments.
Get more self-care ideas in this guide.
4. Set boundaries (without feeling guilty)
Did you know executive women are more likely to let work follow them home than their male counterparts?
This is why boundaries are crucial to set clear expectations that will keep you from overworking.
At work: Communicate your availability clearly. Train your team to respect your time blocks and be consistent in your boundaries.
At home: Make sure your family understands when you’re available and when you need focused work time—even when you’re physically present in the house.
If setting boundaries feels uncomfortable, start with these practical steps:
- Define your work hours and stick to them
- Schedule personal time and treat it as non-negotiable
- Practice saying “no” without lengthy explanations
Remember: “No” is a complete sentence. As women, we’re conditioned to justify our decisions, but effective leaders understand that clear boundaries require no explanation.
5. Delegate and automate
Unless a task genuinely requires YOUR unique talents, it shouldn’t be on YOUR to-do list.
At work, strategic delegation isn’t just about lightening your load—it’s about empowering your team. Research shows effective delegation increases growth by 33% and generates 33% more revenue.
At home, you can outsource things like cleaning, dog walking, laundry, and meal prep.
And anything you can’t delegate, automate:
- Bill payments
- Prescription refills
- Essential deliveries (diapers, dog food, household supplies)
- Home management (lighting, temperature, security)
I personally had to learn how to create systems in my life, even though I had been outsourcing at work for years.
I wanted to step away from the daily grind without everything falling apart, and I knew I needed systems to help me do so.
So I leaned on my husband more, hired additional help, and let go of the idea that I had to do it all. And when I let go of that pressure, I found that the business could grow without my constant involvement, and I was able to find a bit more balance between work and family.
6. Learn to prioritize
Learning to prioritize tasks is the key to being incredibly productive without burning out.
The Eisenhower Matrix works well for quickly sorting tasks for your to-do list:
- Urgent & Important: Do these tasks immediately
- Important, Not Urgent: Schedule these strategically
- Urgent, Not Important: Delegate these tasks
- Neither Urgent nor Important: Eliminate these from your list
I also front-load my week with critical priorities, aiming to complete major priorities by Tuesday. This creates flexibility later in the week when family needs inevitably arise.
Another game-changing tool is my life map—a visual representation of what truly matters in both my professional and personal life. It keeps me focused on alignment rather than just productivity.
I explain it in this video:
7. Plan ahead – even if your week feels unpredictable
The ultimate secret to thriving as an executive mom isn’t working harder—it’s planning smarter.
I know what you’re thinking: “Another thing to add to my overwhelming to-do list?”
But here’s the truth: Those 30 minutes of weekly planning will save you hours of stress and inefficiency throughout your week.
Our Winning the Week Method has transformed thousands of executive lives:
Step 1: Reflect on your previous week’s wins and challenges
Step 2: Set clear, achievable goals for the coming week and break those goals into actionable tasks
Step 3: Prioritize your tasks
Step 4: Calendarize your tasks and block off specific times for each
Step 5: Review and adjust as needed
The thing is…Your weekly planning session doesn’t have to be a chore.
Involve your partner – my husband Demir and I make this something to look forward to by going to brunch.
We use a Google Calendar as a visual representation of our week and to keep our schedules synced with each other. We also use Asana to manage our team and to keep track of all the deadlines in our lives.
Of course, having kids means that your time isn’t completely predictable. Here’s how to plan even when things are unpredictable:
What’s next?
And there you have it!
The best strategies for executive moms to navigate work and life.
Yes, being an executive mom is challenging. Not only do you have to perform every day at work, but most parents know parenting comes with some level of guilt.
And while I’ve learned that this guilt never completely disappears, it IS possible to prioritize my career and be present with my children. The key was giving myself permission to step back without feeling like I was failing.
That said, there are ways to make parenting and building your executive career much easier.
That’s why we created Lifehack Method – a time management training loved by parents who juggle their professional life and parenting.
Want to have your most productive year yet, feel on top of your work, and be a present mom?
Then, start by getting our FREE Win the Week worksheet – and learn how to save 10 hours every week:
Read more:
Time Management for Working Moms
How CEOs & Executives Manage Time: Best Tips
