ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What if guilt—not ambition—is the real burnout driver for working mothers? In this powerful conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Mary Sheehan to unpack why high-performing women feel stuck in a no-win game—and how leaders and individuals can redesign work to truly flourish.
This episode blends lived experience, leadership insight, and science-backed practices to help working parents move from exhaustion and self-blame to clarity, boundaries, and sustainable performance.
Key Topics Covered
Why guilt is the #1 struggle for working mothers—and how societal expectations amplify it
Values-based decision making as a practical antidote to burnout
The hidden cost of broken corporate systems: RTO mandates, inflexibility, childcare, and unpaid parental leave
Leadership’s role in inclusion: why flexibility and outcomes-based work benefit everyone
Mary’s powerful concept of the “Minimum Viable Person (MVP)”—small daily practices that restore energy and identity
Micro-practices for self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and resilience
How leaders at every level can redesign teams to support parents without sacrificing performance
Only ~20% of people are thriving at work—and working mothers are disproportionately paying the price. This conversation reframes flourishing not as a perk, but as a strategic leadership responsibility and a deeply human necessity.
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Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/
Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/
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