Ambitious. Determined. Unstoppable. But at what cost?
In my 20s, I hustled hard, climbing the corporate ladder, chasing promotions, and leading high-performing teams. I was proud of my achievements. I wore them like armour and a proof that I could make it in this world professionally.
So when motherhood entered the picture, I didn’t slow down. I tried to do it all, baby in one hand, business in the other. I became the Superwoman.
Thank you Amy Taylor-Kabbaz for giving language to what so many of us live but can’t name.
The praise was addictive: "Wow, I don’t know how you do it all!" But beneath that cape? I was fraying. I was burned out, disconnected, and quietly falling apart.
Eventually, my body, and spirit, forced a pause.
That pause was the beginning of something deeper. A new way of leading, living, and being.
It was the start of my Matrescence journey awareness.
Here’s what I’ve learned (and continue to learn) that I feel so passionate to share with others:
You can be powerful without pushing.
You can rest and still rise.
Saying no can be your most radical act of self-leadership.
Now, I support ambitious mums navigating leadership in both career and home through Just Matrescence®, my group coaching circle and signature assessment tool.
And if you're ready to begin shedding the Superwoman cape, here are five powerful practices you can start today:
5 Daily Practices to Lead Without the Superwoman Cape
Daily Pause & Check-In Inspired by the Mama Rising™ principle of inner authority, this micro-moment of stillness reconnects you with your own voice. Start each day with 3 grounding breaths and ask: “What do I truly need today?” As Amy Taylor-Kabbaz shares, the pause isn’t indulgent, it’s a revolutionary act of self-leadership. It interrupts autopilot and begins a conscious response to your day, rather than reaction. Find a time in the morning, it’s only a couple of minutes so really, really doable even if you have young ones in the house.
The Power of ‘No’ with Love Letting go of the Superwoman myth, as unpacked in my of Mama Rising™ facilitator training, means honouring your limits without guilt. Saying “no” isn’t about shutting people out, it’s about letting your intuition in. I know it sounds very different doesn’t it? Try doing this: Notice where you say or think “I should” and replace “I should” with “Does this serve the woman I am becoming?” Redefining strength this way allows you to lead from alignment, not depletion.
Redefine Productivity on Your Terms Matrescence invites a reimagining of worth, moving beyond traditional metrics like speed, output, or hours logged. Dr. Aurelie Athan’s work reminds us that matrescence is a rite of passage, and rites require integration, not acceleration. Start each week by setting feeling goals (e.g., “I want to feel grounded”) alongside task goals. This shift is key to long-term wellbeing and authentic leadership. This is also a huge need for the female brain, especially when you are in a goal-driven results energy throughout the day.
Complete Your Stress Cycle, Every Single Day As Mama Rising™ teaches, your body carries the emotional load when your voice is silenced or your needs unmet. Following the work of Drs. Emily and Amelia Nagoski (Burnout), we know stress must be completed, not ignored. We must pay attention to all those things our bodies are whispering to us – so it doesn’t get to a place where it’s screaming for help. Whether it's a power walk, shaking it off, a long hug, crying, or laughing, move the stress through you to come out on the other side. Make this a daily practice. Again, it’s not about a huge time commitment, it’s a few minutes a day at the end of the day to process the stress you absorbed that day.
Anchor into Your Matrescence Values In the wonderful Mama Rising™ training, we explored how many women unconsciously internalise “Good Mother” or “Successful Woman” archetypes, standards rooted in patriarchal expectations. Instead, choose your values for this season. Maybe it's presence, sovereignty, or joy. Let these guide your decisions. When you align with your truth, not just productivity that’s demanded externally, you lead from soul, not script.
This is the work we explore inside Just Matrescence® Leadership Circle. We go deep. We rewrite old stories. We rise, and share and go through seasons, together.
You are not alone in this.
💌 Ready to redefine your leadership and ditch the burnout badge? Take my free Just Matrescence® Leadership Assessment and start your reset today: 👉 https://workingparentcoaching.co.uk/just-matrescence-leadership-assessment-landing-page
With warmth and realness, Eve Ostrovskaya Leadership & Matrescence Coach | Founder, Working Parent Coaching
🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿 💌 DM me here or book a discovery call today - link in my profile bio under Get Started! 👉 @eveostrovskaya | LinkedIn