3 Mindset Shifts You Need as a Working Mum in Corporate

Being a mum in corporate is no small feat. One minute you're in a boardroom presenting to stakeholders, the next you're wiping Vegemite off a tiny face or speed-reading a school email you forgot to reply to (again). It’s a constant juggle — not just of time, but of identity.

I’ve walked that tightrope for years. I know the late-night emails, the daycare drop-off guilt, the feeling of never quite being “enough” in either world. But I also know this: so much of our stress doesn’t come from the actual tasks — it comes from the pressure we put on ourselves. These are three mindset shifts that changed everything for me — and I hope they help you too.

1. Balance isn’t 50/50. It’s what feels right today.

There’s this idea floating around that balance means giving equal energy to work and family, every day. But if you've ever tried that, you know it’s impossible.

Real balance is flexible. It’s knowing that some days your child will need more of you — and other days, your career will. It’s permission to ebb and flow. And the moment I stopped chasing the perfect split, everything got easier. Because suddenly, I wasn’t failing — I was adapting.

Mindset shift: Balance isn’t a rigid formula. It’s a rhythm you learn to feel.

2. Guilt is a sign you care — not that you’re doing it wrong.

Ah, guilt. The shadow side of motherhood. You feel guilty at work for not being at home. Guilty at home for not being more present at work. Guilty for enjoying either one too much.

But here’s the truth: guilt is often a sign of deep care and connection — not wrongdoing. When I started asking myself “Is this guilt trying to teach me something, or is it just a reflex?”, I began to separate truth from noise.

You can feel guilt without letting it steer the ship.

Mindset shift: Let guilt be a clue, not a verdict.

3. You don’t have to earn rest.

We’ve been sold a lie that rest is a reward. That we can only stop once the to-do list is done, the inbox is empty, the laundry folded, and we’ve made it to inbox zero and mother-of-the-year status.

But rest is not a luxury. It’s a necessity — especially when you’re carrying the mental load of two full-time jobs: career and motherhood. You don’t need to hit a magic productivity threshold before you're "allowed" to take five minutes with a cup of tea. You already deserve rest — just because you're human. And tired. And doing your best.

Mindset shift: Rest isn’t something you earn. It’s something you protect.

These mindset shifts take time. And let’s be honest — some days they’ll feel harder than others. But just being aware of the internal dialogue is a powerful first step.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be kind to yourself as you figure it out. Because you’re not just doing the work — you’re rewriting the rules for the next generation.

If this resonated with you and you're ready to go deeper, let’s talk. I work with ambitious, exhausted, brilliant women just like you — helping them reconnect with their sense of self, navigate motherhood with intention, and thrive in both career and life.

You can have the life you imagined.And you don’t have to do it alone.