In part 1 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna talks with Dr. Lesley Robinson, founder of Embolden Education and co-founder of the Ayana Foundation, about what it takes to lead as a woman, a mother, and a visionary.

Dr. Robinson shares how she navigated a decade-long academic dissertation journey, embraced entrepreneurship, and made bold life changes to align her work with her values. From navigating career shifts to balancing motherhood and ambition, her story is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to choose between purpose and personal fulfillment. Together, they talk about the power of reflection, trusting the process, and creating space for both family and big dreams.

If you're a working mom or a woman redefining success on your own terms, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Loved this conversation? Don’t miss Part 2 [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/103], available June 12, where we dive deeper into the mindset, strategy, and real-world tools women need to lead with impact.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/102].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/]; Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show to help more women find these empowering stories!

Leading with Purpose: Charting Your Own Course as a High-Achieving Woman - with Dr. Lesley Robinson (part 1)

As the school year winds down, Leanna invites executive moms to take a breath before diving into the busy summer season. With a blend of mindset work and practical tools, she shares a powerful framework for creating a summer that feels intentional and aligned, without the heavy mom guilt or overwhelm. Drawing on lessons from both corporate life and motherhood, Leanna introduces the "Flawless Execution" model to help listeners move from vision to action with clarity. She encourages moms to visualize their ideal summer, communicate with family, and build in regular check-ins to ensure they’re truly living the season they want. This episode is a compassionate reminder that joy and balance are possible, even during the chaos of summer break.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/101].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

How to Have a Meaningful Summer with Your Kids: An Intentional Summer Planning Framework for Working Moms

Today, we’re celebrating 100 episodes!! Leanna reflects on her two year journey of The Executive Coach for Moms Podcast. She shares five powerful lessons she’s learned from podcasting about living the life of your dreams, from letting go of perfectionism and embracing a beginner mindset to reconnecting with purpose and asking for support. She opens up about the fears and doubts that delayed her launch, the importance of taking imperfect action, and how staying focused on service has helped her push past procrastination. Whether listeners are longtime fans or tuning in for the first time, this episode offers heartfelt insights and encouragement for anyone who wants to take bold steps toward their dreams.

Thank you for being a valued listener! Here’s to the next 100!

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/100].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

Pursuing Your Dreams and Building the Life You Want (100th Episode!!)

In this incredibly inspiring episode, executive mom Angela Pontius shares how coaching helped her rediscover confidence, set boundaries, and redefine what success looks like after becoming a mother. As a self-identified perfectionist and first-generation immigrant who built her identity around achievement, Angela opens up about the challenges she faced after the birth of her first child: feeling lost, burned out, and unsure of how to balance her career and motherhood.

Over two years of coaching with Leanna, Angela has shifted from over-preparing and doubting herself to trusting her instincts, leading with authenticity, and creating a sustainable work-life balance. She speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, mom guilt, redefining confidence, and the power of journaling, reflection, and mindset work.

If you’ve ever struggled to feel “good enough” in both work and motherhood, Angela’s story will resonate deeply, and remind you that change is possible when you invest in yourself and give yourself permission to slow down, reflect, and grow.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/99].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

How Executive Coaching Helped Me Rebuild Confidence and Redefine Success After Motherhood: Angela’s Story

In the third and final installment of the Confidence Series, Leanna explores a confidence killer that often flies under the radar: the compulsion to shape-shift in response to others' expectations.

Adapting oneself to meet the needs and preferences of others, aka being a chameleon, is a skill many high-achieving women have mastered. It can be a superpower. But when done unconsciously, it chips away at our confidence, erodes our self-trust, and feeds imposter syndrome. In this episode, Leanna shares how to bring intentionality and authenticity back into the way we show up at work and at home.

Whether you’ve ever walked away from a meeting wondering, “Was I enough?” or felt the pressure to be all things to all people, this episode is for you.

Key Topics:

 * Why being a chameleon can erode self confidence and create imposter syndrome
 * How to stop outsourcing your identity
 * What it means to show up with intention
 * Two exercises to start reclaiming your confidence today

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/98].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

Confidence & Authenticity: Who Are You When You’re Not Being Who Everyone Else Needs You to Be?

In today’s episode, Leanna explores the hidden beliefs many women and working mothers carry about compensation and overworking as they rise in leadership roles. As salaries increase, so do the unspoken assumptions: more money must mean more hours, more sacrifice, and less balance. But is that actually true?

Leanna challenges the unspoken contract many high-achieving women are holding themselves to: that they must prove they’re worth it by constantly over-working, over-delivering and being available 24/7. She walks through common mindset traps, including imposter syndrome, tying self-worth to work ethic, and believing value only comes through output.

This episode invites you to reflect:

 * What do you believe you owe your employer in exchange for your salary or title?
 * What do you bring to the table beyond your work ethic?

If you've recently taken on a new role or are negotiating your next promotion, this is a must-listen conversation to help you step into leadership with clarity, confidence, and balance.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/97].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

How High-Achieving Women Can Avoid Burnout While Confidently Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Leanna explores the theme of confidence and how it plays a pivotal role in professional success. Focusing specifically on women in the workplace, Leanna shares lessons from her coaching clients and her own journey, highlighting the shift from knowledge-based confidence to belief in one’s problem-solving abilities. Through real-life examples, she explains how a growth mindset can unlock unshakable confidence, especially in environments where women often feel the pressure to have all the answers. For working mothers, this episode offers a gentle but powerful reminder: you don’t have to over prepare or overwork to prove your value. Leanna’s reflections provide actionable tools to help you show up with more ease, authenticity, and impact—both at home and in the office. Whether you're new to a role or navigating the ever-changing demands of life and leadership, this episode will inspire you to trust yourself and embrace the belief that you can solve any problem. Tune in for practical takeaways and the reminder that you already have what it takes.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/96].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

Growth Mindset: The Key to Ditching Self-Doubt and Leading with Confidence

Leanna sits down with leadership communication expert Dr. Laura Sicola to explore how executive women can communicate and lead with confidence and clarity, strengthening their executive presence. Dr. Sicola shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and offers practical tools for mastering the “prismatic voice”—adapting your tone, delivery, and message to connect with any audience. From the power of intentional communication to finding your balance between authenticity and authority, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways. Dr. Sicola shares her wisdom on aligning what you say with how you say it, and be sure to check out her TED Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02EJ1IdC6tE] with nearly 7 million views, as well as her book, Speaking to Influence [https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Influence-Mastering-Leadership-Voice/dp/B0CP4D611Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=O89YLIHI9Y7E&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nUk7gov9SIRbiUgLsimBJXyQgxDHIH32gBCeoyxw18mfD0yLIx4OFY_STLn5RI94MMBXILcRPXbOOr4tRTw1ft0upch2zChNg_YEBt5__AA.X-PDx2fzDesJR5tugn7_uN8VqIDjSJUYH7Erqqf1uh8&dib_tag=se&keywords=speaking+to+influence+mastering+your+leadership+voice&qid=1743013445&sprefix=speaking+to+influence%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1].

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/95].

Connect with Dr. Sicola here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola/] and check out her website [https://laurasicola.com/] for more information about trainings for your corporation, for your team, or if you're looking for keynote speakers.

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

How to Speak Like a Leader: Communication Strategies for Executive Women - with Dr. Laura Sicola

In this heartfelt episode, Leanna explores the often-overlooked importance of female friendship, especially for working mothers juggling careers, families, and the ongoing challenge of finding life balance. Reflecting on a recent trip with close friends, she shares thoughtful insights and a moving poem that captures the deep value of staying connected to the women in our lives. Through the lens of mom burnout and the realities of adult friendship, this episode is a powerful reminder to support women, prioritize connection, and reach out—even when life feels full. Let this be your nudge to call that friend you've been thinking about.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/94].

Re-visit episode 19, Building Your Village: Friendship, Connection, and Community in Motherhood — with Emily Siegel [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/friendship-in-motherhood-with-emily-siegel], for more insight about the power of friendships.

Re-visit episode 27, Go to the End and Look Back [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/go-to-end-look-back/], for more insight about regrets. Find more information on where to buy the book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying here [https://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

The Restorative Power of Female Friendships

In this episode, Leanna teaches a simple tool to help you feel less drained and more empowered and energized throughout your day. Using the transformative power of shifting the language we use when talking about our daily tasks and responsibilities, we can reduce feelings of dread and exhaustion, replacing them with a sense of purpose and desire. This simple but powerful perspective shift can help executive working mothers feel more in control of your time and energy, creating a more fulfilling life.

Full transcript available here [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/93].

Connect with Leanna here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannalaskey/].

If you're ready for deeper transformation, check out The Executive Mom Reset [https://podcast.coachleanna.com/introducing-the-executive-mom-reset/] — Leanna’s six-month coaching program designed to help ambitious moms stop merely surviving and start thriving. Book a consult now! [https://calendly.com/coachleanna/exploratory-session-with-leanna-laskey-mcgrath?month=2025-03]

How to Shift from Feeling Exhausted + Drained to Energized + Empowered

The Executive Coach for Moms podcast supports women who are attempting to find balance and joy while simultaneously leading people at work and at home.

Hosted by Leanna Laskey McGrath, former tech exec turned full time mom, recovering perfectionist and workaholic, and certified executive coach.

Leanna Laskey McGrath

Shows