CEO at Work, Mum at Home — But Still Me in Both

Let me start by saying something I know many of you will understand:

There is no switch off button between being a CEO and being a Mum.

You don’t clock out of one role and into the other. You don’t leave your identity at the door. You don’t get to split your heart into tidy compartments.

Because the truth is, when you’re a business owner and a parent, both identities shape you, stretch you, and (if you let them) strengthen each other.

And yet, for a long time, I felt like I had to choose. Choose between being taken seriously as a leader or being present as a mum. Between chasing big business goals or picking up from school. Between late night strategising and early morning cuddles.

But over the years, and through the inevitable messiness of both roles, I’ve come to realise something powerful:

I don’t have to choose. I get to be both.

And in fact, it’s the lessons from each role that make me stronger in the other.

Running a business, especially in the NDIS space, teaches you a few things pretty quickly: resilience, decision making, boundaries, patience, and the importance of long term vision.

And if that doesn’t sound like parenting, I don’t know what does.

When my kids see me work, they don’t just see me on a laptop or running events. They see me showing up. Solving problems. Having hard conversations. Chasing goals. Owning my time.

They see that their mum is allowed to have dreams and dinner on the table. They see that women can lead, build, hire, fire, negotiate, advocate, create and rest. They learn that success is something you define on your own terms.

But more than that, they see that mistakes don’t define us. That growth takes time. That sometimes we cry, reset, and keep going. That we don’t always get it right, but we keep choosing to show up.

And that’s a lesson I’ll never stop being proud to teach them.

Now let’s flip it around. Because if business made me more strategic, motherhood made me more human.

Being a mum taught me how to listen with empathy. How to read between the lines. How to find calm in chaos. How to be flexible without losing structure.

Motherhood gave me a sense of intuition that no Degree could ever teach. It taught me how to be present in the moment, something I bring into my coaching, my leadership, and my business every day.

I don’t just see clients as numbers or staff as resources. I see them as people. People with needs, fears, talents and potential.

And it’s not a coincidence that the more I leaned into that empathy and humanness, the more my business grew.

Because people don’t want perfect. They want real. They want honest leadership. They want to be seen.

And motherhood taught me exactly how to do that.

Let’s not pretend this is all easy.

There have been many nights I’ve questioned myself:

• Am I present enough as a mum?

• Am I working hard enough as a CEO?

• Is my family missing out because of my business?

• Is my business missing out because of my family?

Guilt is the unwanted companion that often walks with women who are building something bigger than themselves.

But here’s what I’ve learned: guilt thrives in silence. The more I talk about it, the more I connect with other women who feel the same. And the more we name it, the less power it has.

So here’s the truth: You are allowed to want big things for your business and a strong presence in your home. You are allowed to feel torn some days, and triumphant others. You are allowed to redefine what success looks like, and make space for both.

People talk about “work life balance” like it’s some magical equation we’ll eventually figure out. But what I’ve found more helpful is integration.

Some days my business gets more of me. Some days my family does.

But across the whole, what I’m aiming for is alignment. Am I living in a way that feels true to who I am? Are my choices reflecting what matters most? Am I leading my business and my family with integrity and intention?

If the answer is yes, then the balance doesn’t matter so much.

So if you’re a mum running a business, I want to remind you of something I wish someone had told me earlier:

You don’t have to choose. You are not too much. You are not behind. You are not doing it wrong.

You are becoming the leader your business and your family both need.

Your kids don’t need perfection. They need presence. Your clients don’t need perfection. They need purpose.

And both get to coexist beautifully.

Whether I’m hosting a workshop, onboarding a coaching client, or packing lunchboxes at 7am, I’m still me. Not two different versions. Just one woman, holding both with love.

And the same goes for you.

So if you’re building a business that matters, while raising a family that matters more, know this:

You’re not alone. You’re not behind. You’re not invisible. You’re leading. And that’s enough.