Career Mama newsletter

Hi Career Mamas,

In June, we focused on advocating for ourselves. Many of you embraced new ways to speak up and lead with confidence through the Self-Advocacy Challenge.

As part of self-advocacy, we also honed a core leadership skill: strategic thinking. The recording of Strategic Thinking: Accelerate Your Career & Make Smarter Decisions workshop is now available on the CM platform (Kajabi) for you to watch anytime.

As we head into July, we’re focusing on Presence over Perfection. We know this is something we all struggle with. We’ll take small, meaningful steps to have fun with our kids and prioritizing ourselves.

Slack roundup, July Circle prompt, workshop, calendar challenge, and 1:1 details:

1. Monthly Slack roundup:

2. Workshop: “How to Let GO of the Pressure to be the 'Perfect' Mom”:

We’re hosting a special workshop on July 30th at 11am PT (via Zoom, video on encouraged) with guest speaker Zoe Blaskey, CEO and founder of Motherkind. The workshop will include Q&A. Bring your questions and challenges you’re stuck on! See invite for details.

3. Challenge for July: Presence over Perfection:

In July’s Challenge: Summer Fun, we’re focusing on small but powerful actions to help you feel more connected with your kids while nourishing yourself (and without the mom guilt!).

📆 Week 1 (June 30th week): Protect One Joy to enjoy your holiday

📆 Week 2 (July 7th week): Choose connection with kids

📆 Week 3 (July 14th week): Self-love

📆 Week 4 (July 21st week): Present over perfect at work

Whether you’re working on a big project, about to deliver baby #2, going on vacation, or drowning with a full load, this challenge is intentionally designed to support you - join us on this challenge.

Being present with your kids and prioritizing you is a big reason you joined Career Mama!

Reply back if you’re joining this challenge.

✅ The following Monday, share in Slack what you did and your takeaway.

4. Presence Failure Loop

We’re often guilty of getting stuck in the Presence Failure Loop:

Mental Overload
Disconnection
Guilt
Overcompensation
Burnout
Repeat <>

Check out the new video lesson in the CM platform on what is the Presence Failure Loop, why we get stuck in it, and how to break out of it. July’s focus is to help you break out of the Presence Failure Loop.

5. Circle prompt for July:

We often feel pressure to be “on” in all areas: nailing it at work, being the emotionally available parent, remembering the sunscreen, replying to the Slack message and the birthday invite. The result? We’re everywhere but rarely fully present.

Let’s get honest about what gets in the way and what we’re ready to let go of. Discussion prompt:

Where do you feel the most pressure to “do it all” right now? (Work? Parenting? Partner? Self-care?)
What’s one people-pleasing or perfectionist habit or unrealistic standard you want to challenge this month?
What would “good enough” look like this week? How might it feel better than perfect? For example, what is 1 thing you’re letting go off so you can show up for what really matters? E.g. Skipping cooking and ordering in so you can play with your kids, not volunteering for the team offsite so you can protect family time, letting go of how your partner packs the diaper bag or cleans up the kitchen.

Please reflect on this prompt for 15 minutes in preparation for your Circle discussion.

6. 1:1s sign up:

If you’d like to have a 1:1 with a Career Mama (optional), let us know by July 7th. We’ll pair you up and you’ll schedule a 30-minute Zoom or phone call with your partner in July.

We’re so proud of the ways you spoke up and advocated for yourself in June! As July begins, we hope you get the chance to slow down, recharge, and enjoy the summer in ways that feel meaningful and fun to you (with less pressure and more love!).

Reminder to reply back if you’re participating in our Summer Fun July challenge!

Cheers,
Shivani

P.S. Pop into #intros to say hello and help our new members feel at home 💛

Career Mama newsletter - June 2025