In this episode, Lisa and Ilana discuss:

• Mother-daughter dynamics in shaping career confidence and identity
• The unconscious transmission of attitudes about work, relationships, and self-worth
• Navigating the tension between supporting and controlling children’s career paths
• The role of self-awareness and open conversation in healthy career development

Key Takeaways: 

• Daughters absorb far more from how mothers navigate work, relationships, and confidence than from the advice they are given outright.
• Holding too tightly to a fixed idea of who a daughter should become can quietly undermine her ability to build true career confidence.
• Paying attention to the language you use about your job and your life helps prevent unintentional patterns of negativity or self-doubt from passing on to your children.
• Sharing the full, unpolished story of your own career choices—including pivots, regrets, and proud moments—gives your child permission to make different decisions without guilt.

 

“The real trick is for daughters and for us to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses and separate ourselves enough from mom that we could see ourselves.” – Ilana Levitt

Episode References:

• Download a Sample Birkman Report: https://flourishcoachingco.com/birkman
• Sample The Seven Stories Exercise: https://careercenter.lehigh.edu/sites/careercenter.lehigh.edu/files/Seven%20Stories%20Exercise.pdf
• New York Times: 25 Questions to Bring You Closer to Your Mom: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/09/well/mothers-day-questions.html

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).
flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Ilana:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsmomthebook/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatsmomthebook/
Book: What's Mom Still Got To Do With It?: https://www.whatsmomthebook.com/
Take the quick quiz to find out which daughter type from What’s Mom Still Got To Do With It? fits you best!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanatolpinlevitt/

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co