Did motherhood make you softer… or did it make you sharper?

In this episode, Alexa challenges the narrative that empathy is a “soft skill” and reframes it for what it actually is: a leadership advantage.

After sharing a personal story from her own return to work, Alexa explores how motherhood strengthens attunement, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking — the very skills research links to higher performance, stronger engagement, and better retention.

Drawing on data from the Center for Creative Leadership, Catalyst, Harvard Business Review, and neuroscience research on caregiving and empathy, she breaks down why empathetic leaders are rated higher in effectiveness — and why workplaces still undervalue the skill.

But this isn’t just theory.

Alexa shares three practical ways working moms can use empathy strategically:

• How to spot early disengagement before it turns into attrition

• How to diffuse conflict without over-functioning

• How to pair empathy with standards so you don’t burn out

If you’ve ever wondered whether becoming a mother made you less competitive or less ambitious, this episode offers a powerful reframe.

Connect with Alexa:

On IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexa.starks/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexastarks/

Learn more about:

Mothered Magazine: https://www.motheredmagazine.com/

Executive Moms: https://www.executivemoms.co/https://www.executivemoms.co/

The Maternal Strengths Report https://www.executivemoms.co/the-maternal-strengths-report