Returning to work after maternity leave can come with an unspoken pressure many women don’t realise they’re carrying - the need to prove that nothing has changed.

In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, Carina sits down with Rachel Debeck, former lawyer, tech CEO, and mum of three, to unpack the “prove yourself” trap that so many working mothers fall into when they return to work.

Rachel shares her honest experience of coming back to a senior role when her first baby was just seven months old, the internal pressure to overcompensate, and the moment she received feedback that changed how she showed up as both a leader and a role model for other women.

We explore why pretending it’s “easy” can actually make things harder for working mums and what it looks like to lead, work, and parent more honestly.

This conversation is for any mum who has returned to work feeling like she has to be exactly the same as she was before, or better, while quietly carrying the mental load, guilt, and exhaustion that no one sees.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The invisible pressure to “prove yourself” after maternity leave, especially in senior roles
• Why overcompensating can lead to burnout, and how to recognise when you’re doing it
• Why working mums don’t need perfect role models, they need real ones
• How each return to work can feel different (and why that’s normal)
• The daycare sickness season and why it’s often the point many women consider stepping away from their careers
• How to think about your career as non‑linear with seasons of acceleration and steadiness
• Why motherhood doesn’t end ambition, it often reshapes it into something more intentional and meaningful

Episode links

Connect with Rachel Debeck on LinkedIn.

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn

Have you ever posted your child’s name, birth date or kinder photo online?

Most of us have.

And we did it with love.

But in 2026, the digital landscape has changed.

In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast Carina speaks with Zsofi Paterson, CEO of Tinybeans, about the growing conversation around “sharenting” and why parents of young children need to be more aware than ever.

Following a recent Australian Federal Police warning and a 41% rise in online child exploitation, this episode explores:

• What sharenting actually means
• When and how your child’s digital footprint begins
• The risks of sharing names, birth dates and locations
• AI and image scraping explained simply
• Why consent matters — even for babies
• What to do if you’ve already shared a lot
• Practical boundaries working parents can implement today
• The concept of “digital nesting”

If you’re raising babies, toddlers or preschoolers — and navigating Instagram, Facebook or family sharing — this is a conversation worth having.

Episode links

Discover more about Tinybeans or connect with Zsofi on LinkedIn.

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn

Returning to work after having a baby isn’t just about logistics, childcare, or flexible hours , a big part of it is about identity.

In this Reflect Summer Series episode, Carina revisits a powerful conversation with Laura Stewart, who shares her deeply honest experience of the identity shift that came with motherhood, and how it ultimately led her to redefine success, leadership, personal values, and meaningful work.

While on maternity leave, Laura made the bold decision not to return to her executive role. Not because she lacked ambition, but because the role no longer aligned with who she was becoming as a mother, a leader, and a human.

Together, Carina and Laura chat about:

• The unexpected identity shift that happens after becoming a mum (matrescence)
• Why returning to your “old self” at work can feel impossible
• How values often change after motherhood and why that’s not a failure
• Why feeling supported at work isn’t always enough if the work no longer feels meaningful
• How embracing motherhood as part of your identity can make you a stronger, more confident leader

Episode links

Connect with Laura Stewart on LinkedIn

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn

The mental load is exhausting, and a big issue for many working mothers.

In this Reflect summer series special episode, I speak with Professor Leah Ruppaner.

We delve into the complexities of the mental load for working mums, and explore strategies to help you manage it that works for you. Leah shares the emotional and cognitive aspects of the mental load, the societal expectations placed on mothers, and the importance of creating supportive systems for both parents.

If you liked this Reflect episode, listen to the full episode "Lighten Your Mental Load, Ditch the Mum Guilt, and Rethink Care with Professor Leah Ruppanner"

MORE LINKS

Connect with Leah via her website www.leahruppanner.com or on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/leah-ruppanner-1657a417/

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity and the website www.workingmumma.com.au or connect with Carina on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/carina-obrien/

You’ve proven you can do your job — and do it well — while working flexibly. But now that your employer wants more office time, how do you ask for what you need without feeling guilty or being seen as “less committed”?

In this episode Carina O’Brien speaks with Dr. Ellen Ford, leadership expert and author of #WorkSchoolHours, about the art of negotiating flexibility at work. Together, they explore how working mums can confidently start the conversation, use data and outcomes to back up their case, and find a win-win that works for both you and your employer.

You’ll learn:

• How to have a confident, fact-based conversation with your boss about working from home or hybrid work
• The key phrases and language to use when asking for flexibility (without guilt or defensiveness)
• How to show your productivity and value while working flexibly
• Why hybrid work supports better wellbeing, mental load, and family balance
• How to reframe flexibility as a business advantage, not a personal favour

If you’re a working mum who wants to keep your flexibility this episode gives you the tools, confidence, and mindset to do it.

Listen to Dr. Ellen Ford's previous episode on the Working Mumma podcast ep 116 - Removing Barriers to Help Working Mums Thrive

Episode Resources & Links

• Dr. Ellen Ford’s book: #WorkSchoolHours: A Revolution for Parents, Workplaces & the World
• #WorkSchoolHours eBook - 100% discount with code "workingmumma100"
• #WorkSchoolHours Online Courses 50% off with code "workingmumma50" check out Parents course or People manager course click here
• Dr. Ellen Ford’s Website ellenjoanford.com

Connect with Carina on LinkedIn

Let's connect on Instagram @workingmummacommunity

Get your free 'How to share the mental load' checklist workingmumma.com.au/mental-load/

When a relationship ends, it’s not just the romantic partnership that dissolves - it’s the version of the life you imagined. For working mums, that loss can feel even heavier. You’re juggling career responsibilities, managing the daily needs of your children, and trying to make sense of an entirely new identity.

In this honest and practical conversation I chat with family lawyer, author, and co-parent Gabriella Pomare to talk about how working mums can navigate separation, divorce, and co-parenting with grace and clarity. Gabriella shares her personal story of rebuilding life after separation, whilst raising her son, managing a demanding career as a partner in a law firm, and finding a new identity. We discuss:

• The emotional reality of separation and identity loss
• How to communicate with your ex without escalating conflict
• Setting boundaries that protect your peace (and your children)
• Strategies for reducing the mental load when co-parenting
• The power of modeling respect and stability for your kids
• When to seek professional help — and why mediation can work better than court

Resources & Links

Follow Gariella @collaborativecoparent and see her website for free resources thecollaborativeco-parent.com.au and check out her new book "The Collaborative Coparent"

Follow Carina and Working Mumma @workingmummacommunity on LinkedIn and sign up to receive the free newsletter.

Are you caught in a constant loop of “I should be doing more”? In this reflective episode, Carina unpacks why the word "should" has become the secret source of guilt for working mums and how to replace it with kinder, more empowering language.

Carina explores how should sneaks into our day through social expectations, “good girl” conditioning, and the mental load and shares a simple mindset strategies to help reframe and let go of guilt and reclaim control of your choices.

You’ll walk away feeling lighter, more compassionate toward yourself, and with a practical strategy to shift from guilt to growth.

You’ll Learn:

• Why “should” fuels guilt and burnout for working mums
• The link between “should” and the mental load
• A simple mindset reframe to reduce pressure
• How to replace guilt with agency and compassion

Follow @workingmummacommunity or @workingmummapodcast on Instagram and follow Working Mumma on LinkedIn.

What happens when you’re managing a busy job or running a business and quietly going through IVF at the same time?

In this powerful episode, Carina sits down with Marianne Marchesi, founder and Managing Director of Legalite, to talk about the emotional and practical realities of balancing fertility treatment and career.

Marianne shares what it was really like to lead a growing law firm while navigating IVF during COVID - from countless appointments, injections, and heartbreak, to showing up at work trying to keep it all together.

She opens up about being diagnosed with endometriosis, the emotional toll of fertility struggles, and how the experience reshaped her definition of resilience, leadership, and success. Marianne also shares how her journey inspired her to introduce a 12-day reproductive health leave policy at Legalite, setting a new benchmark for workplace support.

If you’ve ever wondered how anyone does it all, or felt the silent weight of trying to balance work and fertility, this conversation will make you feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• The emotional toll of IVF and infertility while working
• Managing the juggle of appointments, deadlines, and hormones
• The power of vulnerability and how it changed Marianne’s leadership style
• Why workplaces must evolve to support fertility and reproductive health
• How IVF reshaped her outlook on success, motherhood, and what really matters

MORE LINKS

Connect with Marianne on LinkedIn or Instagram @mariannemarchesi or via her website legalite.com.au.

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or @workingmummapodcast or on LinkedIn