The Future of Working Motherhood w/ Alexa Starks

The Future of Working Motherhood: Flexibility, Ambition, and Real Support After Maternity LeaveAmy Pons hosts Alexa Starks, maternity leave coach and founder of Executive Moms, to discuss reshaping maternity leave and return-to-work experiences and the findings from Executive Moms’ Future of Working Motherhood 2026 report. They reflect on the need to deconstruct harmful workplace systems, the lack of support for mothers returning from leave, and how simple supports like mentorship can improve retention. Alexa shares key data: 40% of women leave their job within a year of returning from maternity leave, yet 97% would stay if truly supported; the report also found no “ambition gap,” with mothers reporting equal or greater ambition after having kids. A major takeaway was that flexible work design (remote/hybrid/part-time) mattered more than longer leave. Alexa also previews a TED Talk in Rotterdam and the launch of Mothered Magazine.01:09 Coaching and Paradigm Shift03:02 Aha Moments in Corporate05:22 Maternity Return Support Systems06:48 Report Findings and Retention Stats09:02 Ambition Gap Myth Debunked11:43 Burnout and Hands On Work13:54 Workplace Bullying and Boundaries15:20 Surprising Data on Flexibility16:56 Flexibility Tops Requests17:15 Ambition And The 97 Percent17:52 Survey Logistics And Reach18:34 Return To Office Pushback20:51 Why Leaders Cling To Control22:42 TED Talk And Moving Abroad25:04 Launching Mothered Magazine27:04 Super Bowl Holiday Hypocrisy28:46 Advice For The 97 And 4031:06 Where To Find The Report31:32 Feminine Strength ClosingFind the 2026 'Future of Working Motherhood' report along with key updates from Executive Moms here, and follow Alexa on LinkedIn and Instagram. Thank you for tuning in to Women Making Moves, be sure to rate and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform and follow along on Instagram and Bluesky. Visit Amy at Unlock the Magic, and follow on Instagram and LinkedIn.Women Making Moves is for personal use only and general information purposes, the show host cannot guarantee the accuracy of any statements from guests or the sufficiency of the information. This show and host is not liable for any personal actions taken.