Flourishing Without Guilt: Redesigning Work, Leadership, and Life for Working Mothers with Mary Sheehan
Tue Feb 03 2026
What if guilt—not ambition—is the real burnout driver for working mothers? In this powerful conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Mary Sheehan to unpack why high-performing women feel stuck in a no-win game—and how leaders and individuals can redesign work to truly flourish.
This episode blends lived experience, leadership insight, and science-backed practices to help working parents move from exhaustion and self-blame to clarity, boundaries, and sustainable performance.
Key Topics Covered
Why guilt is the #1 struggle for working mothers—and how societal expectations amplify it
Values-based decision making as a practical antidote to burnout
The hidden cost of broken corporate systems: RTO mandates, inflexibility, childcare, and unpaid parental leave
Leadership’s role in inclusion: why flexibility and outcomes-based work benefit everyone
Mary’s powerful concept of the “Minimum Viable Person (MVP)”—small daily practices that restore energy and identity
Micro-practices for self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and resilience
How leaders at every level can redesign teams to support parents without sacrificing performance
Only ~20% of people are thriving at work—and working mothers are disproportionately paying the price. This conversation reframes flourishing not as a perk, but as a strategic leadership responsibility and a deeply human necessity.
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Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/
Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad
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What if guilt—not ambition—is the real burnout driver for working mothers? In this powerful conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Mary Sheehan to unpack why high-performing women feel stuck in a no-win game—and how leaders and individuals can redesign work to truly flourish. This episode blends lived experience, leadership insight, and science-backed practices to help working parents move from exhaustion and self-blame to clarity, boundaries, and sustainable performance. Key Topics Covered Why guilt is the #1 struggle for working mothers—and how societal expectations amplify it Values-based decision making as a practical antidote to burnout The hidden cost of broken corporate systems: RTO mandates, inflexibility, childcare, and unpaid parental leave Leadership’s role in inclusion: why flexibility and outcomes-based work benefit everyone Mary’s powerful concept of the “Minimum Viable Person (MVP)”—small daily practices that restore energy and identity Micro-practices for self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and resilience How leaders at every level can redesign teams to support parents without sacrificing performance Only ~20% of people are thriving at work—and working mothers are disproportionately paying the price. This conversation reframes flourishing not as a perk, but as a strategic leadership responsibility and a deeply human necessity. __________________________________________________ Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/ Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squad Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad