128: Burnout, Boundaries, and the Power of Asking for What You Need - with Leslie Forde, CEO and Founder of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs
Wed Nov 26 2025
Leslie Forde is the CEO and founder of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, a long-time B2B marketer, a strategic advisor to HubSpot, and the author of Repair with Self Care. She also runs the longest running national parent study on pandemic and post pandemic mental health. In this episode of Women in B2B Marketing, we talk about the emotional, mental, and logistical load carried by working women and why burnout has quietly become a default state for so many of us.
Leslie shares why women struggle to ask for what we need, how the past five years have reshaped the caregiving landscape, and what leaders and companies can do to support caregivers instead of unintentionally burning them out. We also unpack the rise of the Hype Women movement, the importance of making space for asks, and how community can fuel both confidence and belonging.
Here is what we cover:
Why self care scores have dropped below pre pandemic levels in her national studyWarning signs of burnout that appear long before we notice themWhy high achieving women struggle to ask for help or supportThe unseen load mothers carry and how it affects work, relationships, and healthWhat employers misunderstand about caregivers and the simple changes that matterWhy ERGs often run on unpaid labor from women and how leaders can fix thatThe link between psychological safety, vulnerability, and the ability to ask for what you needHow the Hype Women movement creates space for community, courage, and honest requestingWhy many mothers feel like they are failing in every role and what actually drives that feelingHow women can start reclaiming time, rest, and care in realistic attainable ways
Key Links:
Guest: Leslie Forde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieforde
Her book, Repair with Self Care:
https://a.co/d/fu3UGes
Mom's Hierarchy of Needs
https://momshierarchyofneeds.com
Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra
––
Like WIB2BM? A quick rating or review helps new listeners find the show.
More
Leslie Forde is the CEO and founder of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, a long-time B2B marketer, a strategic advisor to HubSpot, and the author of Repair with Self Care. She also runs the longest running national parent study on pandemic and post pandemic mental health. In this episode of Women in B2B Marketing, we talk about the emotional, mental, and logistical load carried by working women and why burnout has quietly become a default state for so many of us. Leslie shares why women struggle to ask for what we need, how the past five years have reshaped the caregiving landscape, and what leaders and companies can do to support caregivers instead of unintentionally burning them out. We also unpack the rise of the Hype Women movement, the importance of making space for asks, and how community can fuel both confidence and belonging. Here is what we cover: Why self care scores have dropped below pre pandemic levels in her national studyWarning signs of burnout that appear long before we notice themWhy high achieving women struggle to ask for help or supportThe unseen load mothers carry and how it affects work, relationships, and healthWhat employers misunderstand about caregivers and the simple changes that matterWhy ERGs often run on unpaid labor from women and how leaders can fix thatThe link between psychological safety, vulnerability, and the ability to ask for what you needHow the Hype Women movement creates space for community, courage, and honest requestingWhy many mothers feel like they are failing in every role and what actually drives that feelingHow women can start reclaiming time, rest, and care in realistic attainable ways Key Links: Guest: Leslie Forde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieforde Her book, Repair with Self Care: https://a.co/d/fu3UGes Mom's Hierarchy of Needs https://momshierarchyofneeds.com Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra –– Like WIB2BM? A quick rating or review helps new listeners find the show.