In the whirlwind of balancing professional aspirations with the profound responsibilities of motherhood, many women find themselves at a crossroads, torn between two seemingly separate identities. I felt this deeply within the first few days of returning to work after having my daughter.
I vividly recall walking to my car after work one-day thinking, “I can either be the professional I’ve always known myself to be, or I can be the mom I want to be.”
I didn’t recognize the tension as a polarity but rather a stark choice. It wasn’t until I began mentoring a new mom that the true depth of my struggle became apparent.
She asked whether it was possible to be a high-performing leader and a fully engaged mother. That was when I realized I had pitted these integral parts of my life against one another instead of seeking integration, and a new journey began for me.
Fast forward eight years and my dear friend and colleague, Greer VanDyck (founder of Windrose Coaching & Speaking), felt called to empower working mothers. Her vision merged seamlessly with the mission of Collective Growth Endeavors and a collaboration was born.
The Integration Project launched in April 2024 using a polarity framework to guide cohorts of women from a fragmented, contingency-based approach to being a working mom to an approach that integrates their professional and maternal identities.
While we did not use the Key Polarity Indicator in our initial cohort, we anticipate incorporating it into our expanded offerings that will provide ongoing support and resources tailored to the evolving needs of our growing community.
Our goal is to empower working moms to not only excel in their careers but also thrive in their personal lives.
Posted In: KPI Practitioner Exclusive