“Who Am I Now?" The Identity Shift No One Prepares You For With Motherhood

"Who am I now" is a question many mums have asked themselves, especially when they are navigating the transition back to work.

I chat with Laura Stewart, mum, former executive leader, and founder of a social enterprise, to unpack her experiences of identity shift (matrescence) and navigating her transition back to work.

Laura shares her decision to resign from a senior role while on maternity leave, the emotional process of discovering she no longer fit the career she once thrived in, and the deep internal shifts that followed. From redefining success and letting go of mum guilt, to building micro-systems to support her return-to-work life, Laura offers wisdom, vulnerability, and practical strategies for working mums navigating their own identity transformations.

We chat about:

• Why Laura chose to leave her high-level role after becoming a mum

• The concept of matrescence and the identity shift no one warns you about

• Practical systems and hacks for simplifying the mental load

• Reframing mum guilt and giving yourself permission to grow

• The importance of communication and redefining partnership

• How to make space for the new version of you

Whether you’re feeling lost, stuck in the juggle, or wondering if you’ve changed, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and not alone.

Episode links

Connect with Laura Stewart on LinkedIn

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