Quick Summary
Senior Marketing Director Janelle Walter has spent years climbing the ladder while raising three kids, quietly feeling scattered, frazzled, and fragmented. In this candid conversation, Janelle shares the simple but bold shifts that moved her from survival mode to grounded leadership at work and at home: reclaiming mornings, closing the laptop at breakfast, time-blocking for deep work, protecting lunch, letting go of perfection, and leading her team by example. If you’re a high-achieving, dual-income household mom wondering, “Is this just how it has to be?”—this one is absolutely for you!
Ready to stop spinning, take control, and find direction in what you want next? Apply for the Corporate Achiever Cohort (application-only, one woman per company): mollyasplin.com/application
Timestamp Summary (Times are approximate)
- 00:00 – Opening & Invitation
Molly frames the reality for high-achieving corporate women and introduces the small-group Corporate Achiever Cohort. - 02:15 – Meet Janelle
Season of life snapshot: hybrid leadership role in financial services, mom of three (12, 9, 3), why summer logistics feel different than the school year. - 05:40 – “Something’s Gotta Give”
The moment Janelle reached out: burnout from last summer; three feelings that defined her: scattered, frazzled, fragmented. - 09:10 – Why We Don’t Talk About It at Work
Comparison traps, male-dominated leadership cultures, and the pressure to appear polished. - 12:45 – The First Shifts: Mornings & Evenings
Reclaiming 5:00–7:30am for workouts/quiet work; tightening the wind-down routine so early mornings are actually possible. - 16:30 – Boundary in Action: Laptop Off at Breakfast
Nothing is truly urgent at 7:00am. Present > reactive. - 18:40 – Time-Blocking for Strategic Work
Guarding the first hour for focus, protecting lunch, and getting outside mid-day to reset energy. - 22:50 – Designing a Week That Works
Reducing number of meetings, lighter Fridays/Mondays for deep work, and how leaders can set the tone. - 26:15 – Community & Connection
Retreats as a pressure-release valve: validation, ideas, and friendships that make the season feel solvable. - 30:10 – Letting Go of Perfectionism
From “yes-girl” and people-pleasing to delegating, challenging processes, and leading by example. - 34:05 – Partnership, Mental Load & The Summer Puzzle
Divide-and-conquer with her spouse, why older kid seasons can be harder, and choosing to be present even if a driver/nanny is an option. - 39:20 – The Case for a 4-Day Work Week
How one extra weekday could transform errands, daycare load, and weekend fun. - 42:00 – Redefining Fulfillment
Presence at breakfast, outcome-focused work, and the “Let Them” mindset (less reactivity, more priority clarity). - 46:20 – Confidence, Coaching & Permission
How being challenged in coaching + stepping into retreats opened up possibility and self-trust. - 50:10 – For the Woman in the Thick of It
Small shifts add up; invest in yourself; you don’t need to blow it all up to feel better. - 52:40 – What She’s Proud Of
Owning the season, modeling flexibility for her team, and choosing family-first leadership. - 54:10 – Connect with Janelle
Best place to reach her: LinkedIn. Find her here.
Key Takeaways
- Micro-shifts = macro-peace. Reclaim mornings, protect breakfast, block strategic time, and guard lunch for an energy reset.
- Presence beats performative “busy.” Close the laptop for the humans in front of you; answer emails with a clear mind later.
- Leaders set norms. Delegation and questioning “why we do it this way” create growth for your team and margin for you.
- Connection changes everything. Retreats and peer rooms normalize the load—and surface real solutions.
- Redefine success by season. Older kid summers, aging parents, and dual-income dynamics require evolving boundaries.
- You’re replaceable at work; you’re not at home. Act like it in your calendar.
Memorable Lines
“Nothing is urgent at 7:00am. Be present at breakfast.”
“Small changes add up to big shifts—you don’t have to rip the band-aid off.”
“I want to be the example for my team that flexibility is possible.”
“Weekends should include more fun—not just prep.”
Coach’s Corner: Try These This Week
- Block the first hour for strategic work (no inbox).
- Add a 10–15-minute outdoor walk after lunch.
- Close the laptop during breakfast—100% presence.
- Pick one recurring meeting to delegate for team development.
Resources Mentioned
- Books: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks (Zone of Genius)
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (releasing reactivity; focusing on priorities)
Keywords
working mom leadership, corporate working moms, boundaries at work, hybrid work routine, deep work time blocking, four-day work week, mental load moms, women in leadership development, career clarity coaching, corporate leader clarity experience
Work With Me | Connect With The Guest
- Apply for the Corporate Leader Clarity Experience (one woman per company): mollyasplin.com/application
- Connect with Janelle on LinkedIn here
Share this episode with a working mom who’s ready to move from frazzled to focused.
