Motherhood is a beautiful and fulfilling experience that requires a lot of time and energy, especially in the first few years. While some may hold the belief that women who become mothers cannot balance a successful career and family, history disproves this notion. Many women have achieved remarkable feats in their professions while also raising their children with love and care. In this article, we celebrate ten women who have excelled in their businesses or professions after becoming mothers. Their stories encourage us all to pursue our passions and dreams, regardless of our familial responsibilities.
1. Mary Barra
Mary Barra is the CEO of General Motors, one of the biggest auto manufacturers globally. Before becoming CEO in 2014, Barra had worked at the company for 33 years, juggling her career and family life as a mother of two children. Her ascension to the company’s top position as CEO made her the first woman to hold such a position in a major global automotive company. Barra’s success story is inspirational because she demonstrated that being a mother does not limit one’s career aspirations.
2. Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is a lawyer, writer, and former First Lady of the United States, where she served between 2009 and 2017. As a mother of two children, Michelle Obama continues to inspire many women worldwide, showing that it is possible to have a successful career even as a mother. Michelle Obama’s achievements, including her Bestselling book “Becoming,” highlight her resilience and determination as a mother and career woman.
3. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media executive and talk show host, who overcame much adversity and challenges on her path towards success, including being a survivor of child sexual abuse. As a mother of none, Oprah’s story is unique in that she overcame many setbacks throughout her early life to ascend to the top of her profession. Despite not having children of her own, Oprah Winfrey remains a role model for many mothers. Oprah’s success story serves to inspire women, empowering them to pursue their dreams, regardless of their circumstances.
4. Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx, a shapewear company that has gained worldwide recognition for its success story. Before becoming a mother, Blakely was already a successful businesswoman. However, after having her children, Blakely became more driven and determined than ever to succeed in business. Her success story highlights how motherhood can motivate women to push themselves further as they strive to create a better future for themselves and their children.
5. Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi is the former CEO of PepsiCo, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. As a mother of two children, Nooyi’s journey to CEO is full of remarkable achievements, demonstrating how motherhood can inspire women to reach the top in their respective professions. Nooyi often speaks publicly about motherhood, work-life balance, and the importance of gender parity in business leadership, inspiring many other women to pursue their careers with vigor and determination.
6. Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer is a former CEO of Yahoo, a technology company that has gained major achievements in her career. Mayer’s journey to success highlights that women can make it to the top of their businesses while also being responsible for raising children. Although the Yahoo stock went down during her tenure as CEO, her story has inspired many women around the world, showing that motherhood is not a limitation to achieving remarkable success.
7. Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is a business executive and author, best known for her book, Lean In. Sandberg has served as the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook and is a mother of two children. She has written extensively on the challenges that women face as they juggle their professional and personal responsibilities, inspiring many women to aim high and pursue their careers, despite societal expectations.
8. Mary Kay Ash
Mary Kay Ash was a businesswoman who founded Mary Kay Cosmetics. As a single mother, she started her business with a small investment and built it into a multi-billion dollar company. Through building her business with supportive policies for mothers, she demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges women face as they pursue their careers and raise their families simultaneously. Ash’s legacy is a symbol of hope and support for mothers everywhere, reminding them that their work and contributions to society is essential.
9. J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling is an author, who is best known for her Harry Potter series. After becoming a single mother, Rowling’s financial struggles were a driving force in her creative work, as she wrote stories about a boy who overcame deep adversity. Her story stands as a testament to the way in which motherhood can inspire women to strive for something better, to bring new and innovative ideas into the world.
10. Madonna
Madonna is a global music icon who has had a profound impact on popular culture in the last few decades. As a mother of six children, she has always maintained a balance between her professional and personal life while continuing to dominate the charts as a musician. Madonna’s career has been a source of inspiration for mothers and women everywhere, reminding us that it is possible to have a fulfilling career while also being a dedicated parent.
The careers of these ten exceptional women illustrate the incredible accomplishments that women can achieve while also being devoted mothers. With unwavering determination and endless tenacity, they have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields while also raising their children with love and care. Their stories serve as a beacon of inspiration to women and mothers worldwide, showing them that they too can aim high in their professional journeys while nurturing and supporting their families. These women prove that motherhood and a successful career are not mutually exclusive, inspiring other women to pursue their passions and aspirations with confidence and focus.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
Jagriti Motwani is a communications professional with 18+ years of experience in consulting over 275 Indian and International companies on communications and business growth through social media, amped with the application of neurosciences creating brain valcro. During her tenure, Jagriti has led several public relations, public affairs and digital marketing projects for esteemed organisations including her pro-bono work for, #Hanumanji4Dham, a mammoth project to institute Hanumanji’s
Jagriti was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 by Adgully. She has also featured in Exchange4media 40 under 40, and Agency Reporter 40 under 40 lists recently and has made a mark for herself in the communications domain.
Jagriti was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 by Adgully. She has also featured in Exchange4media 40 under 40, and Agency Reporter 40 under 40 lists recently and has made a mark for herself in the communications domain.
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