How Weak Ties Helped Me Redesign My Career After Maternity & Manifest a Soul-Led Life I Love

In this blog I share how discovering how “weak ties” helped me build a new career after redundancy , manifest a soul-led business, and unlock purpose using spiritual intelligence.

If you’re a mum searching for what’s next after maternity leave…
If you’re craving purpose but feeling stuck in survival mode…
If you’re quietly wondering, “Is it too late to create a life that actually lights me up?”

This story is for you.

Because the biggest shift in my life recently didn’t come from confidence, clarity, or even a five-year plan.
It came from something far smaller — yet far more powerful:

Weak ties. Stanford researchers say Weak Ties are the secret ingredient to career change, personal transformation, and manifesting a new life.

And I can confidently say:
They’re the reason I’m here, building a soul-led business, empowering women, and creating retreats with the author and one of the UK’s leading voices in Women, Wellbeing and Work: Giselle Goodwin.

So, What Are Weak Ties

and Why Do They Matter for Career Change After Maternity and or Redundancy (because unfortunately we know they often come hand in hand and if this is you, Please contact Pregnant and Screwed)

Stanford professor Mark Granovetter calls them weak ties — the people you barely know, speak to once, or encounter through social media, a podcast, or a friend-of-a-friend.

These aren’t your colleagues, your best friends, or your inner circle.
They’re your “loose connections” and according to decades of research, they’re the ones most likely to change your life.

Granovetter explains it beautifully:

“Your weak ties connect you to networks that are outside of your own circle. They give you information and ideas that you otherwise would not have gotten.”

This is exactly why weak ties matter so much for women navigating:

• career change after maternity

• returning to work with a new identity

• manifesting a new purpose

• redefining ambition

• stepping out of matrescence and into emergence (read my blog on What is Spiritual Intelligence for more on Emergence)

Weak ties pull us out of the bubble.
They connect us to fresh ideas.
And they help us see ourselves differently.

🦋 The Moment I Realised My Corporate Network Couldn't Take Me Where I Was Going

Leaving the corporate world this summer of 2025 felt like shedding a skin.
I’d spent years nurturing my “strong ties” the colleagues, clients, and teams who knew me inside out.

But after becoming a mum? I wasn’t the same woman anymore.

My ambitions had shifted.
My values had changed.
And the version of me they knew… wasn’t the version I was becoming. In fact the women I am unbecoming as I shed the expectations and old stories and rediscover the ME underneath.

So when I started my podcast, almost as an act of rebellion, a way to feel alive again and use my voice and get dirty in the arena, I didn’t know I was about to change my entire life.

But I did.

Because the women I interviewed weren’t part of my “network.”
They only knew this new version of me:

✨ The mum craving freedom for herself and all the mums feeling trapped in systems not deigned for them
✨ The fierce woman building her brand
✨ The creative soul with power, here to remind mums that their dreams did leave them in the delivery room
✨ The thought leader weaving spiritual intelligence and neuroscience so women can identify and achieve goals that works for them

And those loose ties didn’t just support me….they expanded me.

🎙️ How a Podcast Became My Portal Into a New Career and a Soul-Led Business

A year ago, I thought about starting a podcast.
Today, because of it, I have:

• Coaching clients I'd never have met in my corporate life
• Mentors who reflected back my potential and possibility
• Collaborations that nourished something deep in my soul
• The beginnings of an incredible business aligned to my values: offering retreats for women who want to reimagine ambition and live a purpose-led life and hosting soul goal parties globally and locally.

All from loose ties.
From conversations I almost didn’t have.
From messages I almost didn’t send.
From showing up imperfectly, vulnerably, honestly.

These weak ties didn’t just help my career grow.
They helped me take action and design a life I didn’t even know I was allowed to want.

🔮 Manifesting a New Life After Motherhood (The Part No One Tells You)

You know I am a BIG manifester. Something I’d lost about myself in the early years of motherhood, but a practice which served me incredibly well in the past. I manifested my husband, my job at Virgin Atlantic, my dream year of pack packing around the world…but since making more weak ties through my podcast i have discovered that manifesting isn’t just about vision boards and affirmations — though yes, these are a big part of it.

It’s about:

✨ Inner alignment (spiritual intelligence)
✨ Understanding your brain’s wiring (neuroscience)
✨ Acting with integrity, purpose, and courage
✨ Following the small nudges toward joy and possibility

Weak ties amplify this process.

They introduce you to:

• new worlds

• new thinking

• new opportunities

• new versions of yourself

It’s like the universe saying:
“Here. Here’s your next breadcrumb. Follow it.”

✨ Key Takeaways for Mums Searching for a New Path

Here’s what I want every mum to know:

1. Your old network reflects who you were, not who you’re becoming.
Weak ties reflect your evolution.

2. You don’t need a five-year plan , you need one brave nudge.
Loose ties are often the nudge.

3. Manifesting works when you take aligned action.
Small conversations create big shifts.

4. Your next opportunity will likely come from someone you barely know.
That’s the beauty of weak ties.

5. Motherhood didn’t clip your wings , it gave you new ones.
And weak ties help you learn to fly with them.

🦩 Final Thought: Your Next Chapter Is Already Looking for You

If you’re in that post-maternity, identity-shifting, what-now chapter…
If you’re craving freedom, purpose, joy, and flow…
If you’re ready to stop surviving and start manifesting a life that feels Flocking Fabulous…

Then listen to the nudges.
Follow the loose ties.
Say yes to the conversations.
And trust that the universe is already sending the right people your way.

I’m living proof.

If this blog inspired you, you’ll love the podcast Mamas Flight Path. In just 10 mins every Thursday and Sunday you’ll hear some insights and lessons I’m learning long on my path as I growing my Spiritual Intelligence amongst the motherhood chaos! I also read A LOT of books so I’m always sharing nuggets of knowledge.

Come and join the Flamboyance !

As always, sending love and kindness you way babe,

Love

Jools xx

What is Spiritual Intelligence?

💕 Ever feel like you’ve lost your colour?

So here’s something wild I learned from flamingos.

When a mother flamingo is raising her chicks, she literally loses her pink. All that gorgeous blush she’s known for? It fades. Her body gives everything to feeding and protecting.

And then when her chicks can finally stand on their own, something beautiful happens. She starts to eat again, rest again, stretch her wings again… and the pink comes back.

And I thought, oh my god, that’s us.
That’s every school run mum who’s been running on empty, giving everything, and suddenly realises her old life doesn’t fit anymore.

The jeans don’t fit.
The career doesn’t excite.
The conversations at the school gate feel… beige.

Not because you’ve failed, but because you’ve evolved.
You’re in the space between who you were and who you’re becoming.

That’s not a crisis, babe, it’s the moment when you tip out of matrescence and find yourself in EMERGENCE

The next phase of matrescence when you become a school-run mum and suddenly your brain, your body, and your life are demanding something different.

But unlike the first stage of motherhood, there's no name for this. No framework. No roadmap. So I have created one! Rooted in :

1. 🌱 My own life experience and 100s of coaching hours with women in this phase,

2. ✨ Spiritual Intelligence (SQ), because what I see, hear and feel is that when we become the school run mum, our pink starts to come back and it’s where your SQ starts to wake up.

3. 🧠 Neuroscience, because having spent the majority of my career in STEM, I’d had to back up my methods which some would refer as ‘woo woo’ with the hard facts of science. Now, If I can engage rocket scientists and engineering to understand and apply the creative and visuals tools I use through coaching them, I reckon I’m on to something!

So, what actually is Spiritual Intelligence ?

You’ve probably heard of:

• IQ: your logic, reasoning, the way your brain solves things.

• EQ: your emotional intelligence — how you handle feelings, empathy, and relationships.

But here is the secret; SQ goes deeper.
It’s the bridge between your head, heart, and soul.
It’s the part that asks:

“What’s this really about?”
“What’s this trying to teach me?”
“What would feel more me right now?”

Where IQ helps you think better,
and EQ helps you feel better,
SQ helps you live better.

and who doesn’t want that?!

It’s the quiet, intuitive intelligence that helps you make meaning, even in motherhood chaos, and design a life that feels aligned, not just efficient.

🧠 The Science Bit . Because, yes, there’s actual science

According to physicist and thought leader Danah Zohar, Spiritual Intelligence is the highest form of intelligence because it integrates the other two.

It’s not about religion or rituals, it’s about awareness,
It’s your ability to hold paradoxes: ambition and rest, motherhood and purpose, logic and intuition.

From a neuroscience perspective, building your SQ helps:
🧩 Strengthen emotional regulation (you react less, respond more).
💭 Improve meaning-making (you can reframe challenges as growth).
💖 Increase compassion — for yourself and others.

Basically, it’s the antidote to burnout — the science of coming back to yourself.

🌸 Why It Matters for Mums?

Motherhood literally rewires your brain (neuroplasticity) ready to care for your baby by prioritising empathy and care.
Beautiful? Yes.
Draining? Also yes.

Because while we’re wired to care for others, we often forget how to care for ourselves.
And that’s when the pink fades. We literally see this in Flamingos.

Then, around the school-age years, something stirs — a whisper that says, “There’s more for me than this.”

That’s not selfish.
That’s your SQ nudging you forward.

It’s your soul saying:

“You’ve kept everyone else alive. Now it’s your turn.”

It’s time to reconnect with who you are now, not pre-kids, not in theory but the wiser, wilder version that’s been quietly waiting underneath the laundry pile.

✨ How I Teach SQ

I have created a Heart led model to help you through the journey. Yes i dropped the J word because it is a journey!! A journey from auto pilot to authenticity.

I meets you in the messy middle of not knowing, the heart led model gives you a way to find yourself again, and then empowers you to create what comes next.

It's not about fixing you (they're not broken and I am not a therapist, although coaching is therapeutic).
It's not about giving you answers (you have your own but I’ll be your guide on the side).
It's about awakening your SQ so you can navigate your own transformation.

It Builds your Internal GPS…for the journey.

The model teaches you to trust yourself again. Every principle strengthens a different part of her inner guidance system:

👀 Awareness/ See it = Clarity on what's actually happening and where you want to go

🩷 Alignment / Feel it = Trust in your feelings and intuition

🥷🏻 Action/Do it = Take the steps to move forward

Result: You stop looking outside yourself for answers and starts trusting her own knowing.

It gives you Permission to:

• Be different than you were before

• Want more than "this"

• Not have it all figured out

• Take up space

• Choose yourself

• Change your mind

• Grow at her own pace

Result: you stop abandoning yourself to fit in. Starts designing your dream life on your terms.

It's not just "trust the universe" woo-woo (though there's heart and intuition). It's not just "here's a 10-step plan" strategy (though there's action and clarity).

It's BOTH. Spiritual intelligence applied to real life and embraces the spiral of growth.

From Burnout to Flocking Fabulous

You don’t need to burn it all down to begin again.
You just need to stop surviving and start listening.

That whisper that says “I want more”? That’s your inner compass, your SQ, guiding you home.

The goal isn’t to get your old self back.
It’s to meet the new one — the one who’s already been growing quietly beneath the noise.

“Flamingos don’t chase their pink. They nourish it.”

Ready to Find Your Pink?

If you’re done living life in beige and ready to rediscover your colour? This is your sign.

Because the truth is — when you fly, your whole family flies too.

These are the ways you can work with me:

Podcast = Mamas Flight Path 10 min episodes twice a week. Every Thursday: I share my real story of how I’m applying this stuff - I don’t hold back! Sunday: I share a Jools Tools, often inspired from NLP.

Group Coaching : Fancy applying my heart led framework with a community of like minded women, then this is for you! Coming Soon!

Retreat = Gets the deep immersion to really FEEL the shifts at The Thinking Space Luxury Retreat.…in Portugal!

Soul goal parties = Set intentions and goals from alignment in a way that works for women using visual and creative tools. Coming February 2026

Keep up to date with all these and more on SQ x Neuroscience by joining the Flock Drop.

You’ve got this and I’ve got you.

With Love and Kindness

Jools xx

Beyond Traditional Mentoring: How Podcasts Are Redefining Growth for Women

In a world where time is tight, demands are high, and support often feels out of reach, women, particularly mothers, are craving more than just advice. They're seeking connection and community.

As a learning and development expert and coach, I’ve seen it firsthand: growth doesn’t always happen in a boardroom or a coaching session. Sometimes it begins with a voice in your ear whispering, “I’ve been where you are.”

That’s why I created Mama’s Flight Path.

🧭 A Movement, a Mindset, a Mentorship Community

Mama’s Flight Path is more than a podcast. It’s a space built on the belief that women thrive when we lift as we climb. It’s a mindset that gives permission to evolve professionally, personally, and emotionally. And it’s a mentorship community that meets women exactly where they are, especially those who feel like they’ve outgrown who they used to be.

I launched it to offer the kind of honest, real-talk mentorship I wish more women had access to especially during transitions like returning to work or redesigning life after motherhood.

💡 Why Podcasts Matter: Mentorship for Modern Mums

Traditional mentoring often relies on formal programs, limited access, and awkward schedules. Podcasts flip that model on its head:

✅ Accessible Anytime

Whether you’re feeding the baby, walking to nursery, or driving to work, your mentor is in your ears. No calendar coordination required.

🌍 Diverse Voices, Shared Wisdom

Each guest brings a lived experience: different paths, professions, and stories of courage. That diversity shows us what’s possible and reminds us that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to career or motherhood and in fact it may spark something in us to figure out how we want to design our life as a working mother.

💬 Real Talk, Not Just Highlights

The conversations go deeper than titles and achievements. They explore doubt, identity loss, pivots, and purpose. We don’t skip the messy middle—we honour it.

🎯 From Story to Strategy: Growth That Feels Like You

Every episode is crafted to offer more than inspiration. It’s about transformation, with real-world takeaways:

• Mindset shifts for working mums

• Reframes around ambition, identity, and confidence

• Coaching tools that can be used in 5 minutes flat—on the loo if needed! (Let’s be honest, we have all been there!)

Through both expert guests and solo coaching moments, Mama’s Flightpath supports listeners to realign with what matters most and return to work in a way which lights up the new version of who they are becoming.

🤝 Community Starts With Connection

Podcasts are intimate. Listeners often say, “It felt like you were talking just to me.” That kind of resonance creates trust and when paired with email newsletters, live sessions, or future workshops, it becomes a launchpad for deeper support and mentorship.

✨ So Can a Podcast Be a Mentor?

Not in the traditional sense. But in many ways, absolutely yes.

It offers encouragement. It offers representation. It offers a safe space to begin again.

Because growth doesn’t have to wait for the “perfect” mentor. Sometimes it begins with a voice, a story, and a moment of “me too.”

Tune into Mama’s Flight Path Podcast

Dating, Dancing & Defying the Box: What Hayley Reminds Us About Being a Woman in 2025

Dating, Dancing & Defying the Box: What Hayley Reminds Us About Being a Woman in 2025

In 2025, you’d think the world would be done with boxing women in. And yet, when burlesque performer and single mum Hayley Dixon appeared on First Dates looking for connection, she was met with backlash, judged not for who she is, but for daring to step outside the lines society still expects mothers to stay inside.

"You’re a bad mum."
"You’re used goods."
"Why would anyone want you?"

That’s what strangers said—because she chose to put herself out there as a single mum, looking for love.

But here’s the thing. Don’t we all deserve love?

The Three Jobs of Being a Woman

Dr. Giselle Goodwin speaks about the triple expectations women juggle:

1. Look good

2. Be good

3. Do good

Hayley doesn’t just juggle them—she flips the narrative. As a fire performer and burlesque artist, she reclaims her sensuality and confidence, even while navigating solo motherhood. And when she performed pregnant? It wasn’t “too much.” It was power. It was joy. It was truth.

Too often, women are asked to strip away who they are to be “good mothers.” But Hayley shows us the opposite: the more we own our wholeness, the more we offer our children a fuller version of us.

As she says, “When you’re getting the real piece of you back, you’re going to be a better mum.”

Why Confidence Isn’t Selfish—It’s Essential

Confidence after motherhood isn’t a given. As Hayley shared, the gap in your career, the change in your body, the identity shift—it can all shake your sense of self. But it’s not selfish to rebuild it. It’s essential.

Because when you’re always in fight-or-flight, as Dr. Giselle Goodwin reminds us, your nervous system never lands. And when you never rest, you never return to yourself.

Whether it’s burlesque, boxing, or brunch with your girlfriends—reclaiming joy and sensuality after birth is not a luxury. It’s recovery. It’s therapy.

Single, Sexy and Still a Mum

Paloma Faith, in her book MILF, writes about women embracing the mess and magic of motherhood without apology. Hayley embodies this. She didn't go on First Dates for a fairytale ending—she went for companionship, for connection, and to remind herself she still mattered beyond the school run.

Dating as a single mum isn't reckless. It's radical. It’s a declaration: I’m still worthy of affection. Of love. Of desire.

The backlash Hayley received proves what many of us know: society still struggles to accept women who hold more than one identity at once. A mum can’t also be sensual? A single woman can’t also be stable? A burlesque dancer can’t also be nurturing?

These aren’t contradictions. These are the multitudes that live within modern motherhood.

This Isn’t About First Dates. It’s About First Steps.

Hayley didn’t just show up for a date. She showed up for herself.

She dared to be seen, looking fierce, as a mum, as a woman finding her way back to love.

And in doing so, she reminded us that:

• You can be a mother and still want magic.

• You can be sexy and still be safe.

• You can feel lost and still lead yourself home.

In her own words: "You don’t have to dim your light when you become a mum. You can still shine."

So here’s to the women rewriting what motherhood looks like in 2025. The ones in heels and nappies (if this you, amazing please voice not me with how you did it), with dreams and dishwashers, dancing and dating and daring to want more.

I see you. I celebrate you.

🎧 Want the full conversation?

Listen:
 🎙 Can We Have It All? With Dr. Giselle Goodwin
 ➡️ https://apple.co/3EOm5yy

🎙 Why Being a Single Mum Doesn’t Mean You Stop Dreaming – Hayley Steele on Love, Confidence & Channel 4’s First Dates
 ➡️ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-being-a-single-mum-doesnt-mean-you-stop/id1796676935?i=1000713201669

💌 Ready to reflect on your own return-to-work story?

Download my free guide, The Return Reset™, and take your first step toward clarity and purpose.
 👉 The Return Reset Journal

#careerwithpurpose

#redefiningsuccess

#workingmumlife 

#motherhoodandcareer

#parentingpodcast

#motherhoodjourney

#returntoworksupport

Rediscover Your Purpose: A Return Reset for New Mums

Returning to work after a baby can feel both familiar and utterly foreign. You may find yourself overwhelmed, exhausted, and even questioning who you are. Rest assured, you are not alone.

Recent surveys show that up to 94% of new mums feel nervous about returning to work thehrdirector.com, and most of them (97%) end up working extra hours off the clock thehrdirector.com.

Many mothers realise that their old career path no longer fits their new life – one study found 87% of working moms said parenthood cost them promotions or opportunities, and 90% have adjusted their career path due to having children hrdive.com.

Work as if you do not have children and parent like you do not have a job

• Anxiety & Burnout: Juggling work and family takes a heavy toll. In one survey, 67% of mums reported feeling exhausted and burnt out juggling these roles momsfirst.us.

• Almost all new mothers describe feeling anxious

• 94% felt nervous returning after leave thehrdirector.com

• 97% admit they had to check in on work during personal time thehrdirector.com.

• Invisible & Undervalued: 65% of returning mothers fear they’ll be “out of the loop” at work thehrdirector.com.

  In practice, many feel invisible. I have heard this far too many time in my coaching “I am not giving 100% to my work… a mediocre mother and not good enough at work” . A gut-wrenching sign of how invisible their transformations are becoming. A comment from Jo Reeves from Mama’s Flightpath Podcast that stuck with me was ‘Work as if you do not have children and parent like you do not have a job’.

• Career Misalignment: Motherhood often brings new values. Dr. Giselle Goodwin describes it as a “powerful tug toward something more meaningful” mamasflightpath.com. It’s common to feel that your purpose has shifted. (Not surprisingly, 79% of new mums in another study say flexible hours would help them most thehrdirector.com, underscoring that yesterday’s full-time model often no longer fits.)

• Systemic Barriers: Importantly, none of this is your fault. The difficulty isn’t that you’re not trying hard enough – it’s that the system wasn’t built for modern motherhood. As Dr. Goodwin bluntly puts it: “I felt broken trying to go back and be the same person after maternity leave. But I wasn’t broken. The system is.”mamasflightpath.com. UK data backs this up: only about 24% of women even attempt to return to full-time work after babies, and of those, 79% end up leaving within 2 years because it’s impossible to juggle full-time hours and childcare wearethecity.com.

The reality for many new mothers is that they’re expected to climb a mountain with little support. As I describe it, “returning to work can feel like a iceberg – above the sea level there are all the transactional things to do but underneath the surface we are experiencing identity shifts, sleep deprivation, emotional load which we often leave untouched”mamasflightpath.com. In other words, the old landscape of your career has changed beneath your feet. Workplaces often don’t recognise the huge transformation you’ve undergone – your perspectives, values and priorities. That’s why many mothers find themselves without clear direction or support, caught between the person they were and the parent they’ve become.

Introducing Your SHINE Pathway

You can choose your path

You can change course. Instead of plowing back into “business as usual,” you might consider a Return Reset, a conscious reboot of your work-life plan. This coaching-led process (now available as a free journal on Mama’s Flightpath mamasflightpath.com) guides you through reflection and realignment. It’s built around the SHINE framework:

• S – Self : Start by rediscovering who you are now. What matters most to you? Your core values and strengths may have shifted; acknowledging this isn’t a weakness, it’s wisdom. Clarifying your purpose can reignite passion. (Remember, 98% of new mums want to work in some way wearethecity.com, but we often need to redefine how and why we work.)

• H – Heart: Give yourself permission to feel. As a new mama, we often carry guilt, fear, and doubt. By intentionally naming these emotions – whether joy at being back, anxiety about leaving the baby, or grief over your old career identity – you reduce their power. Honor that it’s normal to have mixed feelings about this big life transition.

• I – Intention: Decide where you’re heading. What do you want your work life to look like now? Is it a flexible schedule, a new role, or a different career entirely? Maybe you don’t want to work right now. Set clear intentions that align with your updated values. Having this vision creates direction and hope.

• N – Navigate: Identify realistic strategies and boundaries that make your career sustainable. For example, negotiate for flexibility, say no to 24/7 availability, or plan reliable childcare. (The research is clear: 79% of returning mothers name flexible hours as the top support they need thehrdirector.com.) This step is about building a practical map: how can you fit work around your life, instead of life around work?

• E – Empower: Finally, take action. Small, consistent steps build confidence and momentum. Empower yourself by celebrating wins – like asking for that part-time arrangement or speaking up about your needs. With each step, you reclaim your power and professional identity.

By following SHINE, you’re not left guessing – you have a coach-guided process to reflect, reset, and realign your journey. My clients kind words evidence that this support makes all the difference. For example, one mum shared: “Jools’ kindness and exceptional listening offered the space I needed, she supported me with compassion and insight.” mamasflightpath.com This kind of empathetic, expert guidance can turn confusion into clarity.

Your Next Steps: Take Flight with Jools

You deserve a work-life built to fit you, not the other way around. I am a certified coach and working mum here to walk along side you with whatever you bring. I bring “over a decade of career guidance, high-level coaching credentials, and lived experience” to help you navigate this season with clarity and confidence mamasflightpath.com. In short, I know this journey inside out and can help you write a new chapter.

Remember: the workplace wasn’t designed for mothers, but you were. You have insights, strength and creativity that only a mother brings. With compassionate coaching and a clear framework, you can reclaim your power and shape a career and life that enrich each other and truly fits who you are now.

🎧 Tune into the latest episode of Mama’s Flightpath Podcast where we talk to Real Mama’s who have experienced this journey and expert insights.

#careerwithpurpose

#redefiningsuccess

#workingmumlife 

#motherhoodandcareer

#parentingpodcast

#motherhoodjourney

#returntoworksupport

✨ From Mama to Mission: How Motherhood Sparked Dr. Rebecca Troy’s Movement

Dr. Troy is part of '“A New School of Thought” about celebrating the brilliance of dyslexic minds and reimagining how we can support every child’s unique learning journey.

What happens when a mum listens to her gut—and backs it up with science? She changes lives.

Dr. Rebecca Troy had always been passionate about learning. But it wasn’t until she became a mother herself that her work truly came alive.

Growing up in the 1980s, dyslexia ran through her family—but no one had a name for it. It wasn’t discussed. It wasn’t supported. She watched her brother struggle. She saw the signs in her parents too. And later, as a high school teacher, she stood stunned in front of classrooms full of students who couldn’t read—yet her training had never prepared her for that reality.

Then came motherhood.

Knowing dyslexia is highly heritable, Rebecca was prepared. When one of her children showed signs, she had the tools and the knowledge to act early. The transformation was so powerful, she knew she couldn’t keep it to herself.

“Other mums need this too,” she realised.
“If you just give mama the tools—she can change everything.”

💥 Mums Are Their Child’s Fiercest Advocate

Through her coaching business, Dr. Troy has now helped over 3,000 families. She equips mothers—most with no background in education or neuroscience—to support their children in overcoming reading challenges.

And it works.
Children are jumping 50 percentile points in reading in just four months.

But the real story isn’t just about literacy—it’s about belief.

“Our children are capable of excellence,” says Dr. Troy.
“We might need to take a different path. But we do not need to lower the bar.”

She teaches mums to trust their instincts. To stop waiting for schools to fix the problem. And to visualise their child’s success—then walk toward it, one empowered step at a time.

💬 “I Missed the Lollipop Parade—and It Changed Everything.”

Dr. Troy's decision to start her business wasn’t just professional. It was personal.

There was the moment she missed her daughter’s Halloween parade because of an inflexible work meeting. A tutu. A lollipop costume. A 5-minute event. Gone.

“I’ll never do that again,” she vowed.
“I will build a life that lets me choose what matters.”

That was her turning point. And the beginning of a business that’s helped thousands.

Today, she works during school hours, is fully present in the afternoons, and yes—logs back on after bedtime when needed. It’s not always pretty, but it’s purposeful.

🔁 When One Mum Shifts, Everything Shifts

Rebecca shares the story of Janet—a mum who nearly gave up after her son, Caleb, was placed in a class that wasn’t helping. After joining Dr. Troy’s coaching, Caleb moved from the 7th to the 79th percentile in just 4.5 months. His words?

“Mama, I’m not stupid. I really am smart.”

That’s the power of what’s possible. And that’s what drives Rebecca every day.

🧠 The Science Behind It All

The results aren’t magic—they’re neuroscience. Dr. Troy’s work uses the brain’s natural ability to rewire through consistent, targeted interventions.
10–15 minutes a day.
No apps. No screens.
Just daily action—and lasting change.

“It’s like walking the same path through long grass,” she explains.
“Eventually, you create a clear route. That’s how the brain learns.”

💡 For the Mama Who Feels Like Giving Up

If you’re reading this as a mother trying to hold it all together—Dr. Troy sees you.

“You might be tired. You might feel behind. But you’re not broken.
You’re a mother. And that’s your superpower.”

Her number one tip? Visualise the future.
Picture your child thriving—confident, happy, living a life they love.
Then walk them there, one determined step at a time.

👭 Join the Community

Dr. Troy’s free Facebook group, Retrain the Dyslexic Brain with Dr. Rebecca Troy, is a supportive space filled with thousands of mums just like you.

🩷 Share what’s going on.
🩷Ask questions.
🩷 Get the support you need.

👉 Click here to join 

Final Word

Whether your child is neurodivergent, struggling with school, or simply navigating a bumpy season—you are not alone.
And you are more than capable.

Just like Dr. Troy said:

“We might not have it yet. But we will.”

Hi, I’m Jools — a working mama and host of Mama’s Flightpath, here for the mamas navigating the messy middle of motherhood and returning to work with confidence and clarity.

Join my community of women choosing alignment over autopilot.

🎧 Tune into Mama’s Flightpath

📥Join the movement — download the free Return Reset™️ journal and start to move from confusion to clarity.

#careerwithpurpose

#redefiningsuccess

#workingmumlife 

#motherhoodandcareer

#parentingpodcast

#motherhoodjourney

#returntoworksupport

Why Supporting Women on Their Return to Work Is No Longer a ‘Nice to Have’

We’ve all seen how workplace culture is changing—and fast. Take Virgin Atlantic. Their latest campaign broke stereotypes with inclusive, gender-free uniforms and bold messaging: everyone belongs. Having interviewed their crew personally, I’ve seen that this inclusivity isn’t just skin-deep—they’re also actively supporting parents returning to work.

But the truth is, not every workplace is ready for takeoff.

And when it comes to mothers returning after maternity leave, many are still stuck on the runway.

Even with good intentions and forward-thinking policies, too many women still feel unsupported, unseen, or simply expected to carry on as if nothing changed.

The result? They’re not just hesitating to return. Many aren’t coming back at all.

The Hard Truth: Women Are Leaving the Workforce (or Staying Stuck)

Let’s look at the UK landscape:

• The UK maternal employment rate hit 78% in 2023, yet a significant portion of women leave their jobs within a year of returning.

• 53% of mothers say their confidence has taken a hit since having children.

• 1 in 3 women feel they are perceived as less committed to their work after returning from maternity leave.

• Meanwhile, the government’s push for free childcare from 9 months old encourages women back into the workplace sooner—but without the right support, many end up overwhelmed, under-valued, or burnt out.

These aren’t just personal struggles.

They’re systemic cracks.

And they’re costing all of us.

This Isn’t Just a Women’s Issue. It’s a Business and Economic One.

In a recent piece titled The Secret to a Strong Economy is Women, Sheryl Sandberg laid it bare:

“If women’s participation in the U.S. workforce rose to match the best-performing G7 countries, the U.S. economy would grow an additional 4.2%.”

The same is true here in the UK. We cannot build a thriving economy without women.

And yet, too often we’re designing systems, cultures, and expectations that make it harder—not easier—for them to return, contribute, and lead.

This is where the workplace needs to evolve beyond policy.

Because even when policies are in place, the culture often tells a different story:

• The eye rolls when someone leaves at 4pm for nursery or school  pickup

• The awkward silence when someone asks for phased return

• The quiet assumption that maternity leave = career pause, not leadership potential

The Return Reset™: Why We Need Space Before We Leap

We wouldn’t ask someone to run a marathon the day after recovering from injury.

So why do we expect women to return to high-performing roles, post-birth, with zero pause for reflection, recalibration, or re-alignment?

The truth is, motherhood changes a woman.

Not just her schedule—but her brain, her values, her sense of identity.

That’s why I created The Return Reset™: a moment to pause before the return.

To reflect on who she is now.

To reconnect with her ambition.

To decide how she wants to lead herself—and her career—forward.

Because when a mother leads herself first, she leads everything better:

Her team. Her role. Her impact.

If You’re a Manager or Business Leader—Here’s What You Can Do Today

We don’t need to wait for government policy to do better. Here’s how you can start changing the experience for mothers returning to your workplace:

1. Shift the Conversation

Ask, “How are you feeling about coming back?” not just “What’s your schedule?”

2. Flexibility Isn’t a Compromise

It’s a launchpad. Offer it with clarity, not guilt.

3. Don’t Assume Less Ambition

Motherhood doesn’t dim ambition—it often clarifies it. Help her understand the landscape and changes. Have open conversations about the physiological contracting 

4. Make the Invisible Visible

Acknowledge her transformation. Make her contributions known and offer positive strokes. 

5. Share the Load

Return shouldn’t be a solo mission. Encourage mentorship, coaching, or peer support.

This Is Not Just About Coming Back. This Is About Taking Off.

Supporting returning mums isn’t a soft issue.

It’s a strategic one.

When women feel safe to bring their full selves to work—including the mother part—teams thrive.

Innovation improves.

Retention goes up.

And the business benefits.

But most of all?

Women rise.

Not back into their old selves—but into something new.

Wiser. Braver. Sharper.

More aligned. More resilient.

This is what I call Mama’s Flightpath.

It’s not a straight line.

It’s not about going back.

It’s about rising with clarity and courage.

Hi, I’m Jools — a working mama and host of Mama’s Flightpath, here for the women navigating the messy middle of motherhood and career.

I’m building a community of women choosing alignment over autopilot.

🎧 Tune into Mama’s Flightpath

📥Join the movement — download the free Return Reset™️ journal and start to move from confusion to clarity.

#careerwithpurpose

#redefiningsuccess

#workingmumlife 

#motherhoodandcareer

#parentingpodcast

#motherhoodjourney

#returntoworksupport

🌿From Burnout to Brilliance: Why Mums Returning to Work Need More Than Just a Plan

Motherhood changes everything — especially how we feel about work.

In the latest episode of Mama’s Flightpath, I sat down with Jayne Morris — leading expert in burnout, author of From Burnout to Brilliance, and mum of two — for an honest, energising conversation about what really happens when women try to return to work while running on empty.

Jayne’s insights are a must-listen for any mum feeling torn between the job she once had and the woman she’s becoming.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here
📥 Download the free Return Reset™️ journal — the tool helping mums take flight, not just return.

💬 Why Burnout Is So Much More Than Exhaustion

Burnout isn’t just being tired — it’s when your body and mind can no longer keep up with the constant pressure to perform, please, and push through. As Jayne explains, burnout often shows up as:

• Brain fog and memory lapses

• Digestive issues, anxiety, or even skin flare-ups

• Post-viral fatigue that never fully goes away

• The feeling of being mentally and physically done — with no language to explain why

Jayne reminds us: burnout is not a personal failure — it’s a systemic issue. Especially for mothers.

❤️‍🔥Why Mums Are So Vulnerable to Burnout

Between identity shifts, sleep deprivation, emotional load, and the rising cost of childcare, returning to work can feel like a mountain — and many mums are expected to climb it with no support.

Jayne shared that many of her clients even choose to have another baby not just out of desire for a larger family, but because it's the only socially acceptable way to step back from an unsustainable job. Let that sink in.

This is a wake-up call.

🔁 Do You Really Want to Go Back… or Do You Need a Return Reset?

Jayne and I talked about the power of using your return to work as a pivot point, not just a plug-and-play return. Ask yourself:

• Is what I’m going back to still right for me?

• Do I feel valued in my workplace — or like I’ve outgrown it?

• Am I trying to do everything I did pre-baby… and more?

If you’re feeling stuck, foggy, or questioning what’s next — it’s time to pause and reset.

💛 The Return Reset™️ is a free guided journaling tool to help you realign before going back. Download it here.

💥 The Takeaways Every Mum Needs to Hear

🦩 Burnout is not just exhaustion — it's your body waving a red flag.
🦩 Your return to work doesn’t have to look like your life before children.
🦩 Support, boundaries, and rest are not luxuries — they’re survival tools.
🦩 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but you can fill it, slowly.
🦩 You are not alone — and this conversation is proof.

💬 What’s Next?

If you’re a mum standing at the edge of a return and thinking, “I don’t know how to do it l?”, take a deep breath. This episode was made for you.

🎧 Tune into the full episode of Mama’s Flightpath with Jayne Morris
📥 Download the Return Reset™️ journal to move from confusion to clarity
✉️ Join the community newsletter for weekly support, stories, and tools

I have also shared the 7 ways to rest with mama friendly suggestions - check it out on Insta

#careerwithpurpose

#redefiningsuccess

#workingmumlife 

#motherhoodandcareer

#parentingpodcast

#motherhoodjourney

#returntoworksupport

Can We Really Have It All?

What Dr. Giselle Goodwin Wants Every Working Mum to Know

Returning to work after having children is rarely simple. For many mums, it’s a whirlwind of emotions: excitement, uncertainty, guilt—and a powerful tug toward something more meaningful.

In this weeks episode of Mama’s Flightpath, I spoke with Dr. Giselle Goodwin—mum, academic and author of Can Women Really Have It All? Together, we explored the expectations modern mums face and what it really means to build a life that fits the person you’ve become.

🎯 Why “Having It All” Feels So Hard

The struggle isn’t because we’re not trying hard enough. It’s because the system isn’t designed with modern motherhood in mind.

“I felt broken trying to go back and be the same person after maternity leave. But I wasn’t broken. The system is.”
— Dr. Giselle Goodwin

We talked about the four key barriers that make it so challenging for women to “have it all”:

• Tall Poppy Syndrome: Ambitious women are often penalised for their success, facing criticism or social ostracism.

• Greedy Jobs: Certain professions demand excessive time and commitment, making it difficult for mothers to balance work and family responsibilities.

• The Domestic Load Gap: Women typically bear a disproportionate share of household and caregiving duties, adding to their overall workload.

• The Good Motherhood Penalty: Societal expectations place a higher standard on mothers than fathers, pressuring women to meet idealized notions of motherhood.

It’s not about a lack of desire. It’s about an overload of expectation—and very little support.

💡 Redefining Success on Your Terms

Instead of asking, “How can I do it all?”, Giselle encourages us to ask:
“What do I want to do with the time and energy I have?”

Whether you’re a mum who’s already returned to work or someone standing at the crossroads, the answer isn’t about giving up or powering through. It’s about getting intentional.

💬 My Favourite Takeaways from Giselle

• Burnout is not a badge of honour. We are more stressed than ever—and we need new ways of working that honour our wellbeing.

• Work can bring joy and purpose. It doesn’t have to be a drain. Done well, it actually improves mental health and identity.

• You can rewrite your story. Whether you’re in early motherhood or approaching midlife, it’s never too late to reinvent your next chapter.

🎧 Want the full conversation?

Listen:
🎙 Can We Have It All? With Dr. Giselle Goodwin
➡️ https://apple.co/3EOm5yy

Buy the Book:
📘 Can We Have It All? With Dr. Giselle Goodwin
➡️ https://amzn.eu/d/6obn2Et

💌 Ready to reflect on your own return-to-work story?

Download my free guide, The Return Reset™, and take your first step toward clarity and purpose.
👉 The Return Reset Journal

"Back to Work After Baby? Why It’s Time to Ditch the 'Have It All' Myth

The Return Reset: Rethinking “Having It All” as a Working Mum

In today’s demanding world, the pressure to “have it all” often feels not only overwhelming but downright unsustainable. As working mums, many of us feel 'golden handcuffed' to our jobs—dual incomes keep households afloat—even as we strive to nurture our creative souls and honour our evolving identities. It’s time to challenge the narrative and embrace what I call the Return Reset: a deliberate pause to reassess our priorities, recognise our growth, and redefine success on our own terms.

The Dual-Income Dilemma and the Pressure to Perform

For countless families, maintaining a dual income is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Despite this reality, the prevailing expectation remains that we must show up 100% of the time at work while simultaneously managing the full-time responsibilities of motherhood. This double burden often forces us to sacrifice our well-being and creative pursuits.

Yet, as Brené Brown reminds us in The Gifts of Imperfection, creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a crucial part of our emotional well-being. Engaging in creative activities like writing, painting, or even gardening isn’t about productivity; it’s about processing emotions, reducing stress, and reconnecting with ourselves. Creativity allows us to access a different part of our identity—one that isn’t defined by productivity or caregiving but by expression, joy, and personal fulfilment. When we allow space for creativity, we nurture our resilience, which is essential for navigating the complexities of working motherhood.

The Stark Reality of Maternity Discrimination

According to Pregnant Then Screwed’s Career Shredder campaign, up to 74,000 women in the UK lose their jobs annually due to pregnancy or maternity leave—a staggering 37% increase since 2016. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a stark reflection of a system that penalises women for prioritising family. The impact on the workforce is profound, as the loss of these 74,000 jobs annually not only undermines the contributions of skilled professionals but also stifles diversity and innovation, leaving industries poorer for it."

The Careers After Babies report by We Are The City further highlights the persistent barriers working mothers face. Many encounter stalled career progression, reduced leadership opportunities, and the pervasive "motherhood penalty" that undermines their contributions in the workplace. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies also reveals that higher-paid mothers are disproportionately likely to leave paid work post-childbirth compared to their counterparts, underscoring how deeply ingrained these challenges are.

Embracing the Return Reset

So, what is the Return Reset? It’s a call to reimagine our careers not as rigid ladders to be climbed relentlessly, but as fluid flight paths, adjusting course as we evolve. After having a baby, our perspectives and priorities shift. We develop new strengths, reassess what truly matters, and often crave a way to contribute financially that aligns with our values and evolving sense of self.

The Return Reset is about creating the space to ask: How have I changed? How do I want to show up now—in my career, at home, and in the community? It’s about making room for self-reflection, creativity, and well-being. Whether that means carving out time for a creative passion (and perhaps even monetising it) or advocating for flexible working arrangements, the Return Reset is about designing a life that works for you.

Charting a New Course for the Future

Real change requires a collective shift—both individually and within workplaces. Employers and policymakers must step up by implementing:

• Affordable Childcare: Subsidised, high-quality childcare can ease financial pressure and allow mothers to pursue meaningful careers without relentless sacrifice. • Flexible Working Arrangements: Enabling parents to balance professional and personal responsibilities without guilt or burnout. • Enhanced Parental Leave Policies: Extending equitable leave for both parents helps redistribute caregiving duties and reduces the career penalties faced by mothers. • Supportive Workplace Cultures: Recognising the unique skills and leadership potential of working mothers fosters an environment where they can thrive professionally and personally.

The Reality Check We All Need

The idea that we must "have it all" is not only unrealistic—it’s harmful. The data is clear: systemic barriers continue to erode the career prospects of working mothers, while outdated definitions of success leave many feeling burnt out and unfulfilled.

That’s why I started my podcast—to have real conversations about the thrills and turbulence of returning to work. The truth is, this journey looks different for everyone. That’s why we need to come off autopilot and take the driving seat. But how can we do that if we don’t know what we need or want?

The system is challenging, and while we can’t change everything overnight, we can decide what’s within our control and influence. By acknowledging what truly matters to us—whether that’s career progression, flexibility, or creative fulfilment—we can take intentional steps towards a future that works for us. It’s not about doing more, but about making choices that align with who we are now.

🎙️This is exactly the kind of conversation we explore on Mama’s Flight Path—a space to talk openly about what it really means to return to work after motherhood. Listen in, join the conversation, or if you have a perspective to share, come on as a guest—I’d love to hear your story.

Data Sources: Pregnant Then Screwed’s "Career Shredder" campaign, Careers After Babies Report by We Are The City, and related UK research studies

Love and kindness

Jools

What’s Matrescence got to do with it?!

There’s a moment—maybe it happens in the middle of the night, cradling your baby in the dark, or maybe it hits when you are sat on the floor singing along to The Wiggles while squeezing expensive looking ‘dog’ toys —when you realise you are not the same person anymore.

It’s not just the sleepless nights or the new responsibilities. Something deeper has shifted. Your brain feels different. Your priorities have rearranged themselves in ways you never expected. The world around you looks the same, but you are not the same.

Not completely different, but not quite the old you either.

Anthropologist Dana Raphael calls it matrescence—the process of becoming a mother. Like adolescence, it’s a period of profound physical, emotional and cognitive change. Scientists have even found that a mother’s brain physically restructures, with reductions in grey matter in areas linked to social cognition—likely to sharpen maternal instincts and deepen bonding (Source: Nature).

Hormones like oxytocin surge, strengthening the bond with your baby. Meanwhile, estrogen and progesterone levels plummet, sometimes leaving you feeling emotionally unsteady—elated one moment, overwhelmed the next (Source: Elpasis).

And then, just as you start to adjust to this new version of yourself, another change looms: returning to work.

The Rollercoaster of Returning

For many mamas, going back to work brings a mix of emotions—excitement, relief, anxiety, guilt.

Excitement because you get to reclaim a part of yourself—the part that thrives on adult conversation, challenges, and, let’s be honest, coffee that’s still hot. I personally couldn’t wait for someone to tell me I was doing a good job again—because let’s face it, babies aren’t exactly known for letting you know your contribution was valued.

But then there’s the guilt. The heart-wrenching drop in your stomach as you leave your baby at nursery for the first time. The self-doubt—Can I still do my job as well as before (I turned up to work with T shirt on back to front today so I still question myself!) What if my priorities have changed too much?

And let’s not forget the sheer logistics of it all—meetings, deadlines, childcare pickups, the constant mental load of remembering what pack, not just ofr yourself but your small human too and how will I ever get to work on time?!

You’re not alone in feeling this way. Studies show that more than 80% of working mamas struggle with their return, often citing a lack of support from their employers (Source: HR BREW). Another 31% find it harder than expected (Source: Springer Healthcare IME), and 1 in 10 mamas return within four months simply because of financial pressures (Source: The Independent).

Rewriting the Flight Plan

Here’s the truth: Returning to work after baby isn’t about “going back” to who you were before. It’s about stepping forward—into the new, expanded version of yourself and refining success.

And that’s where Mama’s Flightpath comes in.

This podcast isn’t just about returning to work - it’s about finding a way forward that works for you. Through expert conversations, real-life stories, and coaching tools, this podcast is here to help you navigate this transition with confidence and clarity.

If you’re wondering, What’s next for me?—you’re in the right place. Because while matrescence shakes everything up, it also hands you a rare opportunity: to build a career and life that truly fit the person you’re becoming

With 75.6% of U.K mamas in work, reaching its highest in 20 years you are not flying solo . Let’s navigate it together.

What’s Next?

🎙️ In upcoming blogs and podcast episodes, we’ll be diving into real return-to-work stories, tackling topics like career confidence, identity shifts, navigating the mental load alongside tools so you can navigate your flight path.

🦩 I’d love to hear from you! What’s been your biggest challenge in returning to work? Drop a comment or message me—I want to make sure Mama’s Flight Path reflects the real stories of working mums.

Here’s to flying high and shining bright together.

Love and kindness

Jools

Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave: What to Expect

Returning to work after having a baby is often described as a “juggle”, a “balancing act”, or even a “marathon”—but let’s be real. Sometimes, it feels more like stepping into turbulence without a seatbelt.

One moment, you’re navigating nap schedules and nappy changes, and the next, you’re expected to switch into work mode, ready to perform as if you haven’t just undergone one of the biggest identity shifts of your life.

For many of us, it’s not just about logistics like childcare drop-offs, sleep deprivation, and figuring out how to make a cup of tea without reheating it five times. It’s also about rediscovering who we are in our careers now, what we want from work, and how to manage the weight of expectations—our own, our employers’, and society’s.

And here’s the thing: not every mother’s return-to-work experience is the same.

Some of us step back in with confidence, while others grapple with self-doubt. Some of us have supportive employers, while others face rigid policies that make flexible work feel like a career dead-end. Some of us have partners, family, or financial support, while others are navigating this alone.

This is where the concept of intersectionality comes in. And trust me, even if you’ve never heard of the word before, it might just help make sense of why some of us face bigger barriers than others.

What is Intersectionality (and Why Should Mamas Care)?

Intersectionality is a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a legal scholar, to explain how different parts of our identity overlap to shape our experiences of privilege or discrimination.

Most of us don’t fit into just one identity box. We’re not just “mothers.” We’re also employees, partners, business owners, daughters, caregivers, women of colour, neurodivergent, single, middle-class, working-class—the list goes on.

And these layers don’t exist separately—they interact.

For example, two mothers returning to work might both struggle with mum guilt and career confidence, but their challenges could look completely different depending on their personal circumstances:

• A mum working part-time in a male-dominated industry may face career stagnation, while a mum in a female-led workplace might find more support.

• A single mother without a strong support system may have fewer choices when it comes to flexible work, compared to a mother with a partner who can share responsibilities.

• A woman of color returning to work may have to navigate not just motherhood bias, but also racial bias in her workplace.

• A mum with a disability may find that workplace policies aren’t built to accommodate both her accessibility needs and her caregiving responsibilities.

In short: motherhood isn’t a single experience—it’s shaped by everything else we carry.

Understanding intersectionality helps us see why some mothers struggle more than others when returning to work—not because they aren’t strong, ambitious, or capable, but because the systems around them weren’t built with their reality in mind.

Why This Matters for Working Mums

Too often, return-to-work support focuses on generic advice:

💡 “Just be more confident.”
💡 “Ask for flexibility.”
💡 “Lean in.”

But what if your workplace sees flexibility as a lack of ambition?
What if your confidence has taken a hit because you’ve been out of the workforce for years?
What if your biggest barrier isn’t self-belief, but a system that wasn’t built for mothers at all?

This is why Mama’s Flight Path exists—to acknowledge the real complexities of returning to work and help you find your own way forward, based on your unique circumstances, values, and ambitions.

Whether you’re full of career fire or still figuring out what you want, whether you’re returning to the same job or starting from scratch, whether you’re thriving or just surviving—you’re not alone.

What’s Next?

🎙️ In upcoming blogs and podcast episodes, we’ll be diving into real return-to-work stories, tackling topics like career confidence, identity shifts, navigating the mental load alongside tools so you can navigate your flight path.

🦩 I’d love to hear from you! What’s been your biggest challenge in returning to work? Drop a comment or message me—I want to make sure Mama’s Flight Path reflects the real stories of working mums.

Here’s to flying high and shining bright together.

Love and kindness

Jools