It's not just about being a mother or a woman. It's about leveraging the wisdom and lessons learned from your mom to excel in the workplace, regardless of gender. - Valerie Cockerell
Valerie Cockerell is no stranger to a challenge. Navigating her way through a myriad of roles, including as a leader at Disney, she found herself juggling the responsibilities of being a mother and a leader in the workplace simultaneously. As she navigated the world of parenting and leadership by learning on the fly she started noticing similarities between the two.
Realizing the potential of her unique perspective connecting leadership and motherhood, Valerie decided to share it with the world in a book. It didn't take long for her to recognize that writing a book required a similar level of discipline and structure as leading a team or raising a child. The result is an inspiring and relatable guide to leadership that challenges traditional perspectives and champions the valuable lessons learned from motherhood.
In her new book, "Manage Like a Mother," Valerie shares a unique look at the intersection between motherhood and leadership. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, credibility, and providing support and guidance to others in both roles. They want to educate, keep their children safe, and help them become the best they can be, which are all things a leader should do for their team.
There are three parts to the book: laying the foundation for success, modus operandi, and thriving. These parts encompass the essential aspects of parenting and managing, focusing on character matters, daily responsibilities, and skills like time management and crisis management.
The writing process has also opened the door to future projects, including a sequel to her book and a Manage Like a Mother project, where she aims to gather stories and quotes from mothers all over the world. Ultimately, she looks to continue the conversation about leadership and motherhood.
Listen to this episode to gain valuable insights from Valerie's unique perspective as a mother and her background in leadership at Disney.,
Episode Highlights
00:02:30 - Valerie's Inspiration
00:05:31 - Learning from Dan's Book
00:08:58 - Blending Parenting and Management
00:13:09 - Similarities Between Motherhood and Leadership
00:14:40 - The Challenge of Letting Go
00:16:02 - The Power of Structure
00:17:28 - Manage Like a Mother Project
00:19:37 - Men's Role in Leadership
00:24:46 - Advice for Authors
Connect with Valerie Cockerell
Order Manage Like a Mother
Resources
Morgan James Publishing website
Linkedin.com/company/morgan-james-publishing/