Interview Episodes

In the final episode of the summer series, Leanna continues her conversation with Kiran Reddy, entrepreneur, attorney, mom, and founder of Reddy Consulting, as she reflects on four transformative years marked by motherhood, turning 40, separation and divorce, two layoffs, and the challenges and lessons of rebuilding her identity. Kiran shares candidly about the shift from survival mode to redefining balance, and how motherhood taught her the importance of putting her own needs first in order to ...

In part one of this inspiring two part episode, Leanna is joined by Kiran Reddy, attorney, mom, volunteer, and founder of Reddy Consulting. Kiran shares how she built a thriving consulting business, found meaning through volunteer work in prison reform, and embraced the lessons of saying no, prioritizing, and creating space for what matters most. She also opens up about her fertility journey and the powerful experience (and fun story!) that brought her son into the world. Through it all, Kiran’s...

In Part 2 of Leanna’s conversation with Ashley Chang, CEO of Sundays, Ashley shares how she channeled what she learned about women in the workplace into action by founding Sundays, a company designed to meet the needs of high achieving moms. For executive moms considering what’s next, whether a new role, a new rhythm, or a bigger leap, this conversation is full of practical wisdom. Ashley shares how motherhood pushed her to make more deliberate decisions about her time, her values, and the kind ...

In part 1 of this two-part conversation, Leanna sits down with Ashley Chang, Founder & CEO of Sundays and new mom, to explore how the experience of Ashley’s own mom inspired her mission to support working mothers. They reflect on how their similar upbringings, from being the eldest of three daughters to growing up with stay-at-home moms and entrepreneur dads, may have shaped their drive as high achievers. Long before becoming a mom herself, Ashley was already focused on the unique challenges wor...

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Leanna continues the discussion with Erica Willie, founder of The ScienceSIS Foundation, sales leader, tech strategist, and mom of three, to explore what it means to fully embrace motherhood, not as a detour from ambition, but as a superpower. Erica shares how she chose to lean into her evolving identity, let go of outdated definitions of success, and ask the deeper question: What is the legacy I want to leave? This episode offers practical insight and en...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Leanna is joined by Erica Willie, a lifelong high achiever whose path spans tech strategy, corporate sales at firms like IBM and HubSpot, and nonprofit leadership, all while raising three children. With degrees in computer science and instructional design, Erica reflects on how her identity as a competitive student and driven professional shaped her early success, and how motherhood challenged her to reconsider her pace, purpose, and definition of achieve...

In Part 2 of Leanna’s conversation with certified personal trainer, consultant, and mom Sarah Brelowski, they dive into the transformative power of strength training for women, especially women over 40. Sarah’s goal is clear: to help women feel empowered, confident, and strong in the gym and in life. Sarah breaks down the science and mindset behind strength training, and why it's especially important for women navigating busy lives, hormonal changes, and shifting definitions of health. From lift...

In Part 1 of this powerful two-part series, Leanna sits down with Sarah Brelowski, personal trainer, consultant, mom, and former corporate professional, for an honest conversation about personal transformation. Sarah opens up about her path from collegiate athlete to Big Four auditor, and how a high-pressure corporate career left her burned out, stressed, and out of alignment with herself. She shares how leaving her job and letting go of others’ definitions of success ultimately helped her heal,...

In Part 2 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna continues the heartfelt exchange with senior communications executive, mom, and stepmom, Dina Silver Pokedoff. Dina shares how she’s learned to navigate the complex realities of career and motherhood, offering an honest, empowering look at what it means to lead with authenticity—both at work and at home. From delegating household tasks to prioritizing health and wellness, Dina opens up about what it takes to stay grounded, resilient, and present f...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Dina Silver Pokedoff, Senior Vice President of Communications, mom, and stepmom, shares the twists and turns of her 30-year career in the communications industry. From dreaming of med school to becoming a powerhouse in PR, Dina opens up about the non-linear path that shaped her leadership style, work ethic, and resilience. We explore: How Dina built a thriving communications career without a traditional degree in the field The mindset shift required to pi...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Leanna continues her discussion with Dr. Lesley Robinson, entrepreneur, educator, and fierce advocate for women in leadership. Dr. Robinson unpacks what it really means to lead with a founder-focused mindset—whether you’re building a business or leading from within an organization. She dives into the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship, the critical need for customer obsession, and the power of building community with purpose. From navigating...

In part 1 of this inspiring conversation, Leanna talks with Dr. Lesley Robinson, founder of Embolden Education and co-founder of the Ayana Foundation, about what it takes to lead as a woman, a mother, and a visionary. Dr. Robinson shares how she navigated a decade-long academic dissertation journey, embraced entrepreneurship, and made bold life changes to align her work with her values. From navigating career shifts to balancing motherhood and ambition, her story is a powerful reminder that you ...

Content warning: miscarriage and pregnancy loss October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and today Leanna is having a beautiful conversation with Kami Wernimont, certified life coach, miscarriage doula, and Founder & President of Let the Light In (LTLI). LTLI is a new nonprofit to support women through their journeys with miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Kami shares her own story, which includes two losses after her first two children, and a long journey to healing. She talk...

Leanna interviews Kate Griffin, Vice President of a management consulting firm, and mom of 3 young children. She shares her journey through higher ed and tech, as well as some career pivots she’s made along the way that have been instrumental in leading her to her current situation, which is very ideal for her. She’s in a leadership role at a company that she loves and that supports her as a working mom and affords her the space to show up as the mom she wants to be, and the leader she wants to ...

In the final installment of this 3-part series where Leanna Laskey McGrath is interviewed by Andrea Palmer, Leanna shares her journey as a full-time mom and the challenges she faced in giving up her identity as a workaholic business leader. She reflects on the unrealistic expectations she placed on herself and the importance of managing her thoughts. Leanna discusses the personal growth and self-discovery she experienced during her transition and how she has learned to embrace imperfections and ...

Welcome to the Executive Coach for Moms podcast, hosted by Leanna Laskey McGrath. The goal of this podcast is to help working moms find balance and joy in their lives. As a high-achieving mom and former tech executive, Leanna understands the challenges that come with balancing motherhood and a successful career. In part 2 of the 3-part interview series with Andrea Palmer, Leanna shares about her experience as a working mom and her decision to leave the corporate world to focus on her daughter. S...

Welcome to the Executive Coach for Moms podcast, hosted by Leanna Laskey McGrath. The goal of this podcast is to help working moms find balance and joy in their lives. As a high-achieving mom and former tech executive, Leanna understands the challenges that come with balancing motherhood and a successful career. In this episode, I decided to switch things up a bit. Instead of a solo episode or an interview, I invited my friend, Andrea Palmer, to interview me. Our conversation was so rich and ext...