Working Out Loud as a Single Mum: Flexibility, Outcomes, and Redesigning Work

Deborah Graham speaks with Karis Dorrigan, a head of product, coach, and solo parent of two, about what actually happens when motherhood meets corporate work. The conversation focuses on the gap between policy and lived reality, why outcomes matter more than hours, and how flexible work needs to be designed for everyone, not just parents.

Key topics

• Karis shares her path to motherhood and how both returns from parental leave were disrupted by restructuring and redundancy.
• She explains how becoming a solo parent made the limits of traditional work design impossible to ignore.
• The episode explores why women and parents are often conditioned to feel grateful for flexibility, even when they are delivering strong outcomes.
• Deborah and Karis discuss the shift from presenteeism to outcomes, including the evidence around four-day work week trials.
• Karis argues that flexible work should be normalised for all workers, including non-parents, carers, and people who work better at different times.
• They talk about the language around work patterns, including why calling a four-day week "part-time" is misleading and loaded.
• Karis outlines the importance of boundaries, self-prioritisation, and small pockets of time for exercise, walking, and rest.
• The conversation highlights the practical strain of solo parenting, including commuting, bedtime, cooking, and the lack of downtime.
• Karis describes her podcast, Ambition and Life, which features women and leaders doing work differently and rethinking what success looks like.
• Both speakers reflect on the need for more women and mums in senior leadership to shift workplace culture from the top.

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Guest links

ambitionandlife.com

IG: @ambitionandlife

LinkedIn: in/kdorrigan

Matrescence at work

motherhood, flexible work, single parenting, workplace culture, women in leadership, work-life balance, systemic change, matrescence, parental leave, gender equality

India Sutherland shares her raw experience on navigating career through early parenthood and what she sees as the systemic changes which need to be made for the next generation of mums.

key topics

• India's journey to motherhood and career transition
• The concept of matrescence and emotional responses
• Workplace challenges for new mothers
• Systemic barriers in parental leave and childcare
• The importance of societal and organizational support
• The role of societal myths and internalized beliefs
• The need for systemic change and policy reform
• Supporting women through coaching and advocacy
• The emotional grief of pregnancy and career conflicts
• Normalising maternal ambivalence and emotional complexity

Guest links

www.indiasutherland.com

Instagram: indiasutherland.coaching

Matrescence at work podcast

motherhood, workplace, systemic change, matrescence, gender equality, parental leave, work-life balance, women's rights, parenting, career transition

Eleni Dracakis shares her journey to motherhood, the concept of matrescence, and how it influences her approach to work and life. We explore the impact of motherhood on leadership, workplace flexibility, and supporting women in their careers.

key topics

• Eleni's journey to motherhood and stepmotherhood
• The concept of matrescence and brain changes during motherhood
• Impact of motherhood on leadership and workplace culture
• The importance of flexible work arrangements for women and men
• The role of organizational culture in supporting working mothers
• The significance of community and support networks in motherhood
• Strategies for transitioning back to work after maternity leave
• The need for education on motherhood in psychology and leadership programs

www.elenidracakis.co

Instagram: @elenidracakis

LinkedIn: /in/eleni-dracakis

motherhood, matrescence, work-life balance, leadership, workplace flexibility, women in leadership, motherhood journey, organizational culture

Chelsea Solorzano, a licensed marriage and family therapist and maternal coach, shares her personal journey through motherhood, mental health, and the importance of self-care. This episode explores the emotional landscape of new motherhood, the impact of the pandemic, and practical approaches like internal family systems to support mums.

key topics

• Chelsea's personal motherhood story
• Impact of the pandemic on maternal mental health
• Introduction to internal family systems therapy
• The importance of self-care and kindness in motherhood
• Challenges of postpartum mental health
• Balancing work and motherhood during COVID-19
• The evolution of identity through motherhood
• Community and support systems for moms

Guest links

Instagram: @withchealseaformoms

withchelseacoaching.com

mapleseedcouseling.com

@matrescenceatworkpodcast

motherhood, mental health, self-care, internal family systems, pandemic, postpartum, maternal mental health, coaching, therapy, motherhood journey

Whitney joins Deborah Graham to talk through a motherhood journey that began as a surprise and became a profound identity shift. They explore what it feels like to move from uncertainty and grief around fertility into a new sense of self, and how parenting reshaped Whitney’s confidence, priorities, and daily life.In this conversation, Whitney also shares the practical realities of early motherhood, from sleep and feeding to the huge difference family support and flexible routines can make.

Key topics

• Whitney’s unexpected pregnancy with her son Kai after being told fertility treatment might be needed
• Living with PCOS, inconsistent periods, and the emotional shock of finding out she was pregnant
• The weight of becoming pregnant while her sister was going through fertility treatment
• How COVID, a new relationship, and family distance intensified the uncertainty
• The shift from thinking she might not have children to realizing motherhood could shape who she became
• Whitney’s long process of figuring out her own tastes, values, and voice after a 16-year relationship that blurred her sense of self
• How motherhood brought up resentment at times, especially around lost freedom, travel, and being “on” all the time
• Why moving out of the city to the peninsula changed the pace of family life and eased the pressure
• The role of support systems, including Whitney’s mum living downstairs, childcare meals, and help from her sister
• Her return to work as a group fitness instructor and the early signs that pointed toward helping other mums rebuild strength

Guest Links

Instagram: @fitt_siss

fittsiss.com.au

@matrescenceatworkpodcast

Kayla shares her journey from child protection to motherhood, highlighting the emotional and professional shifts, and how her experiences shape her approach to work and life. This episode explores the impact of motherhood on identity, mental health, and career, offering insights for women balancing these roles.

key topics

• The impact of motherhood on professional identity
• Balancing mental health and career post-motherhood
• Transitioning from child protection to leadership in business
• The role of supportive workplaces in maternal well-being
• Lessons learned from personal and professional challenges

Guest links

Instagrram

Instagram

Instagram

Instagram

Matrescence at work

motherhood, career transition, mental health, child protection, leadership, women in business, work-life balance, personal growth

In this episode, Ankita Callahan shares her transformative journey through matrescence, its impact on her personal and professional life, and how organizations can better support mothers in the workforce. In this episode, we explore the realities of motherhood, workplace flexibility, and the evolving journey of matrescence. Our guest shares personal stories, insights on parental leave policies, and the importance of creating supportive environments for moms at work.

Key topics

• Matrescence and its impact on women
• The emotional and physical changes during motherhood
• Organisational support for postpartum women
• The importance of mental health and community for new mothers
• Strategies for workplaces to support maternal transitions Matrescence and emotional journey of motherhood
• Workplace flexibility and parental leave policies
• Impact of societal and cultural expectations on moms
• Personal stories of motherhood and mental health
• Strategies for supportive workplaces for mothers

Guest links

LinkedIn In/ankita-callahan

Matrescence at work

matrescence, motherhood, workplace support, postpartum, women in leadership, parental leave, mental health, organisational change motherhood, workplace flexibility, matrescence, parental leave, mental health, motherhood journey, work-life balance, support for mums

Deborah Graham speaks with Taby Taplin about the real, often messy transition into motherhood and how it reshapes identity, priorities, and career expectations. Taby shares her own matrescence journey, from newborn exhaustion and breastfeeding challenges to returning to work part-time and launching Mumentum Jobs, a flexibility-first platform for mums. We discuss what flexibility actually looks like in practice, why so many women feel pressured to choose between career and family, and how employers can do better by supporting mums with realistic policies and outcome-based work.

key topics

• Matrescence and its impact on women
• Balancing motherhood and career ambitions
• The importance of flexible work arrangements
• Challenges of returning to work postpartum
• Creating supportive workplace policies

Guest links

Instagram @tabytaplin

Instagram @mumentumjobs

Facebook @mumentumjobs

Matrescence at work

motherhood, work-life balance, flexibility, matrescence, career pivot, motherhood penalty, flexible work, women in workforce, momentum jobs