Working mothers are constantly navigating the delicate balance between caring for others and caring for themselves, often while carrying invisible loads that no one sees. Dr. Dana Sumpter joins Carrie Fogliani for an honest conversation about what it really means to be a working mother today—how identity, purpose, and priorities evolve when professional life meets family life. Drawing from her research on women balancing work and motherhood during the pandemic, she sheds light on the silent pressures, the unrealistic “ideal worker” myth, and the systems that need to change. Together, they explore the path toward empathy-based leadership, sustainable workplace cultures, and a more human definition of success that honors both ambition and care.

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Work-life balance often feels elusive for women navigating demanding legal careers and motherhood, but Christy Crase proves it’s possible to build both with grace and intention. As Chief Legal Officer for Professional Case Management and PCM Trials, Christy reflects on her early years in M&A law, the challenges of raising two daughters while building her career, and the lessons she’s learned about letting go of perfection. She shares how motherhood reshaped her perspective, deepened her empathy as a leader, and reminded her that success doesn’t mean doing it all at once. For every lawyer-mom striving to find her footing, Christy’s story is both grounding and empowering.

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Career growth in law isn’t just about climbing titles, it’s about growing as a person, mentor, and parent along the way. In this inspiring part two with Sue Bunnell, she shares how embracing reflection, mentorship, and authenticity shaped her path at Wells Fargo and beyond. From helping lawyers find joy in their work to building supportive teams that value curiosity over competition, Sue reveals the habits that sustain long-term success. Through stories about raising her sons, redefining ambition, and finding balance, she reminds us that growth is never linear—it’s an evolving process of learning, leading, and showing up with purpose both at home and at work.

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Working mom guilt is something so many lawyer-mothers carry silently, and in part two of this heartfelt conversation, Suzanne Leslie, founder of the Leslie Law Firm, shares the moment her son’s words freed her from years of self-blame. She reflects on how guilt shaped her parenting, what it took to finally let it go, and why giving children space to fail is essential to their growth. Suzanne also discusses the lessons she’s brought into her firm—from mentoring younger women attorneys to creating a culture where parents don’t have to apologize for family responsibilities. Her story offers both comfort and clarity for lawyer-moms learning to lead with balance, resilience, and grace.

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Being a mother and a lawyer is challenging enough, but doing it as the breadwinner takes an entirely different kind of courage. Suzanne Leslie, founder of Leslie Law Firm and once the “baby of the class” at Western State Law School, reveals how she built a thriving personal injury practice while raising two children and supporting an artist husband. In this conversation, she shares how she navigated a male-dominated firm with no female mentors, relied on family support to survive what she calls the “hamster wheel” of work and parenting, and focused on quality rather than quantity of time with her kids. Her story offers a practical blueprint for any lawyer-mom stepping into the breadwinner role and still wanting a meaningful family life.

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Balancing family life and a demanding legal career requires more than ambition; it calls for learning how to set boundaries in a law career that protects time, energy, and values. Terri Wagner Cammarano, Chief Legal Officer at Cedars-Sinai, built her path from law firm partner to the C-suite while raising children, and she speaks candidly about the strategies that made it possible. She describes how she learned to say no without sacrificing opportunities, how she reshaped her leadership style to support other women lawyers, and why mentorship matters at every stage. Terri also shares mistakes she made along the way and the practical habits that help her stay grounded. This conversation offers mothers in law a clear, relatable roadmap for advancing their careers while preserving balance and authenticity.

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Walking away from a prestigious law career isn’t easy, but Linda Klein reveals how leaving Paul Hastings after just 11 months opened the door to a more meaningful life. From chasing deadlines so grueling that an accident felt like relief, to mourning her mother’s passing and discovering her purpose in healthcare, Linda shares the pivots that shaped her path. She reflects on creating wellness programs at City of Hope, choosing to stay home with her twin daughters, and later finding purpose in leading bereavement support groups. With candor and warmth, Linda shows how resilience, grief, and joy can coexist—and how redefining success can lead to a more fulfilling journey.

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Balancing part-time law and full-time motherhood is no small feat, and attorney and author Kara Kinney Cartwright gets candid about the wins, struggles, and lessons along the way. From returning to work just six weeks postpartum to navigating unpredictable hospital counsel demands during 9/11, Kara shares how she built resilience, found champions for workplace flexibility, and created her own “Cartwright rule” for earning trust. She opens up about parenting with humor, writing her book Just Don’t Be An Assh*le as a parting gift to her sons, and finding healing through her upcoming book on grief after losing her husband. With wit, honesty, and compassion, Kara reveals what it really takes to keep showing up as both lawyer and mom.

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