Motherhood changes everything – our identity, our priorities, our bodies, and our careers. But for too many women, it also brings a cost they never signed up for: the motherhood penalty.
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Emma McLean, executive coach, speaker, and founder of Works for Everyone to talk about the Motherhood Penalty, the price women pay and actions we can take today to change it.
We dive into:
- What the motherhood penalty really is – and why it costs women up to 55% of their earnings
- Why flexible work is sometimes a trap rather than a solution
- How school holidays reveal the hidden gender divide in caregiving
- The confidence and overwhelm crisis so many working mums silently battle
- Why dads need to step up at home if women are to step up at work
- The simple strategies you can use to reclaim your inner compass and shift the load
Whether you’re returning to work, managing the juggle, or just tired of the system keeping mothers stuck, this conversation will inspire you to think differently and take action.
Connect with Emma:
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Instagram: @worksforeveryone
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LinkedIn: Emma McLean
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Podcast: How to Smash the Motherhood Penalty
Connect with Carina and Working Mumma
- Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
- LinkedIn: Working Mumma or Carina O’Brien
- Sign up to the Working Mumma newsletter

I'm Carina — I'm here to help you navigate how to be a mum and have a career.
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