Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
Why K-12 Schools Are Running Women Leaders Ragged
Darlene Hawley
How School Expectations Add to the Mental Load for Women Leaders
It’s 8:00 p.m., and instead of winding down in a hot bath… I’m reading another text from my son’s fifth-grade teacher.
This time? It’s a signup genius link to volunteer with seven different ways to help out before the school year ends in two weeks.
Seven.
I’ll be honest... I’m actually excited to chaperone the Knott’s Berry Farm trip. That part sounds fun.
But that’s just one of many tasks. There’s also Park Day… Field Day… the class party… yearbook distribution… classroom clean-up… family picnic... end-of-year dance and their promotion ceremony.
And that’s just for one of my kids.
If you're a working mom, you know this routine. But even if you don’t have school-aged kids, I bet you’re still managing something:
- Coordinating care for aging parents
- Supporting nieces, nephews, or a close friend’s children
- Managing the never-ending to-dos at home
- Caring for your pets like they’re your children (because, let’s be honest, they are)
- Fitting in another doctor's appointment
- Reworking your schedule because the soccer coach added a scrimmge to the calendar
- Or reminding your partner that we're out of ranch… again
No matter your family setup, the reality is this: women carry the mental load.
And for women leaders, business owners, and high-achieving professionals, this invisible labor is slowly stealing the space we need to focus, grow, and lead with clarity.
The Mental Load Working Women Are Tired Of Carrying
The mental load isn’t just about remembering Crazy Hair Day or packing healthy snacks. It’s the constant, low-grade project management of everyone else’s lives. And it’s exhausting.
You’re trying to lead meetings, land speaking opportunities, grow your business, and take your next career step... while remembering permission slips, vet appointments, birthdays, and snacks for tomorrow’s field trip.
Even if you're craving that next leadership role or bold move in your business, your brain is already running at full capacity. Between managing everyone else's needs, dealing with perimenopause symptoms like brain fog, navigating anxiety, and trying to keep your own thoughts straight... there's just no room left to focus on your goals.
This is where career burnout starts. Not from lack of ambition, but from over-functioning in every direction.
Why Women Carry More of This Load
Whether you’re a parent or not, society has conditioned women to be the ones who:
- Notice what needs to be done
- Do it without being asked
- Anticipate everyone else’s needs
- And feel guilty if we don’t
This is why so many women say, “I’m always doing something, but I never feel caught up.”
It’s not just the tasks... It’s the emotional labor behind them.
How Women Leaders Can Reclaim Their Time and Energy
Here’s the reminder I give myself (and my clients): We weren’t meant to carry it all. And we don’t have to prove our worth by doing it all perfectly.
✅ 1. Drop the Ball on Purpose
Let “good enough” be good enough. Not every school activity or family obligation needs to be a masterpiece.
✅ 2. Automate What You Can
Set reminders for recurring school and household tasks
Use auto-ship for snacks, pet food, and essentials
Streamline your calendar and delegate anything that drains you
✅ 3. Block Time for You
Create white space in your calendar and protect it so that you can focus on what matters to you and your goals. Use it for content creation, career development, business strategy, a short walk around the block, 10 minutes in the sun, or rest.
✅ 4. Ask for Help and Let People Show Up
This applies at home and at work. Delegate. Offload. Teach others to take things off your plate.
✅ 5. Recognize That Leadership Starts at Home
Teaching your kids, team, or partner how to contribute isn’t nagging... it’s leadership. We model boundaries and balance by creating them for ourselves first.
Let’s Change the Conversation
This isn’t just about burnout or being busy, it's about finding a harmony or rythem that works for you. It’s about the way our culture still leans on women to keep it all running... at home and at work.
And it's time we call it out. Not to shame anyone, but to shift what we expect of ourselves... and of each other.
What About You?
Have you ever been in a season where you were carrying too much, and someone showed up to help? Or maybe you were the one who stepped in and helped lighten the load for another woman?
I’d love to hear your story.
When we talk about this out loud, we remind each other that we’re not alone... and that together, we can rewrite the expectations we’re done carrying.
Let’s stop leading from a place of burnout and start leading from a place of flow.
Ready to Reclaim Your Time and Lead with More Ease?
If this hit home, and you're tired of carrying it all alone,I’d love to support you.
Whether you're navigating the mental load of motherhood, leadership, entrepreneurship or just life, you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. Let’s schedule a call to discuss where you are, where you want to go, and how we can lighten your load, allowing you to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and calm.
📅 Book a free strategy call here... your voice, goals, and well-being matter.
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
Explore how career pivots and technological advancements like AI can reshape business landscapes and personal journeys.
When you're talking but no one's listening. Have you ever introduced yourself at a networking event… only to feel like people’s eyes glazed over? One of my clients put it perfectly: “Darlene, I share who I am and what I do, but it feels like I’m invisible. People nod politely and then move on.” She had so much value to offer. In fact, she is amazing at what she did. Yet, her introduction was all over the place. Some days she was talking to potential clients, other days to possible collaborators, and sometimes even she wasn’t sure what her main point was. And that’s why it felt like no one was listening. Why This Happens It’s not because you’re not experienced enough. It’s not because you’re not interesting enough. It’s because without clarity about who your audience is in the room and what you really want to say, your voice gets lost in the shuffle of business cards and conversations. Networking rooms are full of people competing for attention. If your message doesn’t connect directly... if it doesn’t make them pause, lean in and say, “Tell me more” ... it disappears before they even leave the event. The Shift When this client and I worked together, the first thing we did was get crystal clear about: Who she most wanted to reach in the room. What those people actually cared about. How her work specifically helped them. Once she had that clarity, her introductions started sounding different... more direct, more alive, more her. And the result? People leaned in. Instead of walking away, they asked questions. They followed up after the event. They booked time with her. Because when you find your voice and know exactly who you’re talking to, you stop being forgettable. You become someone people can’t ignore. This is exactly what we’ll be diving into in Session 1 of my Attract & Stand Out Framework: Getting clear on who your audience is. Knowing what you want to say. Communicating how you help in a way that truly connects... whether you’re introducing yourself in a room or on stage. It’s not just about having the words, it’s about the confidence to say them out loud too... with presence, authority, and ease. If you’ve been walking out of networking events feeling overlooked, let this be a gentle nudge: ~ You don’t need to try harder. ~ You don’t need to stuff more into your intro. ~ You need clarity... on your audience, your message, and your voice. That’s where visibility begins. That’s how you go from overlooked to unforgettable. Think about the last time you introduced yourself at a networking event. Could the right person in the room... your dream client or collaborator... hear you and say: “That’s me. She gets it”? ________________________________________________________ 🌀 Nervous System Regulator: The 4-7-8 Reset Feeling that anxious butterfly sensation before you introduce yourself? Try this right before you speak: Inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth for a count of 8. Repeat this 3–4 times. It only takes a minute, but it tells your nervous system: You’re safe. You’ve got this. When your body is calm, your voice comes through with more presence and power... and people remember you. ✨ Ready to stop feeling overlooked at networking events? Download my free guide, 6 Steps to Attract & Stand Out, and discover how to clarify your message, show up with confidence, and connect with the people who matter most. Grab it here »
Discover how Laurie Itkin, CDFA and founder of The Options Lady, refined her messaging, raised her rates, and attracted high-value clients with clarity and confidence.
had the honor of attending the first-ever C-Sweet Annual Summit in Shelbyville, Tennessee—hosted at the breathtaking Uncle Nearest Distillery.
Explore the journey of leadership strategist and executive coach Ellin Sidell as she shares her unique insights on influence and leadership.
Even the most talented women can struggle to speak up in high-stakes moments. Vocal empowerment helps leaders move from self-doubt to bold communication.
Discover key leadership strategies to empower Gen Z in your organization through effective communication and mentorship.
Confidence isn’t automatic at the executive level. Here’s how to reclaim it.
Want your company to cover the cost of executive coaching? Learn how to make the business case, advocate for your growth, and use a sample email script.
