In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper speaks with coach and leadership expert Anna Shakhovets about the profound identity shift women experience when becoming mothers. Anna shares her personal journey and introduces the concept of matrescence—the emotional, psychological, and professional transformation that accompanies motherhood.

They explore how this shift impacts leadership, ambition, creativity, and a woman's sense of self, and discuss why grief, anger, and uncertainty are natural parts of this transition. The conversation provides clarity and tools for female executives navigating motherhood and for coaches supporting women through this period of change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How motherhood acts as a deep identity shift, not just a career pause
• Why matrescence mirrors other major life transitions
• The role of grief and loss in redefining oneself as a mother
• Why women often focus on logistics instead of the emotional transition
• How creativity emerges from the chaos of early motherhood
• Why ambition often increases—not decreases—after becoming a mother
• How to normalize difficult feelings like anger, guilt, and confusion
• Why the motherhood transition is cyclical, not linear
• How coaches can incorporate motherhood perspectives into leadership work

Keywords: motherhood, female executives, identity shift, coaching, leadership, transformation, emotional business, motherhood transition, women empowerment, personal growth

Book we mentioned: Jessie Harrold - Mothershift : Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage

Links to find Anna:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-shakhovets/

https://www.reco-consulting.com/

If you want to work with Anna, join the interest list for The Fireside Circle for Female Leaders — a space to learn how to lead with depth, clarity, and connection.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYVb5ZlpXLDxwta5aXn6RkD8_DP3ARGeJrmV-6D9pOBTh4bw/viewform