33 | How Working Moms Can Reduce Burnout and Lead with Empathy featuring Dr. Julie Donley

Are you a working mom juggling the demands of career and family, feeling the weight of burnout and unrealistic expectations?

In this empowering episode, I sit down with Dr. Julie Donley—leadership coach, award-winning author, and former director of nursing—to explore how the CARE leadership model can help you lead with empathy, reduce stress, and thrive both at work and home.

We delve into:

• The CARE Leadership Model: Communication, Appreciation, Respect, Empathy
• Strategies to prevent burnout before it starts
• The role of self-awareness in effective leadership
• How to harness emotional intelligence as your superpower
• The impact of AI on working moms and how to navigate it

Dr. Donley shares insights from her latest book, Leading at the Speed of People, offering practical tools to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

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Transcript

Shannon Fox:

Hey, hey, welcome back to the show.

Today, we're digging into something every working mom needs but rarely gets enough of – emotional clarity, real leadership, and actual support.

I’m joined by Dr. Julie Donley, leadership coach, former director of nursing, and author of Leading at the Speed of People, to unpack what it really means to lead well without burning out.

We're talking about:

• How to project your peace
• Shifting the pressure we put on ourselves
• Why self-leadership isn't selfish – it's essential

If you've been carrying it all and wondering how to keep leading and breathing, this one’s for you.

Let's do it.

Intro:

Hey mama, welcome to Career Growth for Working Moms.

If you're stuck in a job that doesn't fit or burning out trying to do it all, you're in the right place.

I'm Shannon, a career coach and fellow working mom. Here you'll get simple career strategies and strength-based leadership tips to help you grow with clarity and confidence.

So grab your coffee – or reheat it for the third time – and let’s do this.

Shannon:

Hello, hello, welcome. Today I’m excited to have Dr. Julie Donely here with us.

Dr. Julie is a leadership coach, award-winning author, and former director of nursing, whose 30-year career spans healthcare, psychology, and organizational leadership.

Her latest book, Leading at the Speed of People, introduces the CARE Leadership Model to reduce burnout and lead with more empathy, clarity, and confidence.

She’s here to help us understand:

• How to lead well without burning out
• How emotional intelligence can be our superpower
• How to shift the unrealistic expectations working moms often carry

Dr. Julie, welcome to the show.

Dr. Julie Donley:

Hi, Shannon. Oh, it's wonderful to be here. Thank you so much for having me.

Shannon :

Let’s start off with this CARE Leadership Model. Why is it important for women today?

Dr. Julie:

Yes, the CARE Leadership Model stands for:

• C: Communication
• A: Appreciation
• R: Respect
• E: Empathy

These are the skills we need today to be effective, not just in leadership roles, but in life.

➡️ Communicate clearly

➡️ Appreciate people and situations more often

➡️ Lead with respect and empathy

And it starts with ourselves. We need to accept ourselves with more grace and compassion because life is hard.

Shannon:

That’s so true. As moms, we give that to everyone else but forget ourselves.

Dr. Julie:

Exactly. We tend to look outward to make sure everyone is okay but rarely stop to ask, “Hey, what do I need right now?”

If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be available for anyone else. We need to put ourselves near the top of the list, if not first.

And many women I work with don’t even know how to do that. But it’s something we need to learn to prevent burnout.

Shannon:

Yes, burnout and overwhelm are real when we keep pouring out without refilling ourselves.

Dr. Julie:

Exactly. When someone burns out, the “cure” is to check out. But if we know that, why don’t we prevent burnout by taking snippets of time for ourselves?

It doesn’t have to be a spa day (although those are great). It could be:

✅ 20 minutes in the morning

✅ 30 minutes in the afternoon for a walk or workout

Stress is our inner response to what’s happening outside of us. We can control that with awareness, attention, and intention. That’s where our power lies.

Shannon:

I love that. For me, I have to schedule time in my calendar for myself. Even if it’s just 15–30 minutes, if it’s on the calendar, it happens.

Dr. Julie:

That’s absolutely not dumb – it’s smart. That’s your method, and it works for you.

Everyone is different. For me, I schedule lunch away from my desk to walk my dog and reset. There’s no right or wrong; it’s about doing it intentionally.

Shannon:

Another big topic for you is AI. Technology isn’t going anywhere. How do working moms navigate AI in the workforce today?

Dr. Julie:

AI is everywhere and it’s not going away. Here’s my advice:

✅ Start exploring how AI can help you without overwhelming yourself.

For example:

• Resume writing
• Scheduling apps for kids’ activities, appointments, and family coordination
• Meal planning
• Travel planning (traffic, route optimization)

AI saves time, but it can’t replace emotional labor – the relational, empathetic work women often carry. It doesn’t support:

➡️ Emotional support

➡️ Conflict resolution

➡️ Navigating team dynamics

However, it can give you ideas for approaching difficult conversations or conflicts, and then you choose what fits your style.

Shannon:

That’s a great point. AI is helpful for redundant tasks, but the emotional pieces are still ours to lead.

Dr. Julie:

Exactly. It’s about having a healthy relationship with AI:

• Let it handle tasks that free up your time
• Reclaim that time for your well-being, family, and goals

Remember, AI isn’t a relationship. It’s a tool. Use it wisely so you can lead your life and career more effectively.

Shannon:

So true. Where can our listeners connect with you?

Dr. Julie:

The best place is drjuliedonley.com.

I’m also on YouTube and LinkedIn. My new book Leading at the Speed of People is available everywhere books are sold.

Shannon:

Thank you. Before we wrap up, what is one action step you’d give to working moms to reduce stress and lead more intentionally this week?

Dr. Julie:

✅ Put yourself on your to-do list.

Whether it’s:

• 15 minutes here and there
• A morning workout
• Quiet journaling time

Start with self-leadership. When we take care of ourselves, we show up better for everyone else.

Shannon:

I love that. Thank you so much for being here today.

Dr. Julie:

Thank you for having me, Shannon. It was so great being here.

Outro:

Hey, Working Mama, I hope you enjoyed today’s episode.

If so, would you take 30 seconds to share it with a friend who's stuck in her career but doesn't want to sacrifice her family to grow? 

Also, please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts. It seriously lights me up to know this show is helping you navigate burnout, find clarity, and lead with confidence. 

All right, time to shut down my laptop and pretend I'm not hiding from folding
that laundry.

I'll meet you back here soon for another episode of Career Growth for Working Moms. 

You've got this.