Description

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman explores the invisible leadership moms practice every day - at home, at work, and in the moments no one sees. Released on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this conversation reframes leadership away from titles, visibility, and recognition, and instead centers the emotional labor, decision-making, and presence that motherhood quietly requires.

If you’re a mom who carries responsibility, holds systems together, and influences others daily, yet rarely calls yourself a leader, this episode offers a powerful reframe. Through lived examples, gentle humor, and reflection, Vanessa invites listeners to recognize leadership in the ordinary moments that often go unnamed.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• Explores leadership through the lens of motherhood and everyday responsibility
• Reframes leadership as influence, presence, and emotional regulation rather than title or authority
• Connects professional leadership skills with the unseen leadership happening at home
• Examines how leadership is shaped in private moments, not public performance

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• Why many moms don’t see themselves as leaders, even though they are leading daily
• How emotional regulation, anticipation, and tone-setting are forms of real leadership
• The cost of quiet leadership and why it often goes unrecognized
• How leadership shows up when no one is watching — after drop-off, between meetings, and in internal self-talk
• A mindful reframe that allows leadership to feel more intentional and sustainable

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE
Leadership doesn’t always look loud, visible, or celebrated. Much of it lives in the quiet moments - in how we respond under pressure, how we carry responsibility, and how we treat ourselves when no one is watching. When we begin to name this invisible leadership, we stop disappearing inside our own lives and start honoring the value of how we already show up. This week, notice one quiet leadership moment - not to improve it or fix it, but to acknowledge that it matters.

Vanessa is currently booking speaking engagements for the spring, including Women’s History Month, Stress Awareness Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month. To learn more or book a call, visit

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DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.