Thriving in Life, Goals, Careers & Caretaking Without Missing a Beat.
THE WHY BEHIND WORK LIKE A MOTHER
-
I saw two critical gaps in leadership practice. The first is that the perspectives in leadership are vastly monolithic and incomplete ₁, and the second is that they center on the misconception that busyness is productive. We address the leadership gaps by including humans' layered lives. My vision is to create healthier, more effective organizations by broadening the leadership scope through the intersectional, intergenerational lens it requires.
An HBS cited that outcomes are much better when focused on belonging₂, and I agree. I wanted, no, I needed the ability to bring authenticity and my intersections to the perspective on leadership. The CDC's Mental Health in the Workplace ₃ report cited that mental health and wellness affect performance, engagement, and communication. As the CEO, I've committed Belong by Dawn Christian to prioritizing workplace mental health and wellness by breaking up with the busyness culture and dismantling the myth that assimilation makes anyone an exceptional leader—I know the research and the truth is that our layers are what make an impact, cultivate creativity, engagement, and inventiveness. It was also imperative for people and organizations everywhere to make space for others to do the same.
References:
Zippia, Executive Coach Demographics and Statistics in the US, 2021
Harvard Business Review (HBS), The Value of Belonging at Work, 2016.
Center for Disease Control (CDC), Mental Health in the Workplace Report, 2018
-
I thrive with anxiety because I’ve built the competencies to develop life-work harmony. However, 80% of workers feel stressed on the job, nearly half say they need help learning how to manage stress, and 42% say their coworkers need such assistance, according to a report by The American Institute of Stress₁. Despite the stigma surrounding mental health, I spent 16 years feeling like I had to hide this fact because, as a female executive managing billion-dollar product lines in a male-dominated STEM industry, I wanted to maintain confidence in my abilities. Building life-work harmony skills has made it so that my anxiety was no longer a hindrance but rather an accepted part of who I am. A majority of the working population is looking for solutions to managing stress or anxiety; the stigma is unwarranted. Mental health and well-being are part of total health. In 2023, the Surgeon General released an advisory on the loneliness epidemic; his findings underscored belonging as a critical component of mental well-being₂. Creating a mental wellness culture is essential for supporting employee well-being. This includes destigmatizing mental health discussions. Organizations that have successfully cultivated such cultures have seen improvements in employee engagement, productivity, and overall satisfaction₃. True belonging comes from owning who you are, and I am proud to say that I embrace my anxiety as a part of me. I choose to be vulnerable and open about it; by doing so, I can inspire others to do the same and break down the barriers of stigma.
References:
The American Institute of Stress, Attitudes in the American Workplace, Stress.org, 2023.
The Surgeon General, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023.
The Bowman Foundation on Workplace Equity and Mental Wellness, Defining the Problem and Finding the Solution to the Mental Health in the Workplace Crisis, 2023.
-
It's a matter of health and wellness. Code-switching is adjusting how you talk or behave from one social environment to another. While many of us do this, it has a dual impact. Sustaining the act of code-switching can take a toll on mental well-being, potentially leading to cognitive fatigue and burnout as one attempts to keep up with the shifts.
Code-switching can earn the favor of the group by enforcing social norms. Psychology research shows that job applications downplay certain identity factors, receive more interview invitations, or are viewed as more professional than those who don't. However, there can also be social consequences for those who code-switch. Research also shows that code-switching may cause rejection from members of one's social group, leading to isolation having an impact on their overall mental health₁. As a mom, wife, sister, and aunt– all the roles I fulfill, I feel accountable to myself, my husband, my children, my friends, and my family to live with intention. That intention is to be. No more pretending I was a version of myself in one social space and free to be myself at home. That facade was causing a lack of creativity, engagement, stress, and fatigue. I can be more impactful by aligning with my values, healing, and finding life-work harmony. I could not inspire anyone to be their best selves if I'm not.
References:
University of California, Berkeley- Graduate Division, Let's Talk About Code-Switching: A Double Edge Sword, 2023
The Work Like a Mother™ Cohort
This is a Haven for Working Parents and Caregivers That Strive to Navigate Life-Work Harmony with Grace.
The BeLeadership™ Work Like A Mother™ cohort, carefully curated by a fellow working mother, is more than just a program; it's a transformative journey tailored specifically for working mothers and caregivers. With a profound understanding of their unique challenges, this cohort offers participants our proprietary Ethos-Driven Leadership™ framework. This framework is intricately designed to develop belonging as a leadership competency™ while inspiring them to authentically navigate the various forms of work landscapes, where conformity has long been the norm. As part of this journey, each participant will receive the Ethos-Driven Leadership™ an intentionally crafted journal—a companion to their exploration. This journal provides the necessary space for deep thinking while allowing them to track their progress. It is a tool that serves as a reflective space to delve into their experiences, enabling them to celebrate milestones and embrace growth along the way.
To secure the group discount for yourself or your organization members when enrolling in the cohort, kindly reach out to us via email at Info@BelongbyDawnChristian.Com. Please keep in mind that groups of 5 or more are eligible for this discount.
DAWN CHRISTIAN
Dawn Christian is a wife and mom, leadership advisor, and coach who thrives with anxiety and loves life, her family, who loves a good laugh– even at herself, Prince, sports (especially when her son Chase plays them), travel, performing arts, and dancing (her kitchen floor often doubles as a break dance cipher). After 25 years of leading billion-dollar product portfolios, she intentionally pivoted to become what she affectionately calls a “mommaprenuer.” For the past 5.5 years, she has spearheaded Belong by Dawn Christian®, the leadership advisory firm committed to reimagining leadership by building belonging as a leadership competency. Today, she is a thought leader at the intersection of leadership, belonging, organizational effectiveness, and mental health and wellness. She advises and inspires leaders at all levels, leveraging her proprietary framework of Ethos-Driven Leadership™ principles. Dawn creates organizational culture strategies on the foundation of belonging by prioritizing mental health and wellness as she evolves industry best practices to include an intersectional, intergenerational lens on leadership.
Dawn is a fellow at the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She holds an MBA from Cornell University, a BA in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Diversity & Inclusion Leadership certificate from Cornell University’s International Labor Relations School.
She is also a Bowman Foundation-certified Workplace Equity and Mental Wellness in the Workplace practitioner.
You may have seen Dawn or her work here:
The benefits of the WLM
-
Curated Spaces
Belonging is an art mastered through intentional authenticity and fostering an environment where others feel inspired to do the same. In the BeLeadership™ Work Like a Mother cohort, you'll receive coaching on effectively cultivating spaces that nurture belonging while providing you with the skills to create environments where everyone thrives as their authentic selves.
-
Communal Conversations
Embark on a transformative journey by joining the BeLeadership™ Work Like a Mother Cohort, where you'll become part of a vibrant and varied community of humans who demonstrate leadership in many ways. Together, we navigate the intricate balance of success often defined by societal norms or careers and the profound responsibility of showing up fully for ourselves and our loved ones. Join us as we grow together, thrive personally, and meet our goals.
-
Vision Cultivation
The BeLeadership™ Work Like a Mother cohort is your compass through crafting a success plan tailored to your unique journey. It enables you to show up authentically in every facet of your life. By emphasizing the paramount importance of mental health and wellness, this cohort guides you to prioritize self-care while pursuing your goals.
The Experience
Ethos-Driven Leadership™
The BeLeadership experience is an 11-week introspective and collective journey at the intersections of leadership, belonging, mental health, and wellness. It creates healthier, more engaged leaders at home and in the multiple spaces and ways caregivers lead. Every week includes a 90-minute virtual session.
Week 1
Kickoff
Welcome
Week 2
Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Framework Deep Dive: Purpose
Week 3
Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Framework Deep Dive: Needs
Week 4
Applying the Habits of Belonging
Behaviors
Making Room: LivingRoomTM
Evolution: Life- Work Harmony
Week 5
Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Framework Deep Dive: Beliefs
Week 6
Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Framework Deep Dive: Influences
Week 7
Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Mission Statement Writing Session
Week 8
Accountability Partner Workshop
Define the goals of your Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM mission statement.
Week 9
The Release: A Mindset Coaching Experience
Prepping for the Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Capstone Experience
Week 10
Community Building
How to cultivate an Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM community
Week 11
Ethos-Driven LeadershipTM Capstone Experience
ELIGIBILITY
Who this cohort best serves!
Caregivers of all types—parents, fosters, extended family, community, and friends who desire intentional space to help them harmonize personal, professional, and caregiving responsibilities.
Work is what you define it as. Work shows up in different forms. Some of us work in roles outside of the home, some of us work in the home, some of us work in the community, and some of us do all of it. Whichever way you work, it’s valid, and we see you.
We are reimagining leadership. What that means is that we are including all forms of leaders. It is about influence and impact, and we all have both. Caregiving shapes the minds, hearts, and trajectories of who we care for. Reimagining leadership means including caregivers in the construct of leadership.
SPONSORSHIP & PARTNERSHIPS
SPONSORSHIP
The BeLeadership™ community flourishes with generous sponsorship. Whether you're a mother, caregiver, or simply wish to support our cause, we deeply appreciate you. Select your desired sponsorship tier below and submit your information. Your contribution is invaluable to us. You’ll have a chance to upload your organization’s logo for recognition after you submit your sponsorship.
The deadline to become a Sponsor or Cross-Promotional Partner is May 15th, 2024.
PARTNERSHIP
At BeLeadership™, we understand that giving goes beyond monetary contributions. That's why we've crafted partnership offerings for those looking to align with our mission while cultivating and broadening our shared audiences, as well as fostering brand awareness for both parties. Explore our partnership options below:
Be in the Box— provide a small promotional item as a giveaway in the Working Like a Mother™ swag box. There's a $100 fee for this partnership opportunity.
Build Belonging Habits— provide a discount code or promotional offer to the Working Like a Mother™ audience (to be sent via email).
By partnering with the BeLeadership™ community, we ensure that all cohort-related materials prominently feature our partner logos and include mentions of our partners in social media posts.
There's a $100 fee for this partnership opportunity.
Your payment options
-
Klarna offers several payment options and installment plans including a Pay In 4 program.
-
PayPal is a fast, simple, and secure way to pay, with just your email address and password.
Enrollment ends June 7th!
To secure the group discount for yourself or your organization members when enrolling in the cohort, kindly reach out to us via email at Info@BelongbyDawnChristian.Com. Please keep in mind that groups of 5 or more are eligible for this discount.