324. Redefining Ambition with psychologist and executive coach Dr. Anne Welsh

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Episode 324: Redefining Ambition

Guest: Dr. Anne Welsh

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC:

Does it feel impossible to succeed both as a mother and in your career? This week we dive into “The Ambition Paradox” with Harvard-trained psychologist Dr. Anne Welsh. She challenges the outdated notion that career success is only about climbing higher, explaining instead how motherhood often expands a woman’s ambition—wider and deeper—rather than diminishing it. Dr. Welsh shares her personal journey of redefining success after leaving her “dream job” at Harvard to open her own practice, and offers transformative insights on how the leadership skills developed through motherhood translate directly to professional settings. We explore breaking free from perfectionism, the value of one-degree shifts in our thinking, and how to view ambition as a web rather than a ladder. This conversation is a must-listen for any woman struggling to reconcile her professional goals with family life.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S GUEST:

Dr. Anne Welsh is a former Harvard psychologist, executive coach, and mother of four who specializes in helping working mothers navigate the unique challenges they face. Drawing from clinical expertise, academic research, and personal experience, Dr. Welsh offers practical insights into how motherhood equips women with exceptional leadership skills. She’s currently working on a book about The Ambition Paradox, exploring how women can break free from society’s limiting expectations without shrinking their ambitions.

KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

THE AMBITION PARADOX: Dr. Welsh explains this concept—the painful situation where wanting to excel both as a mother and in your career seems impossible—and offers practical ways to break free from this limiting mindset.

MOTHERHOOD AS LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Discover the “five Ps” of leadership skills developed during motherhood: people skills, processing skills, productivity, perspective-taking, and playfulness—all transferable assets in professional settings.

FROM LINEAR TO MULTIDIMENSIONAL AMBITION: Learn why traditional “ladder climbing” is an outdated model and how to embrace ambition as a web that includes seeking growth in multiple directions: time, connection, creativity, and autonomy.

LIFE SEASONS AND CAREER SHIFTS: Dr. Welsh shares her personal journey of scaling back her career when her children were young and how she’s leaning back in as they grow older, offering permission and perspective for women in similar transitions.

PRACTICAL IDENTITY WORK: Get actionable advice on how to separate external expectations from your authentic desires, using the “closet clean-out” method to identify what truly fits for you in this stage.

Dr. Welsh’s insights about expanding our definition of ambition beyond power, title, and money offer a profoundly liberating perspective for working mothers. I’m eager to hear how her concepts resonate with your own experiences. You can share your thoughts through the contact links below.

LINKS FOR DR. ANNE WELSH:

• LinkedIn: Dr. Anne Welsh
• Website: drannewelsh.com

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