Ladies, we have the receipts. Women don’t just make great leaders — we make some of the best leaders. The research is clear, and yet… we still hesitate, second-guess, and downplay our strengths. (Sound familiar?)

This week we focus on stepping into our leadership—why we excel in it, what holds us back and how to push through our doubts. Plus, we’re taking notes from powerhouse women who have led billion-dollar companies while raising families — because, it can be done, even though there’s a lot of pressure to choose between kids and career.

We’re also continuing our giveaway of my book, You Don’t Have to Carry It All. Read through the newsletter to learn if you’ve won last week’s giveaway and how to win this week!

Plus, we’re still waiting to hear from the Simplified giveaway winners (Ahem…Brittany, Jennifer, Mary Alice and Liz…we’re looking for you! 🤪)

KEEP READING TO SEE IF YOU’VE WON! 🎉

-xo Paula Faris, Founder

This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• 💪 Why Women are Good Leaders 

• 🤔 Why We Doubt Ourselves as Leaders

• 🦸🏻‍♀️ Lessons from Other Female Leaders

• 🎉 You Don’t Have to Carry it All giveaway winners announced

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣  💪 Why Women are Good Leaders

Women make exceptional leaders — not just in theory, but in cold, hard data. Studies show that women-led companies outperform their male-led counterparts, and investors like Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary confirm that their highest returns come from female founders. Why? Leadership skills sharpen through multitasking, emotional intelligence, and resilience — qualities that working moms develop because of motherhood, not in spite of it. Research even shows that parenthood increases efficiency, courage, and adaptability. So, let’s stop questioning whether women belong at the top – because they do. Want to read more about how women manage the complexities of leadership? Check out this HBR article.

2️⃣  🤔 Why We Doubt Ourselves as Leaders

The data tells us we’re great leaders, but we still doubt our voice and leadership. Why is that? It may come as no surprise, but society often teaches women to second-guess themselves. And we do! That’s why we don’t ask for raises as much as men and why we won’t apply for a job or promotion unless we feel fully qualified. Add in generational narratives and discriminatory practices that we’re still shaking off, plus a lack of representation, it all reinforces the notion that leadership isn’t for us.

But, listen to this: per a Harris poll, half of Americans prefer to work for women-led companies. Why? Because they’re “more purpose-driven, more likely to have childcare and are more likely to offer equal pay.” Btw, that number includes 46% of men! Read more about the study HERE.

3️⃣ 🦸🏻‍♀️ Lessons from Other Female Leaders

What do Indra Nooyi (former PepsiCo CEO), Sara Blakely (Founder of Spanx), and Kendra Scott (Founder of Kendra Scott) have in common? They all built billion-dollar brands while raising families. They didn’t choose between leadership and motherhood — they redefined BOTH. These mamas set boundaries and embraced  flexibility. They proved that being a parent isn’t a weakness – but that it’s a leadership strength. We can look to them to remember that we don’t have to fit outdated expectations — we can lead on our own terms. Want to be further inspired by women who have walked the walk? Check out this Women in Leadership podcast.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT 🤎

for working moms with older children

• Let’s face it – embracing leadership skills at a young age can go a long way to becoming a strong leader as an adult. So how can we help our teens to start now so that they can step fully into the role later? Here are some tips on nurturing leadership qualities in our kids, like visionary thinking, resilience, and empathy.

• Want to take it a step further with your teens? There are countless programs out there that help cultivate leadership skills in kids. Check out the G.I.R.L.S. Leadership Program that covers topics like confidence, health, STEM careers, and goal setting. Have sons? Check out the Driven Foundation that focuses on developing leadership skills, academic achievement, and self-esteem in boys.

GIVEAWAY!

Last week’s winners are…

➡️ Lorene Bernier

➡️ Regina Gallofin

➡️ Ashlyn Ochoa

➡️ Victoria Grieser

➡️ Hollie M.O.

Lorene, Regina, Ashlyn, Victoria and Hollie, reply to this email with your mailing address, so our team can get them out to you. 🎉

Also, we’re still waiting to hear from our SIMPLIFIED cookbook winners below.

➡️ Brittany Cortez

➡️ Jennifer Hostetter

➡️ Mary Alice Lathem

➡️ Liz Sperlich

Brittany, Jennifer, Mary Alice and Liz, reply to this email with your mailing address, so our team can get them out to you. 🎉