Did you know I transformed my experience as a single mother into the foundation of my leadership businesses through resilience, passion, and a deep commitment to helping others? One of the most heartbreaking aspects of my story is when I found myself facing significant personal challenges in my life, including a period when I was left alone to raise my child after my husband abandoned us in a foreign country. Away from my home and support network, I had to rebuild my life from scratch, personally and professionally. I faced isolation, the pressure of being a single mother, and the emotional toll of starting over. Through sheer determination, I reinvented myself, which led me to become the leadership coach, keynote speaker, author, and thought leader I am today.
My success came from leveraging those challenges and using them as fuel for building authentic connections with my clients. I applied the lessons learned from being a single mother—perseverance, empathy, and courage—to help others become better leaders. My businesses, LeadershipHQ and The Leadership Collective, promote kindness, courage, and emotional intelligence in leadership, qualities that stem from my journey of raising a child while growing a business.
My journey demonstrates how vulnerability and personal hardship can become powerful tools for professional success, inspiring others to embrace challenges and transform them into strengths.
“Motherhood is a journey of learning how to care for others while never losing sight of your own dreams and ambitions. It’s about balance, sacrifice, and unwavering love.” – Sonia McDonald
Table of Contents:
Why It Was So Hard, But It Changed My Life
Embracing Vulnerability: It wasn’t easy to be open about my struggles—being a single mum and a leader at the same time felt daunting. But once I embraced that vulnerability, everything changed. I realised that real leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being real. That shift allowed me to connect with people on a deeper level, completely transforming how I lead and mentor others. This journey taught me that our challenges make us relatable and give us the strength to lead authentically.
Balancing Personal and Professional Life: Juggling motherhood and building a leadership business was among the hardest things ever. There were countless sacrifices, sleepless nights, and moments when I questioned if I could really do it all. But through it all, I discovered resilience I didn’t even know I had. The challenges didn’t hold me back—they pushed me forward, shaping me into the compassionate and strong leader I am today.
Facing Self-Doubt: Like many women, I’ve faced moments of crippling self-doubt. Sometimes, I questioned my worth, wondering if I was good enough to succeed in male-dominated industries. Yet every time I pushed through those doubts, I grew stronger. I use those experiences to help other women overcome their self-doubt and embrace their power.
Standing Up for What I Believe In: Building businesses based on kindness, courage, and compassion wasn’t always easy. Sometimes, I felt like I was going against the grain, pushing against outdated leadership ideas. But I stood firm in what I believed. And that’s what set me apart. Today, I lead confidently, knowing that staying true to my values will always guide me to success.
Seeing the Ripple Effect The most rewarding part of my journey is seeing my impact on other women. Every time a woman I’ve mentored steps into her power, every time she finds her voice and flourishes, I’m reminded of why this journey matters. It’s not just about me. It’s about creating a ripple effect of empowerment, helping others become the courageous, authentic leaders they were meant to be.
Building Emotional Resilience: Leadership isn’t just about business but navigating life’s emotional highs and lows. There were tough moments—times of exhaustion, doubt, and setbacks—but every difficult moment built my emotional resilience. I learned that caring for myself was as important as caring for others, making me a better leader.
In the end, every challenge I’ve faced has been worth it. These hardships shaped me into a stronger, more empathetic leader. They didn’t just change my life—they gave me the power to change the lives of others.
“There is no greater honor than raising a child. As a mother, you are shaping the next generation of leaders, teaching them to be bold, kind, and resilient.” – Sonia McDonald
Here’s how I did it:
It wasn’t easy; however, nothing worthwhile ever is.
Embracing the Challenges: Becoming a single mum completely shifted my priorities and mindset. It forced me to develop strengths I didn’t know I had—resilience, adaptability, and sheer determination. I had to figure things out quickly, and in the process, I discovered new depths of courage that helped me face each challenge head-on.
Finding My Purpose: During this time, I had to reconnect with what truly mattered to me—leadership and personal growth. It was in these moments of struggle that I realized my personal experiences, especially the challenges of being a single mum, could be the very thing that sets me apart in business. These experiences gave me a unique edge and perspective on leadership.
Starting with What I Knew: I took everything I learned from my leadership insights, personal lessons, and past work experiences into a business model. I saw gaps in the market, especially in authentic leadership and emotional intelligence, where my personal story and challenges deeply resonated with others.
Leveraging Vulnerability as a Strength: I learned to use my vulnerability as a strength. Being open about my challenges allowed me to connect with others on a deeper level. People are drawn to real, relatable stories, and I realized that by leading with empathy and courage, I could build genuine connections, which became a key part of my business’s success.
Building a Brand Around My Values: Kindness, courage, and compassion are at the heart of everything I do. These values are integral to my business’s identity and shaped by my experience as a mum. Motherhood helped me develop these values, and I’ve carried them into my work, making them part of my brand’s success.
Paying it Forward: Mentoring and lifting others became a huge part of my leadership journey. Helping others manifest their leadership potential turned into not only a business strategy but also a personal mission. Empowering others is what drives me and keeps me going every day.
I did this by embracing the challenges, finding purpose in my experiences, and building a business that reflects my values.
“Motherhood has taught me that real strength comes from vulnerability. It’s okay to not have all the answers, but to keep showing up, loving fiercely, and leading by example.” – Sonia McDonald
My Journey: From Mum to Leadership Crusader
I wasn’t handed anything on a silver platter. I’ve had to hustle, juggle, and grind my way through a career, motherhood, and everything in between. I’ve faced more than my fair share of adversity, self-doubt, and judgment—oh, the judgment. But here’s the thing: I chose to rise. Early on, I decided that I wouldn’t let anyone—or anything—dictate how high I could climb, whether as a mum or a leader.
Balancing it All: The Real Juggle
Let’s be honest—balancing motherhood and leadership isn’t glamorous. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. But damn, it’s powerful. I’ve juggled leadership roles while dealing with the unpredictability of being a mum, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My daughter? She is not just my motivation—my reason to show up as a stronger, bolder leader daily.
I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as perfect balance. There are days I nail a board meeting and feel like a boss—and there are days I barely make it through without breaking down in the car. But both those days? They’re what make me human, and they’re what make me a better leader.
Overcoming Judgment and Stereotypes
People love to put mothers in boxes. I’ve been judged for working too much, judged for “neglecting” my family and judged for taking up space as a woman in leadership. Well, guess what? I don’t give a damn what people think. I’ve learned that someone else’s opinion and judgment don’t determine my worth. That’s just noise. I focus on my purpose, passion, and the people who matter in my life.
I’ve embraced the ‘LET THEM’ mindset: Let them judge, doubt, and talk. I’m focused on what’s important—being a badass mum and an unstoppable leader.
Resilience: My Superpower
Being a mum taught me resilience in ways nothing else ever could. I’ve had to make tough decisions, handle crises, and get creative to make things work. I’ve faced setbacks but learned how to bounce back stronger every time. Motherhood gave me the grit I needed to handle anything leadership throws at me.
When facing challenges at work, I don’t panic—I’ve dealt with worse. I’ve navigated sleepless nights, tantrums, and emergencies at home, so a high-pressure deadline? Bring it on. I’ve been training for this my whole life.
My Bold Leadership Philosophy
Leadership isn’t about fitting into someone else’s mould. It’s about showing up authentically and leading with kindness, empathy, and unshakable courage. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I know one thing: being vulnerable and real makes me a better leader.
I’ve also learned that setting boundaries is crucial. As much as I want to give 110% to everything, I know my limits. I’ve mastered saying “no” when needed and protecting my energy to give my best to what truly matters. That’s not weakness—that’s wisdom.
My Message to You
I’ve learned on this wild journey: You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. You have to be real. I’ve embraced the chaos, the imperfections, and the uncertainty, and I’ve turned them into strengths. I’ve risen through leadership, not despite being a mum but because of it.
So, if you’re out there wondering if you can juggle it all—whether it’s the late-night diaper changes or the boardroom meetings—know this: You absolutely can. You’ve got everything it takes to lead with heart, courage, and conviction. Trust me, I know—because I’ve been there, and I’m still rising.
Now, let’s go out there and own our power. Let’s lead boldly and show the world that mums are not just doing it all—we’re doing it better than anyone could imagine.
I’m here, and I’m rising. And so are you.
