In 2023, women made up just 10 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs, the highest number in history and still a reminder of how far there is to go. For decades, the narrative around women and work has focused on what is lost after motherhood: the pause, the pay gap, the so-called penalty.
But my experience has been the opposite. Motherhood has given me a leadership advantage I did not expect. It has been my dividend.
Before I had children, I was comfortable in my role as COO: quiet, steady and behind the scenes. I loved solving problems and building systems. Visibility was not my priority; impact was. Still, I remember being cautious about how far I wanted to lean in.
I tried to understand what motherhood would require of me before I made commitments that might later force me to step back. I did not want to take on a larger role if it meant my family would pay the price. I needed to see what kind of mother I would be before deciding what type of leader I wanted to become.
Gaining clarity
Then life clarified the answer. My son was born in 2022, my daughter in 2024, and by January 2025, I stepped into the role of CEO. The timing was not planned, but it felt aligned. Leading a family taught me how to create structure, balance chaos and stay present in the midst of constant motion. It strengthened the same muscles leadership requires.
Motherhood did not make me step back from ambition. It made me step into leadership with greater conviction.
For years, the data told a discouraging story. Economists called it the motherhood penalty: For every child a woman had, her earnings fell by an average of four percent, while men’s often rose.
But that story is changing. According to McKinsey’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report, mothers in senior roles now score higher than their peers on the leadership traits most correlated with performance, including empathy, communication and resilience.
They are also more likely to be described by their teams as calm under pressure and trusted in moments of uncertainty.
Joining the masterclass
This is not surprising. Motherhood is a daily masterclass in emotional intelligence. It demands patience, adaptability and the ability to navigate multiple priorities at once, the same competencies that research from Harvard Business Review identifies as central to effective leadership.
Neuroscientists even describe a “maternal brain” that enhances cognitive flexibility and social awareness, traits that help leaders make better decisions under pressure.
I see this play out in my own life in small, practical ways. The $60 I spend on Uber each day is the best money I spend. That commute time is never wasted; it is where I make personal calls, reset my focus or schedule my first meeting before I even walk into the office. Every minute has a purpose, which allows me to be fully present when I am home.
Work, in turn, allows me to be a better mother. It fulfills my creative and intellectual side, gives me adult conversation and lets me build something bigger than myself. That sense of purpose carries home with me. It is what allows me to sit on the floor with my kids and be entirely in it, not distracted or half-there, but truly there.
Defining ambition
The pandemic shifted the way many women define ambition. Millions left the workforce, and many who returned came back with a clearer sense of alignment. The new version of leaning in is not about working more hours; it’s about working with more intention. It’s about sustainably integrating ambition and life.
At Platinum, this perspective shapes how I lead. Our next chapter is not about endless growth for its own sake. It’s about building better, with clarity, empathy and long-term trust. The same qualities that make us patient parents make us steady leaders. The same flexibility that helps us manage a household helps us navigate a volatile market.
Learning to lead: 5 practices that help moms in real estate
These are the small, daily disciplines that have helped me step into leadership without losing myself in the process.
1. Begin the day with clarity, not activity
Before opening an email or diving into tasks, take five minutes to identify what truly matters that day. Leadership begins with discernment, not reaction.
2. Practice emotional awareness
Whether in the office or at home, notice your energy before you respond. Self-regulation builds credibility, and calm is contagious.
3. Delegate without guilt
Empower others to take ownership, both at work and at home. Delegation is not a sign of weakness; it is a strategy for scale.
4. Redefine productivity as progress
You do not need to do everything; you need to move something forward each day. Choose one meaningful action that aligns with your bigger vision, and celebrate that progress. Leadership grows from consistency, not volume.
5. Protect presence like an asset
Whether it is bedtime or a board meeting, give your full focus to the moment you are in. Boundaries are not barriers; they are investments in energy and attention, the actual currency of leadership.
What matters most
Motherhood may change your capacity, but it expands your capability. It asks you to lead with clarity, empathy and intention, qualities the world could use more of.
Motherhood did not change my ambition. It clarified it. It taught me that leadership is not about doing everything at once; it is about knowing what matters most and doing that well. That is the real dividend.
Dezireh Eyn serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Properties. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
