Gifty Enright joins Cynthia to get practical about the real pressures facing working mothers—and what leaders can do beyond platitudes. We unpack why parents are the most stressed demographic, how the “good girl” social script and performance bias stack the deck against women, and why meritocracy often micro‑analyses women while macro‑analysing men. Gifty shares lessons from her own burnout and from her book, Octopus on a Treadmill, offering usable ideas for cultivating presence (not just more hours), setting boundaries, and driving culture change. We also touch on intersectionality, from being a Black woman and an immigrant to navigating care burdens and the challenges of the sandwich generation. If you lead teams with caregivers—or you are one—this episode gives you language, tools, and next steps to build healthier, more inclusive ways of working.

Show Quotes

* “Parents are the most stressed‑out demographic.” — Gifty Enright

* “Women are micro‑analysed; men are macro‑analysed.” — Cynthia Fortlage

* “Performance bias assumes he knows what he’s doing; she has to prove it.” — Gifty Enright

* “If you’re there, you’re there—presence over quantity.” — Gifty Enright

* “As women, we are at the centre of everything.” — Gifty Enright

Key Takeaways

* Parents—especially mothers—carry compounded stress loads; design work with that reality in mind.

* Performance bias means men are often assumed competent while women must prove it; fix systems, not just confidence.

* Meritocracy myth: women are micro‑analysed and penalised for style while men are judged on outcomes.

* Presence beats quantity: being fully there matters more than being everywhere. Set boundaries that protect energy.

* Intersectionality is additive: gender + race + motherhood + migration can compound barriers; policy must reflect that complexity.

* The sandwich generation is real. Flexibility and caregiver‑support policies are business‑critical retention tools.

Guest Bio

Gifty Enright is a keynote speaker, author of Octopus on a Treadmill, and a leadership coach specialising in working mothers and inclusive cultures. Drawing on her corporate career and lived experience of burnout, she helps organisations reduce stress, tackle bias, and create workplaces where women—and everyone—can thrive.

Resources Mentioned

* Octopus on a Treadmill — by Gifty Enright

* The Gender Bias Traps (corporate workshop) — by Gifty Enright

Links

* Guest: https://giftyenright.com

* https://www.linkedin.com/in/giftyenright/

* Cynthia: www.cynthiafortlage.com

* https://linkedin.com/in/cfortlage

* Substack (Holding It Both Ways): https://fortlage.substack.com

* Podcast feed

Call to Action

* Share this with a leader of caregivers—or a working parent who needs backing.

* Leaders exploring inclusive leadership and culture change can book time with Cynthia: https://calendly.com/cynthiafortlage/30min.

* Subscribe and leave a short review—it really helps others find the show.

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