19. Preparing for Maternity Leave: A Chat with Alexa Starks - Maternity Leave Coach

Returning to work after maternity leave can bring a mix of emotions—excitement, guilt, uncertainty, and pressure to quickly find your footing again. In this episode of The Back to Work Plan for Postpartum Moms, Dr. Ashley Carroll sits down with Alexa Starks, founder of Executive Moms, editor-in-chief of Mothered Magazine, maternity leave coach, author, speaker, and award-winning workplace culture innovator. Alexa is on a mission to redesign working motherhood by helping women prepare intentionally for maternity leave and return to work with clarity and confidence. As a mom of two toddlers herself, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to the conversation.

Together, Dr. Ashley and Alexa explore:

• The story behind Executive Moms and what inspired Alexa’s mission • What “redesigning working motherhood” really means • Lessons from Alexa’s own maternity leave experience • The biggest mistakes women make when preparing for leave • How early you should begin planning and advocating with your manager • The emotional side of maternity leave—including identity shifts, career ambivalence, and managing guilt • What to do 3–4 weeks before returning to work • Setting boundaries and creating realistic expectations during the first months back • Redefining success as a working mother • What companies still get wrong about supporting new moms—and what great workplaces are doing differently

Whether you’re preparing for maternity leave, currently on leave, or getting ready to return to work, this episode offers practical guidance and powerful reassurance that you don’t have to navigate this transition alone.