Between Us: Shelby McFarland and Kayla Maguire Talk Leadership, Motherhood, and Protecting Your Energy

In another episode of Between Us, Shelby McFarland and Kayla Maguire continue their candid conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership, motherhood, and personal growth.

The discussion dives into topics that many female entrepreneurs, working mothers, and business leaders face daily: managing time, balancing responsibilities, dealing with mom guilt, and learning how to protect personal energy while building a successful career.

Rather than presenting an unrealistic image of “having it all together,” Shelby and Kayla focus on the honest side of leadership and parenting, acknowledging that success often comes from adaptability, resilience, and learning to prioritize what truly matters.

🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJAg6Y9RQ00

How Motherhood Shapes Leadership

One of the biggest themes in this episode is how motherhood can shape leadership skills in powerful ways. Both Shelby and Kayla shared that raising children teaches lessons that directly translate into leadership, entrepreneurship, and team management.

Parenting requires empathy, patience, and the ability to see situations from multiple perspectives. These same skills are essential when leading a team, managing a business, or working with clients.

Key leadership lessons that often come from motherhood include:

• Understanding how to influence rather than control

• Practicing empathy and emotional intelligence

• Developing stronger communication skills

• Learning to prioritize what truly matters

• Creating space for others to grow and succeed

These qualities are especially important for entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to build strong teams and lasting relationships.

The Reality of Being a Working Mom and Business Leader

Shelby also shared how becoming a mother reshaped her approach to leadership and business ownership. Before becoming a parent, she admitted that her focus was often centered on personal goals and business growth. Motherhood introduced a new level of selflessness, perspective, and responsibility.

For many women in business, becoming a parent changes the way they approach leadership. It encourages them to become more compassionate leaders and more thoughtful decision-makers.

However, it also brings new challenges, especially when it comes to managing time, balancing priorities, and dealing with the pressure to succeed in multiple roles at once.

The Truth About Mom Guilt

Another important part of the conversation focused on something nearly every parent experiences: mom guilt.

Many working mothers struggle with the feeling that they are not doing enough — whether that’s in their business, their parenting, or their personal life.

Shelby and Kayla emphasized that guilt often comes from external expectations, social media comparisons, or unrealistic standards placed on women.

Instead of comparing themselves to others, they encourage women to:

• Focus on their own values and priorities

• Practice self-awareness and emotional intelligence

• Speak openly about challenges rather than hiding them

• Remember that no one can succeed in every role all the time

The conversation highlights an important truth: being a strong leader and a loving parent does not require perfection.

Protecting Your Time and Energy

Toward the end of the episode, the conversation shifted toward a topic that many entrepreneurs are learning to prioritize: protecting personal energy.

Both Shelby and Kayla discussed the importance of setting boundaries in relationships, business commitments, and daily routines.

For entrepreneurs and professionals, protecting energy can include:

• Setting healthy boundaries in personal relationships

• Being intentional about how time is spent

• Taking breaks and prioritizing self-care

• Letting go of situations that drain emotional energy

For Shelby, protecting energy means focusing on relationships and activities that support her personal growth, business leadership, and motherhood, while stepping away from situations that create unnecessary stress.

Honest Conversations About Women in Leadership

The Between Us series was created to give women a space for open conversations about the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship, and motherhood.

Through honest dialogue, Shelby McFarland and Kayla Maguire hope to support female entrepreneurs, business leaders, and working mothers who are navigating similar experiences.

These conversations remind listeners that success is not about perfection, it’s about growth, resilience, and learning how to lead both professionally and personally.