The beginning: from engineer to executive
Hi, I’m Megan… wife, mother of two (adorable) children, and latte drinker. My journey to founding ‘Focus Like A Mother’ is deeply personal and has transformed my life in many ways. I started my career in engineering, specializing in Lean Manufacturing and process improvement. I worked at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kraft Foods Group, Hertz, and other companies. My passion for solving complex problems and optimizing processes drove my work. This passion also led me to become a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, earn an MBA, and build a Lean Six Sigma training program for a Fortune 500 company.
The journey to parenthood, from infertility warrior to NICU mom
In 2019, my husband and I were both working full-time. We were excited to start our family after overcoming years of fertility challenges with medical help. We were overjoyed when we became pregnant and began our parenthood journey. Yet, our path took an unexpected turn when I required emergency bedrest and a C-section. At 28 weeks pregnant, I gave birth to our son in the spring of 2020. His extended stay in the NICU was a difficult and stressful time for us, on top of becoming parents sooner than we expected.
Navigating motherhood, entrepreneurship, and resilience
Being a mom during such a chaotic time, I felt the effects of ‘Mom Brain.’ The forgetfulness, mental fog, and feeling overwhelmed by all the new sensory input that many new moms experience. I thought these cognitive struggles were just a normal part of being a new mom or perhaps made worse by the stress of having a preemie. Balancing work and motherhood was incredibly challenging and eventually led me to leave my corporate job when our son was 15 months old. Trying to juggle work meetings while keeping up with a toddler left me feeling guilty and divided. I decided to fully focus on being a mom, taking care of my son, and planning to launch my own process improvement consulting business.
But the challenges didn’t end there. After experiencing a silent miscarriage in early 2022, I focused on launching my consulting business, ‘Change HP.’ My goal was to work in strategy and process improvement. Soon after, with fertility support, I conceived again. I had a busy year managing my business, taking care of my son, and dealing with a high-risk pregnancy. During that time, I started learning about neurodiversity, sensory processing, and executive function, drawing inspiration from my experiences with my son.
Unlocking the power of ‘Mom Brain,’ the path to coaching
I experienced ‘Mom Brain’ again during my second trimester, feeling like I couldn’t focus. Inspired again by my son, I sought out a productivity coach who specializes in neurodivergence. Working with her, I discovered strategies that helped me navigate my daily tasks more effectively. This experience further made me want to become a coach, but I was still determining what type of coach I wanted to be.
In early 2023, our daughter was born, bringing both joy and the sleep-deprived blur of newborn life. A chance conversation with my pelvic floor physical therapist about our mutual experiences with ‘Mom Brain’ led me to my calling. I decided to become a coach specializing in helping parents through cognitive transitions, commonly called ‘Mom Brain.’
Finding purpose & founding ‘Focus Like A Mother’
A little over a month later, I enrolled in an international coach training program. I became a member of and worked towards the goal of certification with the International Coach Federation (ICF). With my training complete and growing experience, I launched ‘Focus Like A Mother.’ I aim to support, inform, and empower parents throughout their pregnancy and parenthood experiences.
I created ‘Focus Like A Mother’ to support parents in tackling the cognitive challenges of parenthood. Drawing from my experiences as a parent and background in engineering and business, I offer practical approaches and easy-to-understand information. With my coaching training, I prioritize embracing each person’s unique experiences and focus on empowering parents. I aim to hold space, listen, and empower parents to find their unique real-life strategies and adapt.
On my journey as a parent, I have been an executive mom, a stay-at-home mom, and an entrepreneur. I understand the struggle of balancing multiple roles. There were countless nights of feeding my baby at 2 AM while trying to remember my to-do list for the next day. Through my journey, I’ve learned that feeling like my brain was in a blender is normal. I’ve also found effective ways to adapt.
Beyond coaching, the vision for ‘Focus Like A Mother’
The vision for Focus Like A Mother is to do more than just one-on-one coaching. My goal is to create a brand that represents strength and resilience. Through virtual and in-person programs, we offer individual and group coaching, courses, online tools, productivity products, and community support. We aim to provide a welcoming and supportive space for all parents.
Start your journey to ‘Focus Like A Mother’
Join me on this incredible journey where we’ll tackle the challenges of parenthood together – with clarity and confidence!
– Megan