In this empowering conversation, VP and mom of two Chelsey Gonzalez shares her journey of balancing career ambitions with homeschooling her kindergartener, offering a candid look at the wins, struggles, and lessons learned along the way. From managing career pivots and advocating for flexible schedules to building a “village” of support and using tech hacks to lighten the mental load, Chelsey’s story is a reminder that working motherhood doesn’t have to mean sacrificing connection or career growth. You might be managing PTO guilt, looking for a more supportive workplace, or simply craving to hear ‘you’re doing a great job’—this conversation will leave you inspired, understood, and ready to parent out loud.
“I think when we remind ourselves that the reason why we might feel that guilt or that sadness or all of those feelings at the core of it, we care, and we want to be great mothers, and so give yourself grace”
Key takeaways to inspire and connect with working moms:
- Balancing Career & Homeschooling: How Chelsey Gonzalez manages being a VP at a company while homeschooling her kindergartener, proving that career growth and hands-on parenting can coexist.
- Flexible Work Schedules That Work: Real examples of supportive leadership that respects family time, encourages flexibility, and trusts parents to get the job done.
- The “Village” That Makes It Possible: How family support, intentional planning, and open communication with a spouse make working motherhood more sustainable.
- Career Pivots & Transferable Skills: From teaching to HR leadership — why your existing skills are more adaptable than you think.
- Parental Leave Done Right: How a well-thought-out transition plan before, during, and after leave can ease the return-to-work stress.
- Modeling Work-Life Boundaries: Why “parenting out loud” helps normalize work-life balance and empowers other parents to set healthy boundaries.
- Overcoming Mom Guilt: Honest reflections on the tug-of-war between being present at work and at home — and reframing guilt as a sign of love and care.
- Time-Saving Hacks for Working Moms: Tech tools like shared digital calendars and AI-assisted planning to lighten the mental load.
- Leadership With Empathy: How leading with understanding and flexibility helps retain top talent, especially working parents.
- Grace Over Perfection: The importance of lowering impossible standards and giving yourself grace during demanding seasons of life.
About Chelsey Gonzalez:
Chelsey is the VP of People Operations in the tech industry, where she blends nearly a decade of HR leadership with a passion for building inclusive, high-performing cultures. Drawing from experience in education, agriculture, and technology, she champions working parents and sparks conversations on leadership, balance, and equity through her speaking and advocacy. A mom of two, Chelsey understands firsthand the challenges working parents face and is on a mission to help organizations create workplaces where both people and business can thrive.
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**Check out our best selling collaborative book with other female founders on Amazon:Taking the Plunge
Check out my newly published book on how to hire, inspire and train top talent in your organization: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4PMTFQB
