When Emmy-winning broadcaster Jenn Hildreth and longtime Fox Sports exec Aimee Leone reached out about their new book Tough as a Mother, I instantly said yes. What I didn’t expect was just how deeply I’d relate to the stories inside—stories not just of athletic grit but of miscarriages, breastfeeding behind the scenes, cross-country travel with toddlers in tow, and building careers in male-dominated industries while raising tiny humans.

As a mom of three navigating my own career pivots and parenting curveballs, I found myself nodding (and tearing up) through nearly every chapter. These women aren’t just elite athletes and powerhouse professionals—they’re us. They’re every mom who’s juggled a conference call while wiping a nose, every woman who’s questioned if she can still go big after becoming a mom, and every parent who’s had to redefine what “balance” really means.

Below, I’m sharing 9 traits from Tough as a Mother that every working mom—whether you’re running a household, a team, or a business—can take to heart.

1. Adaptability — Hannah Storm

“We all make choices—sometimes they work out, sometimes they don’t, and we have to adjust. But this is the essence of what being a working mom is: always trying, changing the journey along the way, and at some point bringing your children along with you…”
 —Hannah Storm, ESPN Anchor

Takeaway: Flexibility is your superpower. Plans change, kids get sick, jobs evolve—but your ability to pivot with purpose is what keeps your family (and career) moving forward.

2. Moxie — Debbie Antonelli

“My motto is: build, serve, empower. I use those three words to guide all of my decisions. I feel like I am the CEO of my own little company.”
 —Debbie Antonelli, Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

Takeaway: Channel your inner founder. Whether you’re organizing the school week or leading a team, show up with grit and confidence. You’re not just managing a household—you’re running a high-performing operation.

3. Sacrifice — Cheyna Mathews

“Motherhood doesn’t change who you are. It doesn’t change what you are capable of. That person—all she is and all she can do—is just as important to your kids as it is to you.”
 —Cheyna Mathews, FIFA World Cup Athlete

Takeaway: Sacrifice doesn’t mean erasure. Don’t lose yourself in giving. Instead, show your kids what it looks like to honor both your dreams and theirs.

4. Resilience — Hilary Phelps

“I used to compare my life to some of the people around me and I’d feel like a failure, but then I realized none of that stuff… mattered right now. We’re happy. That, to me, is the definition of having it all.”
 —Hilary Phelps, Competitive Swimmer

Takeaway: Bounce back better. Real resilience is releasing unrealistic standards and defining success on your own terms. Being happy in the now is all you really need and a true power to embody.

5. Passion — Jessica Mendoza

“Everyone’s path is their own. I want to encourage women to write their own story. You know deep down what you want to do; you can love your job, be passionate about what you’re doing, and you are going to love the crap out of your children. Nothing is going to change that.”
 —Jessica Mendoza, Olympic Medalist & ESPN Analyst

Takeaway: She got into it with a male colleague, asking her how she traveled so much. She said it’s no different if a man were to do so, too. Passion fuels perseverance. You don’t have to choose between your ambition and your children—your fire inspires them.

6. Vulnerability — Becky Lynch

“You’re constantly grappling with the guilt. It’s so different watching the male brain versus the female brain, too. My husband is wonderful—he’s the most incredible father and partner—but no part of him feels like he should give up his career to be a dad.”
 —Rebecca Quin (aka Becky Lynch), WWE Superstar

Takeaway: It’s okay to feel it all. Acknowledging guilt, fear, or fatigue doesn’t make you weak—it makes you real. Vulnerability is how we connect, heal, and move forward.

7. Focus — Alex Morgan

“Because we can do it all, we try to do it all. Women apparently are supposed to get more sleep than men—but how are we supposed to do everything with our job, with our child, and at home while also getting more sleep? The math there is just not mathin’.”
 —Alex Morgan, Soccer Legend

Takeaway: Focus means knowing what truly matters. Drop the “do it all” myth. Do what moves the needle—and let the rest wait.

8. Humility — Adia Barnes Coppa

“Sometimes my son, Matteo, would be running around like crazy, and I was just like, I just need a second to cry. Then I’d have to pick myself up, say, You got this. You’re good. And keep going.”
 —Adia Barnes Coppa, NCAA Coach & Pac-10 Player of the Year

Takeaway: Humility is in the asking, the pausing, the honesty. You don’t need to be superhuman—you just need to keep showing up, one breath at a time.

9. Support — Julie Uhrman

“It’s about prioritization, dedication, commitment, passion, and presence. Finding a way to create a sense of harmony between work, life, and kids—versus balance. If you’re intentional with your actions, you can be great at both.”
 —Julie Uhrman, Angel City FC Co-Founder & President

Takeaway: You don’t have to do this alone. Support isn’t weakness—it’s infrastructure. Build it, lean on it, and give it back.

Final Takeaways from Elite-Level Working Moms

If there’s one thing these stories reinforced for me, it’s this: support is everything, and passion is worth protecting. In other parts of the world, systems are built to support working moms. Here, we often have to build our own. But when you stay anchored in what lights you up, and surround yourself with people who get it, you don’t just survive—you rise.

So, which trait are you leaning into this week? Let us know by tagging @momshineco and @toughasamother_book, and share your favorite quote or takeaway from Tough as a Mother.

Listen to our full conversation, watch it on YouTube, and help us keep rewriting the rules of what motherhood looks like—and what moms are truly capable of.