For years, the narrative around working mothers has focused on what they lose: time, flexibility, bandwidth. However, what if we’ve been asking the wrong question?

The 2026 Maternal Strengths Report from Mothered Media turns that assumption on its head. Surveying 354 mothers across industries and career levels, the data revealed that mothers reported improvements across every leadership capability measured after becoming parents.

For women leading retail teams and organizations, where each day requires balancing competing priorities, navigating uncertainty, and making high-pressure decisions, the findings are especially compelling.

Here are four takeaways from the report that stood out:

1. Motherhood appears to strengthen executive decision-making.

The biggest gains weren’t in traditional “soft” skills, but rather in the operational capabilities executives rely on every day. Mothers reported a 123 percent increase in time management, a 100 percent increase in energy allocation, and a 56 percent increase in prioritization, along with stronger decision-making under pressure and greater adaptability.

2. Communication becomes a leadership advantage.

Respondents also reported significant growth in the people skills that define effective leadership. Negotiation increased 83 percent, communication rose 60 percent, and conflict management improved 41 percent. Whether leading store teams, managing cross-functional partners, or navigating organizational change, these are skills every retail executive depends on.

3. Resilience isn’t the whole story.

While resilience and empathy both increased, the report argues that’s only part of the equation. The broader takeaway is that motherhood may develop a more complete leadership profile — one that combines operational excellence with emotional intelligence, adaptability, and sound judgment under pressure.

4. It’s time to rethink how organizations view working mothers.

If motherhood helps build many of the capabilities companies say they value in leaders, why do so many mothers still face assumptions about commitment, ambition, or availability? The report challenges organizations to rethink parental re-entry, evaluate performance based on outcomes instead of visibility, and ensure caregiving doesn’t become a barrier to advancement.

For executive women in retail, the report offers something refreshingly different: a research-backed reminder that the experiences many mothers navigate every day may also be strengthening the very skills that modern leadership demands.

Looking for further data and analysis on this topic? Download the 2026 Maternal Strengths Report to explore the complete findings and recommendations.