Can Working Moms Really Have It All? Alexa Starks Thinks She’s Found the Answer - Exclusive Interview
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 8
- 4 min read
Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview
In today’s corporate landscape, where diversity and inclusion are increasingly important, few leaders are pushing the boundaries of what meaningful support for parents truly looks like. Alexa Starks is one of them. An award-winning workplace culture innovator and founder of Executive Moms, Starks has built a mission-driven company that bridges the gap between organizations and the unique challenges faced by working mothers.
Her journey is both professional and deeply personal. After a decade in corporate America working in advertising and strategic operations, Starks thought she understood the playbook for career growth. But when she became a mother, she quickly discovered how little support existed for women transitioning back into the workforce. “There was no re-onboarding plan, no check-in, no conversation about what I needed or how I was actually doing,” she recalls. That realization sparked the idea for Executive Moms, a company that now partners with organizations to deliver parent-forward culture workshops and equips mothers with the tools to thrive during one of the most pivotal moments in their careers.
With a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a High-Performance Leadership certificate from Cornell, Starks brings both academic expertise and lived experience to her work. By focusing on empathy, systems, and sustainable growth, she is shaping a new standard for workplaces everywhere.
“It’s not just about chasing trends, it’s about tracking people.”
What inspired you to start Executive Moms, and what gap in the market were you aiming to fill?
After spending a decade in corporate America in advertising and strategic operations, I knew how to work hard and climb the ladder. But when I had my two kids and returned from maternity leave, everything shifted. There was no re-onboarding plan, no check-in, no conversation about what I needed or how I was actually doing. When I raised the topic of my career progression, it quickly became clear I was being sidelined – a bias many working moms face. I realized managers weren’t intentionally unsupportive; they simply didn’t know how to lead through that transition. That’s when I knew there had to be a better way. Executive Moms was born out of the programs I wish I had: the tools, language, and systems that would have made my return sustainable and my career path intact.
How has your background shaped both your leadership style and the way you run the business?
I have a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a High-Performance Leadership certificate from Cornell, so I’ve always been grounded in the theory of leadership. But becoming a mom has shaped me more than any classroom ever could. Parenting has given me patience, empathy, compassion, and perseverance in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Those traits are now the heart of how I lead Executive Moms. I run the business by asking: What would other parents like me need to succeed? What systems would have helped my former self? And I approach growth with patience, knowing that building something meaningful takes time.
What have been your biggest challenges in growing Executive Moms, and how did you overcome them?
The hardest part has been navigating the trial-and-error of entrepreneurship. Most small businesses pivot again and again, and mine is no exception. The challenge is cutting through the noise and competition to hone in on my unique angle and story. For me, the solution has been to treat each iteration as feedback: make it better, refine the core, and keep moving forward. It’s not easy to keep going when you face setbacks, but holding my north star – making working parenthood easier – helps me push forward one step at a time.
How do you personally balance entrepreneurship with motherhood, and what message do you want to send to other women in similar positions?
Entrepreneurship is harder than a corporate 9–5 because there’s no clear “off” button. There are nights I work after the kids go to bed, afternoons I jump on a call while my husband handles dinner, and other days where I’m completely offline and present with them. Balance for me means accepting that no two days look the same, but the long-term picture matters more than a single chaotic day. My message to other women: give yourself grace. You won’t get it perfect every day, but the flexibility to design your schedule also means you can build a life that works for your family and your career.
In a fast-changing business world, how do you keep Executive Moms relevant and future-focused?
For me, it’s not just about chasing tech trends, it’s about tracking people trends. Parents and caregivers are at the heart of my work, so I stay plugged into changing policies, evolving employee expectations, and emerging organizations making waves in this space. That focus on people keeps Executive Moms grounded in what matters most while ensuring we stay ahead of what workplaces will need next.
Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Executive Moms, and what advice would you give to other moms aspiring to lead and build businesses?
My long-term vision is for Executive Moms to have a global impact: changing workplace cultures and shaping how organizations worldwide support parents, as well as how working moms can thrive as employees or business owners, too. I know the business will evolve, but if I keep my mission at the center, I can pivot services, collaborate with new partners, and continue making progress. My advice to other moms: find your “hill you’ll die on.” Because when you face setbacks – and you will – that passion is what keeps you from giving up. Running your own business is freeing because you can design your schedule and be more present with your kids, but it’s also hard some days. Don’t do it alone; network, collaborate, and share your expertise, because partnerships will open doors you never imagined.
Alexa Starks’ journey highlights the intersection of resilience, leadership, and innovation. By transforming her own challenges as a working mother into a platform for change, she has not only built Executive Moms into a trusted partner for organizations but also into a lifeline for countless women navigating the complexities of career and family. Her focus on systems, empathy, and people-first leadership underscores a truth many companies are just beginning to understand: the future of work must embrace the full lives of employees.
