
Ambitious Mother
From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and at Home
Anne Welsh(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic USA (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 6. August 2026
Book
Hardback
256 pages
979-8-216-20194-6 (ISBN)
Description
Women are told, "You can have it all." You can be an incredible mom and have an incredible career at the same time. But nobody explains how to actually pull this off--until now.
In Ambitious Mother, Dr. Anne Welsh--a licensed psychologist and mom of four--offers a refreshing perspective for overwhelmed moms. Welsh asks, "What are you truly ambitious for?" and invites readers to shed societal expectations, name what they really want, and pursue their own version of success. Readers will discover:
- Why being a working mom feels so hard and what we can do to change this.
- How to find their own version of ambition that fits their values.
- The difference between unhealthy striving and healthy striving and how to make the switch.
- The Three Ps--perfectionism, people-pleasing, and pretending--and how to shed these weights without lowering standards.
- How to navigate career choices as a mom.
- Inspiring stories about ambitious mothers, demonstrating that ambition comes in many forms.
Motherhood will change your ambition. As Welsh shares, you may discover that you are more ambitious than ever before, or ambitious in new and different ways. Ambitious Mother gives you permission to be as ambitious as you want to be. Permission to set down a few balls that you no longer want to juggle--and pick up others that you do. Permission to have the career and life you truly want.
In Ambitious Mother, Dr. Anne Welsh--a licensed psychologist and mom of four--offers a refreshing perspective for overwhelmed moms. Welsh asks, "What are you truly ambitious for?" and invites readers to shed societal expectations, name what they really want, and pursue their own version of success. Readers will discover:
- Why being a working mom feels so hard and what we can do to change this.
- How to find their own version of ambition that fits their values.
- The difference between unhealthy striving and healthy striving and how to make the switch.
- The Three Ps--perfectionism, people-pleasing, and pretending--and how to shed these weights without lowering standards.
- How to navigate career choices as a mom.
- Inspiring stories about ambitious mothers, demonstrating that ambition comes in many forms.
Motherhood will change your ambition. As Welsh shares, you may discover that you are more ambitious than ever before, or ambitious in new and different ways. Ambitious Mother gives you permission to be as ambitious as you want to be. Permission to set down a few balls that you no longer want to juggle--and pick up others that you do. Permission to have the career and life you truly want.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Illustrations
4 BW images, 4 tables, 30 textboxes
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-216-20194-6 (9798216201946)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Bloomsbury Academic USA
€21.99
Available for download

E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Bloomsbury Academic USA
€21.99
Available for download
Person
Dr. Anne Welsh is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified executive coach, and mom of four. She worked at Harvard University prior to creating her own firm, which supports ambitious women who want to thrive in motherhood and work at the same time. She also provides training and coaching programming to organizations, showing employers how to make changes so that working parents can flourish. Dr. Welsh is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and works with clients throughout the world.
Content
Foreword: A Conversation with Robin Arzon, VP and Head Instructor at Peloton, Bestselling Author of Strong Mama
Introduction
A Quick Note on Names and Confidentiality
A Surprise for You
Part 1: The Ambition Paradox
Chapter 1: What Is The Ambition Paradox?
Chapter 2: How Did We Get Here?
Chapter 3: Ladder or Web? Two Models of Ambition
Part 2: The Motherhood Advantage
Chapter 4: How Children Can Accelerate Your Career
Chapter 5: Why Your Ambition Is a Gift to Your Children
Chapter 6: How Motherhood Teaches You to Bend Time
Part 3: The Switch to Healthy Striving
Chapter 7: Unhealthy Striving Vs. Healthy Striving-and How to Make the Switch
Chapter 8: What's Possible: Eight Working Mothers, Eight Versions of Healthy Striving
Part 4: The New Village
Chapter 9: Setting Up Moms for Success: Changes That Workplaces Can Make
Chapter 10: Sharing the Load More Fairly: Changes That Dads and Partners Can Make
Conclusion
Wisdom from Ambitious Mothers
Book Club Discussion Questions
A Conversation with Your Partner
Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
A Quick Note on Names and Confidentiality
A Surprise for You
Part 1: The Ambition Paradox
Chapter 1: What Is The Ambition Paradox?
Chapter 2: How Did We Get Here?
Chapter 3: Ladder or Web? Two Models of Ambition
Part 2: The Motherhood Advantage
Chapter 4: How Children Can Accelerate Your Career
Chapter 5: Why Your Ambition Is a Gift to Your Children
Chapter 6: How Motherhood Teaches You to Bend Time
Part 3: The Switch to Healthy Striving
Chapter 7: Unhealthy Striving Vs. Healthy Striving-and How to Make the Switch
Chapter 8: What's Possible: Eight Working Mothers, Eight Versions of Healthy Striving
Part 4: The New Village
Chapter 9: Setting Up Moms for Success: Changes That Workplaces Can Make
Chapter 10: Sharing the Load More Fairly: Changes That Dads and Partners Can Make
Conclusion
Wisdom from Ambitious Mothers
Book Club Discussion Questions
A Conversation with Your Partner
Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author