Mariah Loriente on the two warnings she was given, and why mothers are the most undervalued people in the workplace

We spoke to Mariah Loriente, founder of Flawless HR, about the men who tried to talk her out of her career, the unknown she was most afraid of, and why she believes ambitious mothers deserve more credit, more flexibility, and more seats at the leadership table.

Two separate warnings. Two separate men. The first told Mariah that changing her name would damage her career. The second, years later, told her that she couldn’t become a mother and run a successful business at the same time.

Both were wrong, and neither realised they were fuelling the thing they were trying to prevent.

"It wasn't just about him," Mariah says of the second comment. "It was about tackling a broader societal misconception.

"People often say women can't have it all. No, you can't have it all at the exact same time. But I truly believe you can over the course of your life."

She also admits that she has never taken the word no very well. The warning didn't slow her down, but made her more determined to succeed.

That doesn't mean fear wasn't part of the picture. Behind the determination was an unknown Mariah was carrying.

"The unknown I imagined back then and the reality of it are two very different things. Motherhood is funny that way. It hits you in ways you really had no idea existed."

At the time, what she feared most was the balance. How she would juggle running a business and being a present parent. Whether the two could coexist, or whether one would inevitably eat the other.

Then her clients found out she was pregnant. They were supportive in a way that, looking back, she finds entirely unsurprising. Real relationships built over years tend to behave like…well, real relationships.

What did surprise her was that Flawless HR grew while she stepped back.

"In the midst of daily client work, you can sometimes forget that you're building a sustainable business, not just working a job. All that behind-the-scenes brand building really does pay dividends. It's just easy to lose sight of that until you step away."

During this time, Mariah let go of an idea she'd been carrying since her early years in law.

"When I was studying law and practising early on, the expectation was to overwork yourself. Early mornings, late nights, no working from home, and what lunch break? I was constantly stressed and overtired."

When she started Flawless HR, she refused to recreate that environment. Not for herself, and not for her team.

"Running an HR business, I believe we have to practise what we preach. As a leader, I want my team to feel energised and motivated, so they have complete autonomy over their hours and location, provided the work is done and communication is clear. It shows my team that I trust them, and it helps them show up as their best selves."

That same philosophy carries into her motherhood. Right now, work calls happen during her daughter's nap times so the time they share is protected. When her schedule fills out again, she'll start her days later to handle daycare drop-offs and pick-ups. Her daughter is watching all of it, even now.

"I want [my daughter] to know she should put her health first and enjoy life. My goal is to show her that it's entirely possible to love what you do for a living while fiercely protecting your role as a parent."

What Mariah is modelling isn’t balance in the abstract. It’s the daily, practical version of it. The version that earns the title.

When asked what she wishes more businesses understood about ambitious mothers, Mariah’s passion is obvious.

"We have an incredible focus and a distinct drive to maximise every single minute of the day because we want to show up for our kids. We have also learned how to master juggling a million balls in the air, so dare I say, we are more efficient."

Giving mothers flexibility, she argues, boosts productivity and retention. Giving them the leadership roles they have earned shatters the glass ceiling for the next generation. Both are good for business. Both are still rare.

"Giving them the leadership roles that they deserve and have worked hard for will shatter the glass ceiling for the next generation — proving that career ambition and motherhood can successfully coexist."

Mariah Loriente is the founder of Flawless HR.

This story is part of the Movement Without Mental Load campaign by Travel Tots — traveltots.au