No Place for Emotions in Business?

Megna Rajagopal reframes "motherness" as a delicate balance between vulnerability and strength

Before, I actually believed that feelings were a flaw, especially at work. I thought that for me to be successful, as a woman, in a highly competitive job scene, I should suppress vulnerability. That there is "no place for emotions in business" became something I internalized, and I thought to move forward, being emotionally unavailable was the way to go.

It’s a clash between the real self and the ideal self, suppressing the tendencies of motherness to become the person I thought I should be, based on what the world expected of me.

But over time, I came to understand that the so-called weaknesses of empathy, sensitivity, and caregiving tendencies associated with motherness are actually strengths. To lead through empathy for myself and others is not a contradiction to being effective. It's needed for authentic leadership. Motherness, to me now, is not weakness or sacrifice but vulnerability and strength in embracing both the healing and hard parts of life. I’m still working through this understanding, and I’m not fully there yet, but I’m learning that it’s about balance.

I also see the trauma linked to my perception of motherness, particularly in how women are often dismissed or treated poorly for showing emotion. The strength and vulnerability tied to motherness are undervalued, and I am learning to deal with that reality. It’s painful, but it deepens my understanding of self-care and boundary-setting as vital aspects of leadership.

I now start to see motherness as a delicate balance between vulnerability and strength. It is not just taking care of others, but it is also permission to heal and take a break when needed. It is no longer soldiering on by myself; it is about tuning into my own emotion and limits and, based on that awareness of self, being able to serve and relate better to other people. It's about treating myself with the same kindness as those I'm meant to be helping, remaining in presence with my strengths as with my hurts and leading out from a real, authentic place. From that self-awareness, I can lead with clarity, compassion, and assertiveness: like a mother who nurtures but also firmly stands her ground.

This blog is written by Megna Rajagopal, who is a Clean Energy Market Research Analyst II at Solarabic DMCC. She is an explorer on the WE expedition for Women Leading in Renewable Energy. Megna is passionate about gender equity and advocates for a more inclusive future.