University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies Releases Mother’s Day White Paper on Skills Findings of Mothers Overcome More™ Report
May 12 2024 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Dr. Stella Smith explores the intersection of
transferable skills from mothering and skills desired in the
professional workplace
On Mother’s Day, University of Phoenix College of Doctoral
Studies releases a new white paper, “Unlocking Potential: The
transferability of skills from Motherhood to the Workplace,”
authored by Stella Smith, Ph.D., associate research chair, Center
for Educational and Instructional Technology (CEITR). The white
paper explores findings from the 2023 Mothers Overcome More™ or the
M.O.M.™ report and provides an in-depth look at the intersection of
maternal skills and professional demands.
Mothers have confidence in the skills they gain as parents.
According to the M.O.M.™ report, approximately 90% of mothers from
lower-income and middle- to higher-income groups believe that
motherhood equips them with skills that are applicable to their
jobs, and around three-fourths of mothers, regardless of income,
consider the skills acquired through motherhood to be more relevant
than those gained through formal education.
“In contemporary discourse, discussions surrounding workforce
development and skills acquisition frequently overlook the profound
and varied skill set acquired through motherhood,” states Smith.
“Yet, the journey of motherhood is a masterclass in adaptability,
resilience, communication, time management, and
leadership—qualities indispensable in today's rapidly evolving work
landscape.”
The white paper specifically dives into findings on the
percentage of proficiency of specific competencies as measured by
mothers responding to the survey, for skills including multitasking
abilities, flexibility, budgeting, problem-solving,
time-management, organization, decision-making, communication, and
stress management. Advocating for the integration of these maternal
skills into the broader professional sphere, the research
challenges traditional perceptions and underscores the significance
of acknowledging and utilizing the talents of mothers in the
workforce. “By recognizing and harnessing the transferable skills
embedded within the maternal experience, we can foster a more
inclusive and resilient workforce poised to thrive in the face of
evolving challenges,” Smith states.
Smith is the associate university research chair for the Center
for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR) and
an associate faculty member in the College of Doctoral Studies at
the University of Phoenix. A qualitative researcher, her scholarly
interests focus on several areas including the experiences of
faculty and administrators of color in higher education; African
American females in leadership in higher education; access and
inclusion of underserved populations in higher education; and P–20
educational pipeline alignment. Smith earned her doctorate in
educational administration with a portfolio in Women and Gender
Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.
The full whitepaper is available at the University of Phoenix
Career Institute® webpage or as a direct link here.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance
their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world.
Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning,
skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree
programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students
more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while
balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit
phoenix.edu.
About the College of Doctoral Studies
University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on
today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from
addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to
accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s
research program puts students in the center of an effective
ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to
be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through
this program, students and researchers work with organizations to
conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real
time.
ABOUT THE MOTHERS OVERCOME MORE™ or the M.O.M.™
REPORT
The Mothers Overcome More™ or the M.O.M.™ report is one of the
most comprehensive studies to date on the barriers American mothers
face in their day-to-day lives, and the impact these barriers have
on career development and advancement opportunities. The study was
conducted by the University of Phoenix Career Institute®, part of
the University’s College of Doctoral Studies, in partnership with
Motherly— a platform of storytellers, teachers, shoppers and
advocates for mothers— in order to provide insights on lower-income
mothers and to help identify solutions to support and advance them
on the path to self-sufficiency.
The M.O.M.™ report comprised a 20-minute online survey of
lower-income moms (n=1,000) and middle- and higher-income moms
(n=500). All participants were U.S. adults (age 18 and up) who were
employed or seeking employment at the time of research. Researchers
conducted fieldwork between July 19 and Aug. 3, 2023. Income
categories were determined using the University of Washington
School of Social Work’s Self-Sufficiency Standard. A full
methodology can be found at www.phoenix.edu/career-institute
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Sharla Hooper University of Phoenix
sharla.hooper@phoenix.edu