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About Us
Intuitionship
Dr Laura Marie Rivera, Dr Mindy Ursino, and Dr Carolyn Burroughs first met while pursuing their degrees at Seattle University, where a shared passion for leadership, education, and equity brought them together. Today, they form the #MomsOf4 Intuitionship Team.
Collectively, they are mothers of twelve children and bring more than 80 years of lived experience in motherhood—an unparalleled foundation for their groundbreaking research. Their joint dissertation surveyed nearly 1,000 mothers, documenting the remarkable overlap between the skills cultivated through Motherhood and those prized in the paid workplace.
Their work has drawn national attention: Formidable Inc. featured their findings, and an excerpt was published in the international bestseller Beyond the Pipeline (available on Amazon).
Together, they continue to challenge outdated notions of leadership by uplifting Mothers as leaders in every sphere of life. Follow INTUITIONSHIP on social media for research updates, events, and stories that reimagine what leadership can look like when Motherhood is celebrated as a source of strength.
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Dr Laura Marie Rivera
Laura Marie Rivera, Ed.D., is a mother, artist, educator, writer, and candidate for the Seattle School Board. With over two decades of experience in education, advocacy, and political strategy, she is committed to advancing equitable policies and ensuring authentic community representation.
A graduate of UCLA (B.A.) and Bank Street College of Education (M.S.Ed.), Laura Marie’s professional work has vacillated between the arts and education. After dancing through European and Broadway productions, she began teaching in public schools, and ended up striking the balance as an advocate for education and the arts. Her favorite role is being Mother to her four children, ages 10-20, an experience that has shaped her leadership with humility, adaptability, and collaboration.
And as the daughter of a formidable Mother, it was only natural that her doctoral research would explore the intersection of Motherhood and leadership.
Laura Marie is proud to be a co-author of the international bestseller Beyond the Pipeline.
Dr Mindy Ursino
Mindy Ursino is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in education, training, and leadership. She currently manages a team dedicated to leadership development at a major aviation company, where she designs and implements strategies that empower people and organizations to grow.
Her academic foundation is equally strong. Mindy earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Washington, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Seattle University, and a Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Organizational Learning & Leadership.
Before transitioning into corporate leadership development, Mindy taught math and science in diverse settings—including Guatemala, Missouri, and Washington—for students of all ages, from elementary classrooms to South Seattle College. This breadth of experience across cultures and contexts has shaped her belief in the power of learning to transform lives.
Mindy considers her greatest achievement to be raising her four children. She believes Motherhood was her most formative leadership training ground—teaching humility, adaptability, collaboration, and resilience. Inspired by this journey, Mindy has developed a deep passion for elevating and celebrating Mothers as leaders, encouraging them to embrace both heart and mind on their own paths of continuous growth.
A fourth-generation Seattleite, Mindy enjoys traveling to visit her children in Utah, Oklahoma, Ireland, and Washington State University, always bringing her commitment to family, community, and lifelong learning wherever she goes.
Dr Carolyn Burroughs
Carolyn Burroughs, Ed.D., is an experienced higher education leader, HR compliance specialist, and emerging scholar in educational leadership. She recently earned her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Learning and Leadership from Seattle University.
With over 15 years of experience supporting faculty, staff, and student success across institutions including Seattle University, the University of Georgia, and Central State University, Dr. Burroughs has led major initiatives in employee training, policy compliance, wellness, and inclusive leadership. She has managed study abroad programs in Ghana, developed HR systems and onboarding processes, and coordinated cross-departmental events and academic programming that promote equity, wellness, and global learning.
Dr. Burroughs' research interests center on leadership development, global education, and the lived experiences of Black women in academia. Her dissertation, “Reflections of Black Women Jesuit Faculty Leaders’ Experiences (Re)Membering in Ghana for Short-term Global Learning Leadership,” explores identity, healing, and faculty development through global immersion.
#MomsOf4
Carolyn, Mindy, and Laura Marie are classmates in the Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership program at Seattle University. When they were randomly assigned to a group for a class project, they realized that all three of them are Mothers of 4! And as a group, they started to look at the coursework and the world through the lens of a Mother Leader. As educators, we are aware that Mothers are our first teachers. But it is rarely acknowledged that Mothers are also our first leaders. And unlike the leaders of the business world, if we do our jobs well, it's almost like we were never there at all.
The Moms Of 4 recognize that Mothers are amazing Leaders!