Valerie Cockerell knows a thing or two about leadership.
Over her decades-long global career, she’s held senior roles with Disney in France and Florida, worked with the Disney Institute training executives from around the world, and co-founded a consulting company. But when asked where she learned her most powerful lessons in leadership, her answer is surprising: at home.
“Parenting is leadership in its rawest form,” says Cockerell, a mother of three and author of Manage Like a Mother: Leadership Lessons from the Wisdom of Mom. “There are no scripts. No filters. Just real, human interaction—and the chance to grow alongside the people you’re guiding.”
During an interview with Lianne Castelino for Where Parents Talk, Cockerell describes how her experiences at home shaped the way she led teams—and vice-versa.
Leadership and Parenting: Two Sides of the Same Coin
The heart of Cockerell’s leadership philosophy rests in a simple metaphor. “Being a leader is like going on a journey with a group of people,” she explains. “You need to know the destination—what are we trying to achieve? Then decide how you’re going to get there. Are you taking shortcuts? The scenic route? Are your values front and centre?”
Next comes planning: what resources are needed, what tools will help you get there, and what kind of “fuel”—encouragement, recognition, coaching—will keep everyone moving forward.
This leadership journey, she contends is nearly identical to the path taken in parenting.
“You’re taking a trip with your kids, and at no point are you ever fully prepared for what’s around the corner,” she says. “Each child is different. Just like each team member is different. You have to adapt. You have to keep learning.”
From the Ground Up
Cockerell’s journey to leadership wasn’t typical. Born in France, she moved to London to learn English, then took a job at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
She returned to France to work in banking before being rehired by Disney to help open Disneyland Paris. Over her tenure, Cockerell’s responsibilities expanded to overseeing multiple stores and entire retail operations before eventually relocating to Orlando and taking on roles with Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Institute.
She also paused to raise her three children—an experience she says deepened her understanding of leadership more than any executive training could.
“In parenting, just like in leadership, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” says Cockerell, who now lives in Australia. “You learn to adjust your style, your communication, your expectations—because what works for one doesn’t work for another.”
Lessons from the Front Lines of Motherhood
One of the most powerful lessons parenting taught Cockerell is humility. “You never arrive,” she says. “You’re never done learning—whether you’re managing a team or raising kids. There’s always a new scenario waiting to test you.”
She also learned the importance of presence over perfection. “You don’t need to have all the answers,” she emphasizes.
“You just need to show up, be consistent, and be open. Your kids—and your team—will notice if you’re not being authentic.”
This mindset has become central to the leadership workshops she now leads across the globe. The values of empathy, flexibility, communication, and clarity—often considered “soft skills”—are the ones she believes have the most lasting impact.
“Your role isn’t to control,” she says. “It’s to guide. Be the steady voice your kids can count on when everything else feels uncertain.”
For any parent wondering if their efforts matter—Cockerell offers this reminder:
“If you’re raising a child, you’re already a leader. You’re shaping future citizens, future coworkers, future decision-makers. Never underestimate that.”
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