Women and Work

59: Embracing Change After Trauma | Women and Work

Facing death as a child changes the way you see fear, uncertainty, and opportunity. After surviving two heart attacks by age 10 and being told she had less than six months to live, Hanna Bauer learned from her mother and grandmother how to keep moving forward even when the future felt terrifyingly uncertain. That experience shaped the way she approached leadership, motherhood, business, and major life transitions — from navigating career disruption to rebuilding after divorce while raising five children. Now, as Faculty at Maxwell Leadership and Founder of HEARTnomics Coaching, Hanna helps others understand that growth often begins in the moments we fear the most. In this episode of Women and Work, Hanna shares: • How childhood trauma shaped her leadership mindset • Why uncertainty can become a source of strength • The reality of balancing career growth and motherhood • Lessons from rebuilding life after divorce • How embracing change creates transformation How has a difficult season in your life changed the way you approach uncertainty today? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options #WomenAtWork #Resilience #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkingMoms #PersonalGrowth Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

58: When Having Kids Leads To Career Trade-offs | Women and Work

After becoming a mom, Amy Jackson realized that the career path she once said “yes” to so easily suddenly came with impossible tradeoffs. From painful work trips and mom guilt to constantly changing childcare plans, Amy shares how motherhood reshaped the way she approached ambition, leadership, and success. Instead of walking away from her career, she built a fully remote, family-friendly PR agency that allows women to thrive at work without sacrificing their families. In this episode, Amy opens up about: • The emotional toll of work travel as a mom  • Why flexibility mattered more than climbing the corporate ladder  • How she transitioned from executive leadership to entrepreneurship  • The burnout that came with scaling a business  • Why community, mentors, and support systems matter so much for working moms  Amy’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t have to look the same in every season of life. What’s one sacrifice or adjustment motherhood has made you rethink in your career? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options If you want your innovative company to be featured in major media, check out https://www.talesplash.com/. #WomenAndWork #WorkingMoms #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #MomLife Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

57: Owning Your Nonlinear Career | Women and Work

You build a successful career, work with top executives, and then… take a pause. For DeeDee Fisher, that pause wasn’t a setback—it was part of the story. Now a consultant to C-suite leaders through her company Discover Response, DeeDee has spent over 30 years helping executives communicate more effectively. From developing curriculum for Fortune-level clients to leading in the nutraceutical industry and serving as Chief of Staff, her career has evolved across industries and roles. But what makes her journey stand out? She openly highlights her four years as a stay-at-home parent on LinkedIn—challenging the idea that career breaks should be hidden. This episode is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to follow a straight line. How do you view career pauses or pivots in your own journey? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options To learn how Compassion, Process, and Learning empowers individuals and teams to navigate challenges, check out https://discoverresponse.com/ #WomenAndWork #Leadership #CareerGrowth #WomenInBusiness #NonlinearCareer Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

56: Burnout Broke Me—Then Built Me Back | Women and Work

Trying to do it all—and still feeling like it’s not enough—can quietly lead to burnout. After years of climbing the corporate ladder, Sophia Mikelionis hit a breaking point. The constant pressure to overperform at work while being fully present at home left her exhausted, disconnected, and questioning everything. Instead of pushing through, she made a bold decision: step away, reset, and rebuild her life on her own terms. Today, Sophia is an executive consultant helping women leaders avoid burnout, redefine success, and create sustainable careers that actually fit their lives. In this episode, we talk about: • The hidden cost of “doing it all”  • Why small sacrifices add up to burnout  • How to recognize early warning signs  • The power of stepping back—and starting over  What would it take for you to choose yourself before burnout forces you to? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options Your team can recognize burnout, reset habits, and rebuild momentum at https://www.gearingtogether.com/ #WomenAndWork #BurnoutRecovery #CareerGrowth #WorkingMoms #Leadership Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

55: From Corporate to Coaching: Betting on Yourself | Women and Work

Doing everything “right” in your career but still feeling like something’s missing, you start questioning if this path is really yours. That’s exactly where Carmelina Piedra found herself—after 25 years climbing the corporate ladder, leading teams, and building a stable career. But when the pandemic hit, balancing work, homeschooling, and raising three kids as an only parent pushed her to a breaking point. Instead of waiting for things to get easier, she made a bold move—leaving security behind to fully commit to her passion for coaching. Now, as the founder of My Growth Hub and Career Coaching Pro, she helps others build meaningful careers on their own terms. What would it take for you to choose flexibility over security? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options If you want to learn how to start your own coaching business, check out Carmelina’s guidance at https://www.careercoachingpro.com/. #WomenAndWork #CareerGrowth #WorkingMoms #Entrepreneurship #CareerChange Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]