65: Breaking Free From Other People's Expectations | Women and Work

65: Breaking Free From Other People's Expectations | Women and Work

Trying to live up to everyone else's expectations can lead you down a path that doesn't truly belong to you. For Mariaelena Morales, years of striving for perfection were rooted in a childhood where she never felt like she was enough. That drive pushed her to achieve prestigious milestones and pour everything into her career, only to eventually face burnout and realize she had been living according to other people's expectations instead of her own. Today, as the Founder of Mariaelena Marketing, she shares how emotional trauma, burnout, autism, and redefining family helped her reclaim her life and career on her own terms. In this episode, Mariaelena discusses: • Growing up feeling like nothing was ever good enough • The pressure of perfectionism and achievement • Experiencing career and personal burnout • Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult • Building a chosen family and support system • Learning to set boundaries and advocate for herself • Leaving corporate life to launch her own business How have other people's expectations influenced the choices you've made in your career or life? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options #WomenAndWork #CareerGrowth #BurnoutRecovery #WomenInBusiness #PersonalGrowth Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

64: Demanding career vs kids: Unconscious choices | Women and Work

Building a successful career often means making choices you never expected—and sometimes, those choices shape your entire life. For Jeanne Sparrow, a decades-long career in television and radio brought incredible opportunities, meaningful relationships, and personal fulfillment. But along the way, she realized that demanding careers often require unconscious choices about family, relationships, and what truly matters. Instead of dwelling on what might have been, Jeanne learned to embrace the choices she made, remain authentic, and define success on her own terms. In this episode of Women and Work, Jeanne shares how mentorship, sponsorship, curiosity, and fearless authenticity helped her build a lasting career in media. Topics discussed: • The hidden sacrifices behind demanding careers • Mentors vs. sponsors—and why you need both • How being coachable opens career doors • Defining success on your own terms • The challenge of balancing career, family, and personal dreams • Why fearless authenticity matters in every stage of life Have you ever looked back and wondered how your career choices shaped the life you have today? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options #WomenAndWork #JeanneSparrow #FearlessAuthenticity #CareerGrowth #WomenInLeadership Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

63: Choosing Courage Over Comfort | Women and Work

Facing uncertainty can feel safer than stepping into a completely new chapter. For Corinne Pierog, every major career transition required courage—from leaving a dismissive workplace, to raising two children as a single mother, building a consulting business, and eventually entering politics later in life. After years of saying no to opportunities that felt intimidating, Corinne decided to walk through a door she had long been afraid to open. Running for state office taught her lessons about leadership, resilience, public service, and the impact one person can have on an entire community. In this episode of Women and Work, Corinne shares how she navigated career pivots, motherhood, entrepreneurship, grief, and public leadership while staying true to her values: • Overcoming bias as a young woman in the workplace • Building confidence after difficult career experiences • Raising children as a single mother • Creating stability while balancing work and family • Starting a consulting business later in life • Learning to embrace career risks • Running for political office for the first time • Finding purpose through public service • The importance of mentors and lifelong learning • Why courage often comes after fear—not before it What opportunity have you been hesitant to pursue because it feels outside your comfort zone? Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options #WomenAndWork #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #CareerGrowth #PublicService Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

62: Sex Ed Starting at 3 Years Old? Business Tackles Uncomfortable Topic | Women and Work

Disclaimer: This episode is intended for audiences 18 years and older. Balancing motherhood and a meaningful career is never easy — especially when building something deeply personal. Kristen Miele, Founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed and a certified Community Health Educator, shares her journey from public health classrooms to launching a digital curriculum that helps parents navigate important conversations with their children. After years of teaching and seeing the same gaps, she created practical tools for families, all while raising two young daughters. Topics discussed: • The real challenges of mom guilt and balancing business with family • Starting a purpose-driven business in the parenting space • The importance of open, age-appropriate conversations at home • Overcoming personal discomfort to pursue impactful work What does balancing purpose and family look like for you? Drop your thoughts below  Find age-appropriate sex education videos at https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/ Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options #WomenAndWork #Mompreneur #ParentingTips #SexEdReclaimed #WorkingMomLife Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

61: From Recovery to Reinvention: After Getting Sober | Women and Work

Building a successful business, achieving financial freedom, and checking every box on the path to success should have felt like the finish line. For Heather Simco, it wasn't. After growing up in a difficult home, Heather pursued stability through teaching before helping build a thriving martial arts business with her husband. But behind the success was a battle with addiction, unresolved trauma, and the realization that external achievements couldn't heal internal struggles. Everything changed when she hit rock bottom, got sober, and began rebuilding her life from the inside out. Today, Heather helps women navigate transformation, wellness, recovery, and entrepreneurship through her coaching practice. In this episode of Women and Work, Heather shares her remarkable journey from survival to self-discovery: • Growing up in a difficult and unstable household • Choosing security over passion early in life • Building a successful martial arts business from scratch • The hidden challenges that came with success • Addiction, recovery, and finding sobriety • Rebuilding identity after trauma and injury • Entrepreneurship and creating a purpose-driven career • Raising a daughter while building a business • Why community is essential for personal growth • Finding freedom through reinvention How has a major life challenge reshaped the direction of your career or personal life? If you want to transform in mental, physical, and spiritual ways, check out Heather’s Concierge Coaching at:  https://link.communicake.io/widget/form/LcdbEIlwhPc1Vz8LQxm3?am_id=diane8572 You can join Heather’s Sober Boss Babe Community at:  https://www.soberbossbabe.com/sbbcommunity?am_id=diane6312 Leave behind your toxic lifestyle behind by embarking on the Sober Boss Babe reset here: https://soberbossbabe.com/sbbcourse?am_id=diane6761 Come together with other women in recovery at the Sober Boss Babe Retreat here: https://www.soberbossbabe.com/sbbretreatoptin?am_id=diane1165 Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options #WomenAndWork #SobrietyJourney #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #WomenInBusiness Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]