59: Embracing Change After Trauma | Women and Work

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]

60: Passing On A Promotion When It’s The Wrong Season Of Life | Women and Work

Trying to “do it all” can sometimes mean saying no to the opportunity you worked your whole career for. Jen Anderson spent nearly two decades building a successful career in fitness leadership while raising her family. After turning down a promotion when her children were young, she expected the opportunity would still be there when the timing was right. But when she was finally ready, the company chose someone else. Instead of letting that setback define her, Jen used her years of leadership experience to reinvent herself as a business consultant and “Professional Wing Woman,” helping entrepreneurs grow with strategy, accountability, and business development support. In this episode of Women and Work, Jen shares how motherhood shaped her career decisions, why timing matters more than titles, and how walking away from corporate life led her to build something even better:  • Turning down a promotion for family • Being passed over later in your career • Balancing leadership and motherhood • Managing the mental load as working parents • Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship • Building a business through referrals and networking • Finding confidence and using your voice • Why some opportunities are meant for another season Have you ever turned down an opportunity because it wasn’t the right season of life? 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’re looking to get your business or your health in shape, check out https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-anderson-wingwoman/ #WomenAndWork #WorkingMoms #CareerGrowth #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469592/support]

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]