Today's episode is personal, partially because it's my second baby's first birthday (Happy birthday Mabel!)

And since this episode lands on that day, I wanted to share what the last year has actually looked like for me: going from one kid to two, navigating a birth experience that didn't go the way I expected, and rebuilding my business around the reality of motherhood (not the fantasy version).

This isn't a full birth story, but I do open up about what I learned the hard way: self-trust under pressure, boundary-setting when it's wildly uncomfortable, and why protecting my energy is not optional… because it's part of what my clients are paying for.

If you're a mom (or future mom) building a business and want to protect your own peace and power as you grow your profits, this episode will hit hard.

[00:00:00] - Why I'm recording this on Mabel's first birthday and why this episode is more personal than usual

[00:02:19] - The shift I'm making: more privacy, more separation between "me" and "my business"

[00:08:24] - Walking into the hospital expecting a chill birth… and getting blindsided by dangerously high blood pressure

[00:10:18] - Magnesium, restrictions, stalled labor, and the pressure to accept interventions I didn't want

[00:15:03] - The moment everything escalated: conflict with a midwife, boundaries drawn, and firing part of my care team

[00:21:00] - The core lesson: trusting my intuition in extreme circumstances and what that unlocked in me

[00:31:05] - The past year of motherhood + CEO life: protecting my energy, redefining priorities, and refusing to perform online

[00:40:56] - "My business is not my baby." Building a business around my life is non-negotiable

[00:46:50] - The new rule: I don't owe anyone an explanation and I'm done being palatable

1. "My business is not my baby. My babies are my baby."

2. "My birth experience told me I could trust myself and my intuition and my gut instinct, even in very difficult circumstances."

3. "I know that I can piss people off, and it can still be the right thing to do."

4. "Part of what my clients are paying for is access to my powerful energy."

5. "I am no longer available for shrinking myself or for choosing somebody else's comfort at the expense of what I know is right."
   
   

If you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes episode, I'd love it if you'd follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow CEO-mom (or future CEO-mom) who needs the reminder to trust herself and protect what matters most.