What happens when an ambitious career woman becomes a mother and discovers the impossible standards society places on working mums? Katie Powsey's story of burnout, health crisis and eventual transformation offers powerful insights for women struggling to balance professional aspirations with family life.

Katie's journey began when she returned to her corporate job after maternity leave, determined to maintain her pre-motherhood work ethic while being a present parent. This impossible standard led to constant guilt– feeling she was letting colleagues down when caring for a sick child or missing precious milestones at home when focused on work. The stress eventually manifested physically as mini-strokes that she dangerously dismissed until remembering her aunt had died from a stroke at 43, leaving behind a teenager.

This wake-up call prompted Katie to prioritise her health by abandoning her career completely, only to discover this created a new problem. While physically better, she felt mentally worse without the purpose and fulfillment her professional identity provided. This revelation sparked her coaching practice "Success Without Guilt," built around a powerful truth: happiness comes not from choosing between career and motherhood but from finding sustainable ways to honor both without the crushing weight of perpetual guilt.

Katie shares how authenticity became her path forward, letting go of the polished facade of perfection and openly acknowledging her struggles. This shift from "I've got it all together" to "I'm figuring it out too" not only improved her wellbeing but created deeper connections with others facing similar challenges. She offers practical wisdom on establishing boundaries that allow full presence in each role, embracing life transitions as opportunities to create new versions of ourselves, and using journaling to reconnect with our authentic selves.

Ready to pursue success without the constant companion of guilt? Connect with Katie at kplifecoaching.co.uk and discover how aligning with your true values can transform your experience as a working mother.

Connect with Katie Here:

kplifecoaching.co.uk

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Jenny Williams

Consultant for Calm- Helping You Find Calm in the Chaos

Founder of The Calm Collective & The Calm Connected.Host of the Unlock Your Happiness Series Podcast. Based in Kent, London & the South East, bringing women together through meaningful conversations and soulful networking. Mum, Wife & Freelancer: I’m navigating the chaos just like you, while learning to embrace the calm along the way.

Let’s connect, collaborate & create more space for YOU.

You can find me here: www.jennywilliamsconsulting.com
Instagram: @jennywilliams_consulting
LinkedIn: Jenny Williams
Facebook: Jenny Williams

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast please go to the website and apply online.

Sending Love & Stay Happy x

What if happiness isn't something we achieve but something we learn to notice? This profound insight lies at the heart of Madoka's remarkable journey from Kyoto, Japan to becoming a Japanese food cooking coach in Kent, England.

At 28, despite having all the external markers of success, Madoka felt suffocated by Japan's social expectations and yearned for the freedom to truly be herself. Her search led her to New Zealand where a chance meeting with an Englishman in a youth hostel would change the course of her life. Nineteen years later, she reflects on how this path brought her to create Petite Roll – a business named after her parents' bakery that offers Japanese cooking lessons both in-person and online.

But this conversation goes far beyond cooking. Madoka opens up about her struggle to find happiness despite building a successful business. Overwhelmed by juggling multiple commitments – working at a supermarket, running her business, studying for exams, maintaining a garden, and raising two daughters – she reached a breaking point where she realized something had to change.

Her breakthrough came through discovering human design and learning she was a "reflector" – someone who mirrors others' energy rather than generating their own. This revelation explained why she'd spent years feeling inadequate when comparing herself to her monk-like, perpetually kind mother. "I almost didn't like myself," she confesses, before describing the freedom that came with understanding her true nature.

Perhaps most moving is Madoka's reflection on surviving breast cancer ten years ago. Through journaling, she recently confronted her mastectomy scar – which she had somehow managed not to truly see for years – and recognized it as part of the second chance she'd been given.

Today, Madoka finds joy in simple practices: solitary walks in the woodland (notably not the beach), journaling, and exercise. She sees her cooking lessons as offering others "a piece of happiness" through food – a universal connector that builds community. Her wisdom reminds us that true happiness often lies not in what we achieve but in developing "the eye to see" the beauty already surrounding us.

Jenny Williams

Consultant for Calm- Helping You Find Calm in the Chaos

Founder of The Calm Collective & The Calm Connected.Host of the Unlock Your Happiness Series Podcast. Based in Kent, London & the South East, bringing women together through meaningful conversations and soulful networking. Mum, Wife & Freelancer: I’m navigating the chaos just like you, while learning to embrace the calm along the way.

Let’s connect, collaborate & create more space for YOU.

You can find me here: www.jennywilliamsconsulting.com
Instagram: @jennywilliams_consulting
LinkedIn: Jenny Williams
Facebook: Jenny Williams

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast please go to the website and apply online.

Sending Love & Stay Happy x

What happens when you build a thriving marketing business by simply being yourself? Marketing Director Heather Williams takes us on her entrepreneurial journey that began with a simple desire to accommodate her new puppy, Brodie, rather than leave him alone while working in an office environment.

Heather's refreshing approach to business growth centres around pure authenticity, from candidly telling networking contacts she started her company because of her dog, to helping clients overcome their fear of showing up as themselves online. This philosophy has allowed her to build HW Media Management (soon to be rebranded as HW Marketing) entirely through word-of-mouth and organic social media, without spending a penny on paid advertising.

The conversation reveals powerful insights about combating the isolation of entrepreneurship through co-working spaces and meaningful connections. As someone who previously thrived in team environments, Heather shares how finding her "tribe" became essential for maintaining perspective and preventing the spiral of negative thoughts that can occur when working alone. Her approach to work boundaries defies conventional wisdom, embracing weekend productivity while taking Friday afternoons off, scheduling evening-written emails to send the following morning,and creating "Quiet Mondays" with no morning meetings.

Whether you're running your own business or simply seeking greater fulfillment at work, Heather's parting advice resonates deeply: "Don't pretend to be something you're not." When you show up authentically – in your communication style, dress, or work methods you naturally attract the right people and opportunities while filtering out those that aren't aligned with your true self. Join us for this heartfelt conversation about finding success through authenticity and designing work patterns that honor who you really are.

Heather Williams is a digital marketing strategist who helps small businesses and founders grow through smart, results-driven social media. With a focus on strategy, content creation, and engagement, she ensures brands aren’t just posting—but actually building a presence that works.

She’s also the founder of The Rookie CEO, a supportive community for business owners navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship with honest conversations and practical insights.

From LinkedIn to TikTok, Heather knows how to create content that’s authentic, impactful, and tailored to the right audience. And when she’s not managing social media accounts, she’s likely brainstorming new ideas—or spending time with her Springer Spaniel, Brodie.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-williams-28803b23b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hwmediamanagement?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Jenny Williams

Consultant for Calm- Helping You Find Calm in the Chaos

Founder of The Calm Collective & The Calm Connected.Host of the Unlock Your Happiness Series Podcast. Based in Kent, London & the South East, bringing women together through meaningful conversations and soulful networking. Mum, Wife & Freelancer: I’m navigating the chaos just like you, while learning to embrace the calm along the way.

Let’s connect, collaborate & create more space for YOU.

You can find me here: www.jennywilliamsconsulting.com
Instagram: @jennywilliams_consulting
LinkedIn: Jenny Williams
Facebook: Jenny Williams

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast please go to the website and apply online.

Sending Love & Stay Happy x