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

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

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

Trying to build a career while raising kids shouldn’t mean choosing one over the other—but so many women feel like they have to.

Trying to do both motherhood and career, you start to feel the pressure to give up one dream for the other.

When that happened to Beth Mazza and Victoria Sivrais, they took two very different paths—one feeling alone in male-dominated rooms, the other refusing to believe she couldn’t have both.

That’s when they came together to build multiple successful businesses and eventually co-found The Female Maverick—helping women create companies that align with both ambition and family life.

They share the real truth behind building a business: the guilt, the missed moments, the risks—and the belief that you don’t have to choose.

Do you believe women can truly have both a thriving career and family life?

Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options

We’re proud we have entered our second year of delivering weekly insightful stories of women leaders who have learned how to make their careers fit their lives. We welcome you to support the Women and Work podcast by following the show and leaving a review!

To build something ambitious and remain present for your kids using the Entrepreneur Like A Mother system, the Mommy Mayhem Matrix and The Five Power Moves, go to https://femalemavericks.com/.

#WomenInBusiness #WorkingMoms #EntrepreneurLife #CareerGrowth #FemaleFounders

You can be building a company, raising capital—and still be underestimated.

That’s what happened to Abbey Donnell, Founder & CEO of Work&, as she navigated fundraising while becoming a mother—sometimes literally in labor while closing deals.

She quickly realized that women are often asked to prove themselves with results, while men are trusted on potential. Instead of backing down, she learned to reframe the narrative, push through biased questions, and find investors who truly understood her journey.

Now, she’s building solutions that level the playing field for working women—starting with the workplace itself.

What’s one bias you’ve had to overcome 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

Women and Work is proud to begin our second year of weekly episodes showcasing female leaders every Tuesday at 12 pm Central Time.

If you want to explore how a mother's suite could help your company support wellness and working moms in compliance with FLSA regulations, go to https://www.workandsolutions.com/.

#WomenAtWork #FemaleFounders #WorkingMoms #Leadership #Entrepreneurship

Feeling like you've earned your seat at the table, yet still not taken seriously, can make you question your worth and your path.

When that happened to Rebecca Blacker, she faced rooms full of decision-makers who spoke past her, doubted her, and refused to see her leadership—despite everything she had proven.

That realization pushed her to stop chasing validation and instead build something of her own—leaving behind a successful family business to create a career she truly owned.

What would you do if you knew some people would never give you the respect you deserve?

Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options

You can see Rebecca Blacker’s real estate listings here:

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/ny/new-york/agent/rebecca-blacker/aid_248298/

#WomenInBusiness #CareerGrowth #Entrepreneurship #WomenAtWork #Leadership

Realizing you're juggling too many things-and none are getting the focus they deserve—can feel overwhelming, especially as a founder.

For Mabel Oza, that moment came after building multiple products, launching ideas, and constantly staying in “creator mode”—only to realize that doing everything might be the very thing holding her back.

Instead of continuing down the same path, she began questioning her approach: Should she keep building? Or finally shift her energy toward focus, growth, and impact?

That realization sparked a deeper understanding of what it really takes to move a business forward—not just creating, but committing.

What’s one thing you might need to let go of so you can finally focus and grow?

Struggling to find the right child care? Get a video interview of your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options

Check out Mabel’s latest project at: https://intlcafe.io/

#EntrepreneurMindset #StartupLife #WomenInBusiness #FounderJourney #FocusMatters

Feeling like you’re supposed to follow one path in your career can make every unexpected turn feel like a mistake.

That’s something Jill Salzman, discovered through her own unconventional journey. After starting multiple businesses, raising kids, and navigating countless “but…” moments in life and work, she realized those detours were actually the most important parts of the story.

That realization inspired her to write The Big But Book, a graphic novel exploring the fears, excuses, and self-doubt that often hold us back from pursuing what we truly want.

In this episode of Women & Work, Jill shares why embracing your authentic self—and even your messy career twists—can lead to stronger connections, more meaningful work, and greater success.

What “but” has held you back from doing something you really want to try?

Struggling to find the right child care for your family? Watch a video interview with your ideal nanny at https://www.momsub.com/child-care-options

Check out all of Jill’s books at https://jillsalzman.com/media/

#WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #WorkingMoms #CareerGrowth #WomenAndWork