Empowered Working Mom Revolution

S5EP8: Finding Your Voice After Divorce: One Mom's Journey from $200 to Thriving with Judy Tsuei

In this powerful episode, Judy Tsuei shares her raw, inspiring journey of rebuilding her life after divorce with just $200 to her name while co-parenting her young daughter. From surviving an emotionally challenging marriage to creating a thriving business and finding healthy love within just five years, Judy's story is a testament to the resilience within all of us. Her vulnerable reflections on belonging, authenticity, and healing offer a roadmap for any mom navigating difficult transitions while trying to show up authentically for herself and her children.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of belonging to yourself first before seeking belonging with others
• How finding advocates and supporters is crucial during major life transitions
• Reframing what "success" means in relationships and understanding that ending a relationship can sometimes be the healthiest choice
• Learning to trust your internal signals when something doesn't feel right
• The value of having honest, age-appropriate conversations with children during difficult times
• How personal healing directly impacts your ability to parent effectively
• The possibility of significant positive transformation in a relatively short time
• Finding the courage to use your voice and speak your truth, especially when you've been conditioned to stay quiet

 

About Judy Tsuei

Judy is a Master Practitioner Coach of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Mental Emotional Release (MER) specializing in helping high-achieving women leaders and visionary entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of modern life while staying true to their authentic selves.

 

Connect with Judy

• Website: http://nicetiger.co
  • Check out her resource: https://judy-tsuei.kit.com/imposter
• Instagram: @judytsuei

Read the rest of this entry »

S5EP7: The Power of Self-Trust in Motherhood with Vanity Jenkins

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Vanity Jenkins, a single mom, PhD student, and DEI consultant who's redefining what it means to parent from a place of deep self-trust and authenticity. In this heartfelt episode, Vanity shares her journey of choosing entrepreneurship, prioritizing mental health, and creating space for her daughter to thrive as her true self. Through laughter, real talk, and powerful insights, we explore how letting go of prescribed parenting rules and trusting our maternal instincts can transform our motherhood experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Why trusting your maternal instincts matters more than following parenting books
• How to create space for your children to develop their authentic interests and identity
• The importance of prioritizing mental health and healing in your parenting journey
• Practical ways to curate the parenting advice you let into your life
• Breaking free from traditional single motherhood narratives
• Reconnecting with your body's wisdom as a parent and leader
• Finding balance between structure and flexibility in parenting
• The power of modeling emotional awareness for our children

About Vanity Jenkins

Vanity Jenkins is the founder and principal consultant of ShiftED Consulting.  She created the organization with the vision of abolishing racism and anti-blackness from organizations across America. ShiftED’s mission is to provide communities the knowledge and skills to eradicate anti-blackness and white supremacy culture individually, interpersonally, and systemically so that individuals and organizations can build inclusive, productive, and thriving environments.   An inclusive, goal-oriented leader, Vanity’s teams consistently scored in the top 10% on the national Great Places to Work Survey. Vanity holds Women’s Leadership, Restorative Justice, Executive Coaching, and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy certifications. She is a current Ph.D. student at Penn State University.

Connect with Vanity on:

• http://www.shiftedconsulting.com
  • Check out her services: Executive Coaching for women of color! https://www.shiftedconsulting.com/executive-coaching
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Read the rest of this entry »

S5EP6: Breaking Free & Building Dreams: A Working Mom's Journey to Authentic Success with Justine Wentzell-Chang

Are you looking to create success that honors both your career ambitions AND your desire to be present with your kids?

Then this soulful conversation is for you. Justine Wentzell-Chang, a brilliant copywriter and messaging strategist shares her beautiful journey of building a business while honoring motherhood. From navigating life with a pandemic baby to embracing neurodivergence as a superpower, Justine offers an honest perspective on creating success that aligns with our deepest motherly instincts.

Whether you're feeling stretched between career ambitions and family life or seeking permission to parent differently than previous generations, this heartfelt conversation will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired to trust your path.

Key Takeaways:

• Why understanding your unique wiring (through human design and embracing neurodivergence) can transform both your motherhood and business journey
• How to honor your mama intuition while navigating family traditions and expectations
• The life-changing power of finding your "people"- connecting with other moms who share your values
• Practical wisdom for making decisions that honor both your career dreams and desire for present parenting
• Gentle approaches to breaking generational cycles while maintaining loving family bonds
• How reframing challenges like ADHD into superpowers can revolutionize your approach to work and parenting
• Creating a business that works in harmony with motherhood, not against it

About Justine Wentzell-Chang

Justine Wentzell-Chang is an Eldest Daughter of Immigrants, Mother, Activist, and Copywriter/Messaging Strategist for phenomenal BIPOC + woman-owned businesses on a mission to change the status quo and create positive culture change.

 

Connect with Justine on:

• Instagram @redballoonstation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-wentzell-chang/
• Website: https://www.redballoonstation.com/

Read the rest of this entry »

S5EP5: Parenting with Purpose: How to Balance Career Growth and Family Wellbeing with Gissel Tapper

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Gissel Tapper, a mom of two daughters ages 24 and 13, who shares her journey of taking bold leaps of faith while keeping her children's wellbeing at heart. From moving across continents to navigating different stages of motherhood, Gissel opens up about how intentionality and faith have guided her parenting decisions. Her story reminds us that we don't need to have everything figured out to make brave choices, and that sometimes our children are more resilient than we imagine.

Key Takeaways:

• The power of intentional parenting - in our words, actions, and the examples we set
• Understanding and responding to each child's unique love language and needs
• Building a strong parenting partnership through consistent communication
• Finding strength in faith and trusting your journey, even when you can't see the whole path
• The importance of modeling confidence and stability during major life transitions
• Creating meaningful connections with our children across different ages and stages
• Balancing work and motherhood with grace and purpose

About Gissel

She's a mom of two daughters, ages 24 and 13 who's ready to take risks and enthusiastic about new challenges, as well as learning and sharing knowledge. Gissel is resilient and always seeks opportunities for growth. Her approach is to always follow through on her commitments.

Connect with Gissel on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gissel-tapper

Read the rest of this entry »

S5EP4: The 'I Get To' Mindset: How One Mom of Four Changed Her Perspective on Daily Chaos with Ella Wong

🎧 Ever feel like you're just surviving this whole mom thing? (Um, who doesn't?! 🙋‍♀️)

In this heart-to-heart episode, mental health coach and mom of four Ella Wong shares how she transformed her perspective from "I have to" to "I get to" - and omg, it changes EVERYTHING! From navigating the chaos of raising four kids (including twins!) to breaking free from the immigrant parent survival mentality, Ella opens up about finding purpose in motherhood while letting go of those heavy expectations we put on ourselves (and our kiddos!). Trust me, you'll want to grab your coffee for this one - it's like therapy, but with more laughs and fewer tissues! ☕️

About Ella Ella Wong is a Chinese-American mom to two high school boys and twin middle school daughters. After studying business in college, she shifted careers to become a mental health coach specializing in parenting. Ella is passionate about helping other parents face the challenges of raising kids with confidence and compassion, drawing from her own experiences as a mom and her professional training. When she's not juggling sports schedules or having deep conversations with her teens, you can find her taking rejuvenating hikes in nature! 🌲

Key Takeaways:

• The game-changing shift from "I have to" to "I get to" mindset (even with those dreaded dishes! 🍽️)
• Why hope feels lighter than expectations (and how to tell the difference!)
• Breaking free from the survival mode mentality (it's possible, I promise! 🦋)
• Accepting what we can't control (like those impossible sports schedules!)
• How motherhood evolves as our kids grow (and spoiler alert: so do we! 🌱)
• Finding your purpose beyond being "just mom" (while still rocking the mom thing! 👑)

Connect with Ella:

Instagram: @dowhatyoulovetoday

Read the rest of this entry »

S5EP3: Owning Your Mom Status at Work: How This Salesforce Leader Embraced Working Motherhood with Grace Brelje

🎙️ What happens when someone at work finally asks you why you keep apologizing for being a mom?

For Grace Brelje, that single question sparked a powerful transformation in how she showed up both as a leader and a mother. After years of compartmentalizing these parts of herself, Grace embarked on an unexpected journey that included a bold career pivot, a pandemic-induced move back home with her parents (and kids!), and ultimately, discovering how to authentically integrate her whole self at work. Now leading Global Leadership Coaching & Mentoring at Salesforce, Grace shares how embracing her identity as a working mom has actually strengthened her leadership and created deeper connections with her teams.

Key Takeaways:

• Transform your relationship with work by bringing your whole self including your mom status - to leadership
• Release the pressure of 140% perfectionism and discover how operating at a healthy 80% can actually make you a more effective leader
• Navigate major life transitions (like moving back in with parents during a pandemic!) with grace and find unexpected gifts along the way
• Create boundaries that honor both your career ambitions and family priorities without apology
• Build authentic connections at work by openly owning your working parent journey

About Grace:
Grace Brelje leads the Global Leadership Coaching & Mentoring centers at Salesforce, focusing on enhancing organizational capabilities, empathetic leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence. With experience in Sales, Service, Recruiting, and HR across various industries, her background as a coach, facilitator, manager, yoga teacher, and parent shapes her approach. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), certified Action Learning Coach, Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and member of the Asian Women Coaching Collective (AWCC).

Read the rest of this entry »

S5EP2: From Resistance to Resilience: A Working Mom's Journey Through Family Health Challenges with Maribeth Thomas

Hey there, amazing mamas! 💝 Welcome back to another episode of the Empowered Working Mom Revolution, where we dive deep into real stories that resonate with your motherhood journey.

In this powerful episode, I take a moment to acknowledge the collective heaviness many of us are feeling right now - in our communities, our nation, and across the world. Whatever emotions you're experiencing, they're valid and welcomed here.

I share a simple yet powerful framework that's been my anchor during challenging times - the CARE approach:

• Compassionate curiosity

• Acceptance of emotions

• Responding to one's needs

• Extending grace to yourself and others

About Maribeth:

Our featured guest is the incredible Maribeth Thomas, a life coach, podcast host of The Experiment, and high school basketball coach who's found her rhythm in the peaceful simplicity of rural Montana life. As she navigates the empty nest phase of motherhood now, she takes us back to a pivotal chapter in her story - when an unexpected health crisis in her family led to a complete transformation in how they approached life, wellness, and family bonds.

Key Takeaways:

• It's totally okay to resist change at first (seriously, who doesn't?!) - what matters is taking those baby steps forward when you're ready 👣

• Finding your support squad is non-negotiable (shoutout to all the mom friends who become family! 🤗)

• The whole "putting your oxygen mask on first" thing? Yeah, it's legit - taking care of YOU helps you take care of everyone else 🎭

• Sometimes you gotta sit in the mucky feelings before you can find the silver lining (and that's 100% okay!) 💕

• Big life challenges might just become your biggest opportunities for growth (even when they feel impossible in the moment!) ✨

• The power of reframing situations isn't about being annoyingly positive - it's about finding hope when you're ready for it 🌈

Whether you're in the thick of a challenging season or simply need a reminder that you're not alone in this beautiful mess of working motherhood, this conversation will fill your cup. So grab your favorite beverage, carve out a quiet moment (or listen while folding that mountain of laundry - we get it!), and let Maribeth's story remind you that even in our toughest moments, love wins. 💗

Connect with Maribeth:

Instagram: @sincerelymaribeth

Website: https://www.sincerelymaribeth.com/

Remember, mama: Your journey matters, your feelings are valid, and you're doing an amazing job. See you next week!✨

#workingmom #motherhood #momlife #empoweredmom #wellness #familyhealth #transformation #podcastforwomen #momssupportingmoms

———-

We'd love your support!

Our mission is to amplify the stories of all moms so that they can be seen, heard, and supported in their motherhood journey, regardless of whether they are balancing motherhood with an external career or choosing to dedicate themselves fully to motherhood.

 We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

Here are 3 ways you can support the mission of the podcast:

1. Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts so more moms can discover this podcast. Thank you!

   1. You can select a star rating by scrolling down on the Empowered Working Mom Revolution show page in the Apple Podcast app.

2. Write a review on Apple Podcasts so more moms can find a place of solace, comfort, and belonging through the podcast. Thank you!

   1. Scroll down on the Empowered Working Mom Revolution show page in the Apple Podcast app and tap "Write a review."

3. Make a one-time donation to the podcast for as little as $7 or whatever amount feels best for you.  You can click this link to donate. Thank you!

----

Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  ACC (she/her/hers)
Founder of NurturED Solutions
"Cultivating Cultures of Care in K-12 Education"
Grab the Free Culture of Care Assessment Guide for School Leaders

NurturED Solutions Website | Podcast | LinkedIn | Mental Well-Being Coaching

S5EP1: Stop the Mom Guilt: Why It's OK When Your Priorities Shift as a Working Mom with Divya Ramachandran

Ever feel like you're doing this whole working mom thing "wrong"? 🤔

In this soulful episode, former Silicon Valley Tech VP Divya Ramachandran opens up about that time she felt totally broken because she wasn't prioritizing her kids over her thriving career (spoiler alert: she wasn't broken at all!). She shares her beautiful journey of letting go of "shoulds," redefining success on her own terms, and making a bold career pivot that aligned with her heart. Through tears, laughter, and SO many aha moments, Divya and I dive deep into what it really means to honor your truth as a working mom (even when it goes against everything society tells you to do! 😅).

Key Takeaways:

• Your priorities as a working mom aren't meant to be set in stone - they can (and probably will!) shift over time, and that's perfectly okay! 🌊
• Being excited about your career doesn't make you a bad mom, and wanting to prioritize your kids doesn't make you less ambitious. Drop that mom guilt like it's hot! 💃
• Cultivating curiosity (instead of judgment) about your feelings and choices opens up amazing possibilities for growth and change. 🦋
• Instead of chasing that mythical "perfect balance," focus on feeling integrated and authentic across all areas of your life. 💫
• Regular check-ins with yourself aren't just nice-to-have - they're your secret weapon for staying true to what matters most to YOU. ✨
• You get to define your own identity as a working mom - not your culture, not your family, not society's expectations. (Mind. Blown. Right? 🤯)

About Divya Ramachandran:
Divya Ramachandran is a seasoned leadership coach, helping startup leaders find clarity to do hard things. Her career has been a journey from products to people, starting from an engineering background, to passionately designing technology for human needs, to eventually product leadership and now leadership coaching and development. Leveraging her Silicon Valley tech background and expertise in emotional intelligence and cognitive behavioral coaching, Divya empowers leaders to navigate challenges, improve communication, and drive team success.

Grabe her Free "Hot to Make Hard Conversation Easy" here: https://content.divyalalitha.com/sayhardthings

Connect with Divya:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diramachandran/

http://www.divyalalitha.com

coach@divyalalitha.com

Read the rest of this entry »