28. Amy Bartko | Choosing Freedom Over Fear: A Mother's Career Rebirth

In this heartfelt episode, Angela sits down with Amy Bartko—PR expert, entrepreneur, and devoted mom—to dive into her powerful journey from corporate medical sales to building a thriving business while navigating motherhood, divorce, and personal growth. Amy opens up about the struggles of being a new mom in a demanding career, the bold decision to walk away from it all, and the deep inner work that helped her reclaim her identity and find balance. Whether you're in corporate, running your own business, or simply trying to juggle it all, this episode is packed with raw honesty, resilience, and wisdom you won't want to miss. Your next favorite episode starts now!   "I call it the PR formula. To build brand awareness, you have to gain visibility to earn credibility, which will equate to profitability." - Amy Key Takeaways: Leaving Corporate for Family First Amy shares her emotional decision to leave a corporate medical sales job after just 7 months of motherhood—and how it led to building a career on her terms. Navigating Divorce and Personal Growth Hear Amy's raw story of ending an 18-year marriage during the pandemic, and how therapy, self-reflection, and nervous system regulation helped her rebuild her life. Building a Business Around Flexibility Learn how Amy created Chatterbox PR and a digital PR academy while raising two boys, prioritizing work-life balance over traditional definitions of "success." Creating a Positive and Flexible Work Culture Amy explains how flexibility, mentorship, and empathy have become the cornerstones of her leadership—without sacrificing results. Investing in Yourself and Your Healing From EMDR therapy to sound healing and meditation, Amy shares the tools that helped her move through toxic relationships and show up stronger for her family and business. Advice Every Working Mom Needs to Hear Trust your intuition. Prioritize time with your kids—you can't get those years back. Amy reminds us that your career will wait, but childhood won't. Turning Skills into Opportunities Amy's PR Training Academy is designed to make PR skills accessible—empowering small businesses and startups to crack the media code without needing expensive agencies. Real Talk on Redefining Success Motherhood changed Amy's definition of success—and she invites other moms to rethink their own career paths, self-worth, and priorities. About Amy Bartko: Amy Bartko is the founder of Chatterbox PR & Marketing, a seasoned PR professional, 2x best-selling author, keynote speaker, and expert in lifestyle brands. With 25+ years of experience, she specializes in placing brands' products in the hands of celebrities, feature films, TV shows, and top media outlets. Her industry expertise, authentic media relationships, and ability to craft compelling brand stories make her a go-to resource in the lifestyle and juvenile products industries. Since launching Chatterbox in 2013, Amy has worked with startups to global brands, offering media outreach, celebrity product placement, brand development, consumer events, and digital strategy. Her press relationships have secured top-tier features in Good Morning America, the Today Show, Forbes, The New York Times, and leading lifestyle and parenting platforms like Scary Mommy and Pregnant Chicken. She has also facilitated collaborations with Kim Kardashian, Kate Hudson, Lea Michele, and more. Amy has built Chatterbox into a powerhouse agency that helps brands gain visibility, credibility, and influence. Her work continues to elevate brands, connecting them with target audiences and delivering impactful results. Connect with Angela: Book a Meeting: https://calendly.com/talenttrek/prescreen Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatait/ Check out my Website: http://www.angelatait.com   **Check out our best selling collaborative book with other female founders on Amazon: Taking the Plunge   Check out my newly published book on how to hire, inspire and train top talent in your organization: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4PMTFQB