Ambition After Babies. The Truth No One Says Out Loud

Ready to stop waiting for permission and start leading with intention? We sit down with Khiara Cureton—VP in healthcare and executive career and money coach—to unpack how motherhood can sharpen ambition, not dull it, and how to turn quiet excellence into visible impact. From fifteen-minute daily resets to rethinking success around fulfilment and time, this conversation gives you practical ways to protect your energy, raise your voice, and build a life you actually love.We dig into the shift from self-doubt to self-data, including how to build a brag book that tracks hard results like cost savings, retention, and delivery wins. Khiara breaks down why sponsorship matters, how to craft a visibility plan that gets you into the right rooms, and the mindset move that changes everything: don’t wait for confidence to act—act your way into confidence. You’ll learn how to set non-negotiables, prepare with personal and industry data, and use a “community of mirrors” to keep momentum when the work gets noisy.Money talk gets real and specific. We map the compounding cost of delaying a raise, share scripts for market-based salary conversations, and outline creative levers when cash is capped—flexibility, development, travel limits, loan repayment, and more. Khiara also reclaims the label “too much,” showing how owning your ambition signals authority and sets a powerful example at home. Walk away with one bold step to take this week, whether it’s buying a notebook for your wins, booking a mentor chat, or emailing for that meeting you’ve been avoiding.And follow Khiara's journey on Instagram @theanchercoIf this resonated, follow and share with a woman who needs it. Leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show, and subscribe so you never miss a story that fuels your ambition.Send a text message to JoThe Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance InstituteFor women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.If something landed today, there's more where that came from.And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com💼https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne📷 @therealjostone