From Corporate Success to Conscious Awakening: My Journey to Creating WandHERwild

Motherhood has a way of awakening parts of ourselves we didn’t even know were dormant.In this first episode of The WandHERwild Podcast, I share my personal story — how motherhood became the catalyst that led me away from a Fortune 500 corporate career and toward a more intentional, intuitive, and feminine way of living.I reflect on my upbringing on a multi-generational dairy farm in the U.S., my years working as an engineer in the energy industry, and the life I built traveling to over 80 countries. From corporate leadership roles to volunteering at a youth center in Africa, my early adult life was shaped by structure, achievement, and forward momentum — until motherhood invited me into a completely different rhythm.This episode explores the inner shift that happened after becoming a mother, the tension between masculine productivity and feminine intuition, and the moment I realized I needed a new way of living — one rooted in presence, nature, and connection.I also share the story behind the creation of Wanderwild Family Retreats and WandHERwild, and why I felt called to build the spaces I couldn’t find — spaces for mothers to reconnect with themselves, their children, and what truly matters.This episode is an invitation into the heart of this podcast, and the deeper “why” behind everything I share here.In This Episode:How motherhood initiated my shift from corporate life to intuitive livingMy early years growing up on a multi-generational dairy farmWhat a decade in the energy industry taught me — and what it couldn’tThe internal pull away from productivity-driven successHow travel, volunteering, and motherhood reshaped my valuesWhy I created Wanderwild Family RetreatsThe vision behind WandHERwild as a space for mothersThe role of feminine spirituality in motherhood and self-developmentHow nature-based living supports conscious parentingSimple ways mothers can begin realigning with themselvesWho This Episode Is ForMothers feeling lost, overwhelmed, or disconnectedWomen questioning the version of success they were taughtMothers navigating identity shifts after having childrenAnyone drawn to intuitive living, feminine spirituality, and slow motherhoodWomen craving deeper connection with themselves and their childrenAn Invitation For YouThis episode marks the beginning of The WandHERwild Podcast — a space for modern mothers exploring intentional living, intuitive motherhood, and deeper connection.If this story resonates, I invite you to continue listening, exploring, and finding your own way back to yourself alongside this community.You can listen to more episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or explore more at Wanderwild Family Retreats and WandHERwild.Timestamps00:00 Welcome to The WandHERwild Podcast01:59 My background and early life on a dairy farm04:13 From engineering and corporate leadership to motherhood17:31 The birth of Wanderwild Family Retreats28:50 Creating WandHERwild32:15 The deeper vision behind this workLinks & ResourcesExplore Family Travel RetreatsSubscribe to my work on SubstackListen to more episodes of The WandHERwild Podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wandherwild.substack.com