When Chronic Illness Collides with Career and Motherhood in Your 40s

In this episode of The Forties Formula podcast, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with AMY KUNROJPANYA, a global executive and multilingual leader, to talk about the parts of professional success most people do not see. They explore how women manage ambition, leadership and motherhood while contending with chronic pain and women’s health concerns such as endometriosis. Amy shares practical approaches to setting boundaries, improving work-life balance expectations, navigating nonlinear career progression and advocating for medical care. Listen to understand success without performance culture and leadership without outdated expectations.---------CHAPTERS00:00 – Episode Snippet00:55 – Introducing our guest, Amy Kunrojpanya03:07 – The shiny path illusion04:02 – The true cost of high ambition05:12 – Patience with self 06:09 – Age perception and leadership07:58 – Authentic leadership and nonlinear careers09:18 – From language exposure to fluency13:32 – Unlearning old leadership models16:06 – Fearless Pursuit + Empathy + Heart18:19 – The Motherhood Guilt Paradox20:48 – Boundaries at work and home21:27 – Fuel Your Forties22:34 – Life beyond work-life balance28:21 – Advertisement: Cozy Earth29:32 – Health sacrifice isn’t a badge of honor32:02 – Chronic pain changes you35:10 – Movement is medicine37:18 – Advocacy starts with listening to the body41:15 – Women’s health research and data gaps43:41 – Hormonal health, reproductive health and contraception45:53 – Advertisement: Love, Indus47:04 – Hot or Hype52:30 – The 40s formula: Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about itSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:🥩 The Meat Club – Get $20 off with code TFF20🛏️ Cozy Earth – Sleep comfortably with soft bamboo sheets and cozy pajamas. Use code TFF for 41% off. Free shipping in Singapore over $560 and in the US over $50.❤️ Love, Indus: Get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF______________📩 Join our mailing list for exclusive content, our weekly Forty Tude newsletter, expert tips, and early access to giveaways!Free Guide — The Forties Formula Ebook: Your simple, honest guide to what’s changing in your 40s — hormones, cravings, energy, strength and more.