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 Listen to understand success without performance culture and leadership without outdated expectations. --------- CHAPTERS 00:00 – Episode Snippet 00:55 – Introducing our guest, Amy Kunrojpanya 03:07 – The shiny path illusion 04:02 – The true cost of high ambition 05:12 – Patience with self 06:09 – Age perception and leadership 07:58 – Authentic leadership and nonlinear careers 09:18 – From language exposure to fluency 13:32 – Unlearning old leadership models 16:06 – Fearless Pursuit + Empathy + Heart 18:19 – The Motherhood Guilt Paradox 20:48 – Boundaries at work and home 21:27 – Fuel Your Forties 22:34 – Life beyond work-life balance 28:21 – Advertisement: Cozy Earth 29:32 – Health sacrifice isn’t a badge of honor 32:02 – Chronic pain changes you 35:10 – Movement is medicine 37:18 – Advocacy starts with listening to the body 41:15 – Women’s health research and data gaps 43:41 – Hormonal health, reproductive health and contraception 45:53 – Advertisement: Love, Indus 47:04 – Hot or Hype 52:30 – The 40s formula: Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it Special 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.