In Her Words

Send us Fan MailWhat does it look like to weave together two very different worlds for decades and then finally let that single world become the whole? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Carol Rossi, a private yoga instructor and spiritual direction practitioner, who has spent over 30 years moving between the worlds of tech and yoga before retiring from UX research to teach full time.Carol shares how a cancer diagnosis became the catalyst that brought her path into focus. She shares with us why she was surprised to find clients from 30 years ago showing up when she made the leap and what she wishes more people understood about yoga before they ever set foot in a class.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeWeaving in and out of tech and yoga for over three decadesHow a cancer diagnosis accelerated her decision to retire from techThe grief of having to stop teaching yoga when her corporate work took overBuilding a private yoga practice rooted in relationship and personalizationHow yoga doesn’t look anything like what beginners assumeHow to find the right yoga practice and teacher for youAbout Carol RossiCarol Rossi offers private yoga instruction and spiritual direction grounded in over 35 years of yoga practice, a decade of dance training, and certification in both yoga and spiritual direction. Her work is shaped by 20+ years of contemplative study and centers on breath, presence, and accessibility. Connect with Carol RossiWebsite: https://www.lobeymovement.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lobey_movement/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587138740737LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crossiux/ Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailWhat does it look like to stop squeezing yourself into one identity and finally let all of your passions work together? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Elizabeth Burke, founder of Collective Expansion, who has worn more hats than most. Her colorful history includes work as a corporate event planner, a high school art teacher, a UX researcher, and currently, as a consultant and coach to purpose-driven entrepreneurs.Elizabeth shares with us what being multi-passionate really means, how her father's passing led her to teaching, what it felt like to outgrow a system she once loved, and why she believes career transitions are going to happen whether you're ready or not.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeEmbracing being multi-passionate instead of dimming it downLeaving teaching after nearly a decade The emotional labor no one warns you about in UX researchBuilding Collective Expansion to help purpose-driven practitioners scale their impactWhy entrepreneurship keeps asking you to look at yourself more deeplyHow to move through career transition with compassion instead of fearAbout Elizabeth BurkeElizabeth weaves together her background in strategic event planning, education, and UX Research to design impactful experiences that activate learning, understanding, and transformation. She supports purpose driven practitioners in expanding the reach of their message and methods to create a positive impact in the world. Taking work from one to one, to one to many is a big step. Elizabeth is here as a trusted guide and thought partner to provide insight, inspiration, and support along the journey. Collective Expansion was created to deepen the experience of sharing bodies of work that make a difference in the world, and to support the growth and expansion of the practitioners who share their knowledge in service of others. She loves finding the small details that make your work unique, memorable, and meaningful and creating systems that support scaling these for your work to have an even wider impact on the world in ways that light you up.  As a lover of nature and great food, you can often find her hiking on the trails and in the kitchen exploring a new recipe. She loves continuing to get to know herself on a deeper level through exploring practices in art & creativity, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and forever challenging herself to grow as a learner. A believer that joy is important, she moves through the world finding ways to create moments of delight for herself and those around her.Connect with Elizabeth Burke:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-anne-burke/ Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you've burned out not once, not twice, but three times and finally realize you're the common denominator? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Aïcha Doucouré, coach and founder of Wise Wild, who moved from France to the Bay Area by checking a single box on an employee survey and never looked back.Aïcha shares her winding path through GE, Uber, OpenTable, and Dropbox, the psychedelic therapy experience that reset everything, and how a sing circle taught her more about failure, fear, and resilience than any corporate role ever did.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeMoving from France to the Bay Area by accidentThree burnouts across tech and what they finally revealedHow psychedelic therapy cracked open a new definition of successReframing fear as the foundation for courage and trustFinding confidence through failure in a sing circleWise Wild - creating in-person spaces where failure is genuinely welcomeAbout Aïcha Doucouré:Originally from Paris and rooted in the Bay Area for over 20 years, Aïcha knows what it means to have the courage to reinvent herself. After 15+ years leading global strategic programs in tech and corporate, she hit a wall. In 2019, burnout brought everything to a stop. Rather than rushing back, she took the time to truly understand what had happened and what she wanted her life to look like on the other side. That turning point became her greatest teacher. It led her to become an Integral Coach, who coaches the whole person: cognitive, somatic, emotional and relational intelligence. She is deeply committed to helping leaders and individuals reconnect with themselves, build healthy work cultures, and show up with more clarity, resilience, and purpose. Today, Aïcha teaches and coaches on effective communication at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. Additionally, she is a leadership coach with Behavioral Essentials, the organization behind Blindspotting, a Harvard Business Review science-based tool helping leaders identify the blind spots getting in the way of their full impact and fulfillment.Connect with Aïcha Doucouré:Instagram LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailWhat does it look like to go from contract UX researcher to business owner?  Not by launching something from scratch, but by buying a company that was already running? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Mary Brown, co-owner and COO of Your Therapy Billing, an insurance billing company supporting small and mid-size therapy clinics.Mary shares how repeated layoffs in tech sparked a search for something more stable and self-directed, how the loss of her mother reframed what she wanted from her career, and what the first nine months of owning a small business actually feels like from the inside.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeHow layoffs in UX and tech led Mary to rethink her career pathDiscovering entrepreneurship through acquisition and the community that made it possibleWhy she chose an unglamorous, recession-proof business over a sexy oneThe biggest personal shift moving from individual contributor to business ownerNavigating the day-to-day realities of owning and operating a small businessWhy insurance billing is so broken and why that makes her work matterAbout Mary BrownMary Brown is the Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Your Therapy Billing, an insurance billing company supporting small and mid-sized therapy clinics. She spent eight years in UX research at companies like LinkedIn and Pinterest, helping teams navigate uncertainty by deeply understanding people and turning ambiguity into clear decisions. After experiencing layoffs, the instability of the job market, and profound personal loss, Mary chose not to wait for permission or the “perfect” next role. Instead, she made a bold pivot into small business ownership. In April 2025, she acquired Your Therapy Billing and now leads the company with a focus on growth, smarter systems, and solving real pain points. Her journey is shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a belief that women don’t need linear paths to build meaningful, successful careers. They just need the courage to redefine them.Connect with Mary Brown on LinkedIn Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you stop trying to make a career path linear and start asking what kind of work actually makes sense for you right now? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Bianca Gay, owner of Three Coupe Society, a small business focused on crafting intentional beverages and collaborating with local businesses to curate thoughtful drink experiences.Bianca shares her journey from UX researcher at Foot Locker to entrepreneur, the burnout that finally pushed her out the door, and how she and her husband are building something rooted in community, creativity, and collaboration one intentional drink at a time.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeNavigating constant change and ambiguity in corporate as a Black womanBurning out with a plan — and running toward something, not just awayCo-running a business with your spouse as two introvertsWhy Three Coupe Society runs on word of mouth and values alignmentCreativity practices that embrace process over perfectionLetting go of the linear career path and following what gives you energyAbout Bianca GayBianca Gay is the owner of 3 Coupe Society, a small business focused on creating thoughtfully-crafted drinks and collaborating with local businesses to curate intentional beverage menus. They host events that encourage a community curious about what’s in their coupe!  She is also a freelance operations specialist, which allows her to blend her experience as an Experience Researcher and Operations Manager by helping other businesses solve organizational challenges and establish strategic priorities.Connect with Bianca Gayinstagram: @3coupesocietywebsite: 3coupesociety.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancagay Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really look like to grow up inside a business, and then go on to build several of your own? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Pame Barba, facilitator, strategist, and leadership coach, to trace her winding path from a sweater factory in Ecuador to a startup incubator in Atlanta to her current season as a full-time corporate employee who never stopped being an entrepreneur at heart.Pame shares the honest, unglamorous side of entrepreneurship, the anxiety that drove some of her biggest decisions, the moment she realized she was chasing the wrong metrics, and why she thinks portfolio careers are the future.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeGrowing up entrepreneurial across two countries and industriesBurning out of tech at 27 and starting a business from scratchThe mindset game no one warns you about in entrepreneurshipHow anxiety quietly ran her business decisions for yearsRedefining "enough" instead of chasing big revenue goalsWhy different seasons of life call for different career pathsAbout Pame BarbaPamela Barba (she/her/ella) believes that it’s up to us to create the world we want to live in. And it starts with you owning your brilliance. (yes, you!) She helps entrepreneurs and creators launch and scale their one-of-a-kind ideas. Her grounded advice has been featured on Forbes and on stages nationwide. As a previously undocumented immigrant, she became an advocate for economic and immigrant equity after her family lost everything and migrated to the US. Now she helps marginalized folks transform their communities by launching brands, businesses, and community-driven projects. After spending a lifetime in the design and entrepreneurship space she learned that safety and self-trust are key in the creation process. She’s obsessed with demystifying innovation and guiding folks to trust their inner fire. Whatever the case wherever the wifi is connecting Pamela is on a mission to help folks start some sh*t.Connect with Pame Barbahttp://www.mspamelabarba.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelabarba/https://startsomething.beehiiv.com/ Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailOver the last two months, I've been doing research with women in tech — and what I found is bigger than my own work with Learn Mindfully. It's a reflection of the moment we're all living in right now.In this solo episode, I'm sharing the themes that surfaced most consistently across my conversations: compounding trauma from repeated layoffs, burnout that gets blamed on the individual, a job market that's quietly eroding confidence, and a grief that most of us haven't had space to name. This isn't a personal failing. It's a systemic one.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeLayoffs are causing compounding, recurring trauma in techBurnout is systemic — but we're internalizing it personallyThe job market is actively eroding confidence and identityManager relationships are the single biggest factor at workGrief beneath the burnout — mourning a version of work that's goneWhy most support out there is actually gaslightingLearn more about Get Your Story StraightAbout Roberta DombrowskiRoberta Dombrowski is Founder of Learn Mindfully and host of In Her Words. She has over a decade of experience spanning tech, non-profits, and academia. Her work has been featured by the Association of Talent Development, Learning Guild, and Product School.She holds PCC accreditation through the International Coaching Federation, CPCC through Co-Active Training Institute. Her unique approach blends the wisdom of the head, heart, and body - guiding clients to rediscover joy, resilience, and connection in their work and lives.  By fostering deeper self-awareness and authentic leadership, Roberta helps individuals reshape how they relate to their careers, themselves, and their teams. Her personal experience as a transracial adoptee and overfunctioning tech executive heavily influences her approach to business.Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Victoria Montgomery, transition coach and founder of Voice Nerve Motion LLC, to explore her journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurship. Victoria shares how a growing disconnect from her creative roots and the grief of watching time pass without honoring her values sparked a deeper reckoning in her professional life. Together, we talk about the physical and emotional toll of working in a misaligned environment, exactly when she knew it was time to leave, and what it looks like to help others navigate similar transitions. Victoria also opens up about her evolution as a leader, the power of curiosity and emotional intelligence in the workplace, and the creative practices she's embracing this year.Topics Discussed in the EpisodeReconnecting with creativity through shadow workBurnout, values misalignment, and leaving corporatePhysical symptoms of a misaligned work environmentHow insecure leadership erodes credibilityEffort vs. force and finding values alignmentVictoria's coaching practice at Voice Nerve Motion LLCIntentional creative practices to prioritize in the new yearAbout Victoria MontgomeryVictoria Montgomery is a human-centered professional with experience across mission-focused sectors, with a passion for helping individuals and teams realize their full potential through developing a healthy relationship with their power and owning who they are becoming.Victoria has worked in talent acquisition and as a people manager to serve business leaders and functions, as well as individuals in the social impact space, honing her EQ skills. Her approach is heavily influenced by her love and commitment to psychology and the challenge of personal growth within teams, individuals, and their interplay.Connect with Victoria MontgomeryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-montgomery2525/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toriataughtme/Company IG: https://www.instagram.com/voicenervemotion/#X: https://x.com/montyybynatureSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Alaina Shearer, branding expert, storyteller, and founder of Good Is Now, for a conversation about voice, courage, and what it means to take a stand in your work. Alaina shares how storytelling has shaped her life from an early age, from writing and public speaking as a child to building movements as an entrepreneur and even running for Congress. We talk about the connection between storytelling and personal power, why so many people stay quiet even when something matters deeply to them, and how taking a stand can actually strengthen your brand rather than hurt it. Alaina also shares what she’s learned from reinvention, entrepreneurship, and helping others tell stories that create connection and change. Topics Discussed in This EpisodeStorytelling and early experiences with speakingRunning for Congress and building a public voiceTaking a stand in your businessFear, trolls, and being seen onlineReinvention, branding, and betting on yourselfAbout Alaina ShearerAlaina Shearer is a branding expert and movement maker who never settles for the status quo, and who inspires her clients and audiences to do the same. She leads founders and businesses to discover their brand truth – no easy feat – but one that changes their growth trajectory. Her method is holistic and rooted in a desire to create brands and content strategies that feel fit, not forced.Connect with Alaina ShearerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-now-b2b-agency/Website: https://www.goodisnow.com/ Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this solo episode, I explore a theme that’s been surfacing again and again in my client conversations: how we define success—and how that definition may need to evolve. Many of us fell into our careers through timing, practicality, or opportunity. It worked for a while. But with layoffs, burnout, and shifting priorities, more people are pausing to ask: What does success actually mean to me now?I unpack the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, why so many workplaces rely almost entirely on external validation, and how that can leave us feeling drained. Most importantly, I walk through reflective questions you can use to reconnect with your values and redefine success in a way that aligns with your current season of life.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeExternal vs. internal motivationWhy extrinsic rewards lose their powerHow success shifts across life seasonsUsing peak moments and anger as values dataMoving from validation to alignmentSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Kitty Gonzalez—coach, yoga teacher, and former L’Oréal marketer—for a grounded conversation about career pivots, identity, and the courage it takes to choose community and alignment over the “shoulds.” Kitty shares what it was like growing up between Mexico City and the U.S., and how living between cultures shaped her adaptability, awareness, and sense of belonging.We talk about her years in product development and marketing at L’Oréal, the long “slow build” of realizing it wasn’t her forever path, and how COVID created the space to finally listen to what she already knew. Kitty opens up about leaving corporate, the jarring reality of an open calendar, learning how to sell herself, and how yoga became a lifeline—first for her own healing and embodiment, then as a community anchor in every place she lives.We also explore what Kitty calls the “magic dark”—that uncomfortable in-between season where you’re doing all the right things but the outcome hasn’t arrived yet. Her reminder is simple: keep moving, keep asking for help, and trust that something is unfolding—even when you can’t see it yet.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeKitty’s bicultural upbringing shaped identity, belonging, and adaptability.Leaving L’Oréal took years of journaling and inner knowing.Coaching certification revealed the gap between skills and selling.Entrepreneurship brought freedom, but also loneliness and constant hustle.Yoga supported healing, embodiment, and community through major transitions.The “magic dark” demands persistence, trust, and asking for help.About Kitty GonzalezKitty Gonzalez is an Executive Coach at Athena who helps high-achieving leaders create clarity, alignment, and meaningful change in their work and lives. Born in Mexico City and raised between Mexico and the U.S., she brings a deeply multicultural lens to her coaching. Before Athena, she spent nearly a decade in global marketing at L’Oréal and later built her own wellness and coaching practice, Wherever Forever. Kitty is also a certified yoga teacher, and her approach blends strategy with grounded, embodied wisdom. She currently lives between Michigan and Mexico City with her husband and their cat, Tikka.Connect with KittyInstagram: @wherever__foreverWebsite: https://whereverforever.com/ Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Amy Santee returns to the podcast, only this time, she’s in the interviewer seat as we flip the script and share more of my story. We talk through my winding career path (from biomedical photography to instructional design to product and research leadership), and the moments that forced me to get honest about what I value and what I can’t ignore anymore.We also explore the tension many women feel between stability and fulfillment, how family messaging can shape our beliefs about work, and why layoffs and workplace trauma can become a wake-up call. I share what led me into coaching, why I’m now pursuing a mental health counseling degree, and how I’m thinking about building a more sustainable “portfolio career” that honors both my values and real-life needs.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeRoberta’s early identity story (transracial adoptee) and how it shaped her relationship to workCareer pivots from photography → instructional design → product → user research/VP leadership, and what each chapter taught herHow family beliefs about stability vs. fulfillment created long-term internal conflict (and how she now checks that voice)Recognizing values misalignment at work, spotting “stated vs. lived” values, and trusting body-based red flagsLayoffs, workplace boundaries, and why “work as the acceptable addiction” keeps women over-functioningWhat’s next: grad school for mental health counseling, integrating therapy + coaching, and building a sustainable portfolio careerAbout Amy SanteeAmy Santee is a Career Strategist and Coach for tech professionals who want to design their careers with intention and bring their good to the world. Since 2020, she has partnered with hundreds of individuals to implement a practice of self-research, self-advocacy, and strategy, so they can navigate the professional world with courage and confidence. Her passion for non-traditional career development, personal growth, and positive impact brought her to coaching after a decade of working in user experience.Connect with Amy SanteeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysantee/Website: https://www.amysantee.comAbout Roberta DombrowskiRoberta Dombrowski is Founder of Learn Mindfully and host of In Her Words. She has over a decade of experience spanning tech, non-profits, and academia. Her work has been featured by the Association of Talent Development, Learning Guild, and Product School.She holds PCC accreditation through the International Coaching Federation, CPCC through Co-Active Training Institute. Her unique approach blends the wisdom of the head, heart, and body - guiding clients to rediscover joy, resilience, and connection in their work and lives.  By fostering deeper self-awareness and authentic leadership, Roberta helps individuals reshape how they relate to their careers, themselves, and their teams. Her personal experience as a transracial adoptee and overfunctioning tech executive heavily influences her approach to business.Connect with Roberta DombrowskiLinkedIn: httpsSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alessandra Wall, psychologist, author, and CEO of Noteworthy for a candid conversation about evolution, ambition, and what it actually takes to build a life that can hold your success. Dr. Wall shares her path from child psychology to adult therapy, then into coaching and leadership advisory work, including the real fear (and financial risk) that came with changing direction more than once.We talk about how success isn’t just revenue or titles. It’s also white space on the calendar, the quality of the clients and leaders you choose to support, and the ability to stay in the work without sacrificing your health, relationships, or sense of self. We also explore loneliness at the top, the “deservingness” patterns that show up for high achievers, and why so many women struggle to answer the simplest question: what would I do with three hours to myself?Topics Discussed in This EpisodeCareer pivots and changing valuesFrom therapy to coaching to advisory workRedefining success beyond moneyLoneliness at the top and finding communityDeservingness, burnout, and spaciousnessAbout Dr. Alessandra WallAt the highest levels of success and leadership, being the one with the vision and the responsibility to drive change is, in the best of times, exhilarating, but also often lonely and exhausting work. For over 20 years, Dr. Alessandra Wall, psychologist, author, and CEO of Noteworthy, has served as a trusted advisor to leaders, founders, and exceptional women, helping them make better decisions at every level of their career and life so they can maintain the drive, desire, bandwidth, and fulfillment they need to change the world for the better. Her work shapes leaders and organizations across industries, from start-ups to the Fortune 100.Connect with Dr. Alessandra WallLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/dralessandrawallWebsite: Noteworthyinc.coNewsletter: https://noteworthy-inc.kit.com/newsletterSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Christian Simone, feminine strategist, project manager, podcast host, and Master of Social Work student, for a grounded conversation about ambition, softness, and what it really means to be “the strong one.” Christian shares how her background in tech shaped her views on strategy, and why she’s now pursuing macro social work to build systems that support women more sustainably.We explore the emotional and physical cost of constantly performing strength, especially for women who’ve been conditioned to suppress their needs. Christian breaks down how “soft life” isn’t about opting out, but instead it’s about integrating structure and self-possession, learning to receive support, and creating a life you can actually enjoy after the work gets done.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeRedefining strategy beyond capitalism: efficiency, wellbeing, and life after workChristian’s transition from tech to macro social work and systems-level changeThe burden of being “the strong one,” including burnout, grief, and suppressed needsReceiving support as a practice: deservingness, boundaries, and self-compassionWhat “soft life” means in practice: integrating masculine structure with feminine sustainabilityAbout Christian Sismone:Christian Sismone is a feminine strategist, project manager, podcast host, and MSW student helping ambitious women 35+ navigate the “messy middle” with more truth, softness, and self-possession. Blending psychological insight with refined feminine wisdom, she guides women who are rebuilding their identity, shedding the strong-woman armor, reclaiming their presence, and stepping into power that doesn’t require burnout or bravado.Known for her warm clarity and incisive storytelling, Christian speaks on mindset, soulful structure, and embodied evolution, bringing a resonance that invites women to rise without hardening and return to themselves without losing their edge.Connect with Christian:ChristianSismone.comLinkedin.com/in/christian-ohonbahttps://cohonba1.systeme.io/softpivotSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this solo episode, I open season two of In Her Words by reflecting on the growing sense of disappointment and disillusionment many of us are experiencing at work. With layoffs continuing to rise, particularly impacting women, I explore how these moments often force us into deeper inflection points around identity, meaning, and alignment.I share my own experience of being laid off in 2023 and what it revealed about how tightly my sense of self had become intertwined with my job. From there, I invite you to pause and examine your own relationship to work—how it fits into the broader context of your life, what needs it’s fulfilling, and where it may no longer be serving you.Drawing on frameworks like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the idea of vocation as calling, this episode sets the foundation for the season ahead as we begin to question not just what we do for work, but why we do it.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeThe current state of work and the emotional impact of widespread layoffsHow work shapes identity, self-worth, and belongingReflective questions to explore who you are beyond your jobApplying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to motivation and fulfillment at workReimagining work as a calling rather than an obligationLinks & Resources:Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis short intermission recording features host, Roberta Dombrowski, sharing a candid update on what to expect from season 2 of In Her Words.Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I meet with Vivianne Castillo, a multidisciplinary creative, organizational culture strategist, and founder of Choose Courage, Inc. for a powerful conversation about chaos, creativity, and what it means to make things that matter. Vivianne brings her background in psychology, UX, trauma-informed practice, and entrepreneurship to explore how uncertainty can become a catalyst for clarity, courage, and creative expression.We talk about navigating seasons of instability, rebuilding trust in ourselves, discerning what truly matters when life feels overwhelming, and why entrepreneurship can be a healing pathway rather than a hustle. Vivianne also shares the evolution of her businesses from Humanity Centered to Choose Courage, Inc. to her latest creative venture, Moonpaws, and how courage and curiosity have shaped every step.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeHow chaos, uncertainty, and “trash-fire seasons” can spark creativityHopelessness, helplessness, and reclaiming personal powerRituals and micro-acts of creativity that help rebuild trust in yourselfEntrepreneurship as a healing experience and the shift toward regenerative commerceVivianne’s personal journey from UX to founding multiple businesses rooted in courage, creativity, and communityConnect with Vivianne:Website: https://choosecourageinc.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vccastillo/Vivianne Castillo is a multidisciplinary creative, org culture strategist, and the founder of Choose Courage Inc., a platform where leaders and entrepreneurs come to grow through coaching, storytelling, and bold conversations. She's also the founder of moonpaws, a pet astrology app for dogs (and their humans), and HmntyCntrd, a FastCo award-winning consulting company focused on restoring humanity to workplaces.Vivianne is on a mission to help people and organizations choose courage over comfort through betting on themselves and their business idea or through bold conversations about trauma-informed leadership.Whether she’s leading group coaching, building whimsical digital products, or designing transformative leadership experiences, Vivianne’s work centers around one core truth: courage is a daily practice. Her creativity shows up across mediums – from pet parent oracle cards to trauma-informed organizational change — and she’s known for helping people reclaim their agency, challenge oppressive norms, and create lives and companies that feel as good as they look on paper.Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Amanda Henry—workshop facilitator, personal finance educator, pageant titleholder, and founder of Living in the Abundance—for a powerful conversation about money, identity, and navigating life as a first-generation college student. Amanda brings candor, humor, and deep reflection as we talk through the realities of debt, generational expectations, and building a life grounded in values rather than survival.We explore how being first-gen shaped her college years at Penn, the financial lessons she had to teach herself, and how those experiences led her to launch a platform, a book, and a budding nonprofit focused on helping others break cycles and build stability. Amanda also opens up about career alignment, motherhood, survivor’s guilt, and what abundance truly means at this stage of her life.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeNavigating college as a first-generation student and learning the “unwritten rules”Shifts in money mindset—from survival mode to financial literacy and investingThe meaning of value-based spending and staying aligned with personal prioritiesHow identity, expectations, and family dynamics shape career and financial choicesAmanda’s community work, pageant platform, and vision for a scholarship-focused nonprofitConnect with Amanda:livingintheabundance.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsamandajhenry/https://www.tiktok.com/@livingintheabundancehttps://www.instagram.com/livingintheabundance/#https://www.threads.com/@livingintheabundanceAmanda Henry is a Black first-generation Ivy League graduate, devoted wife, and mother who brings her seasoned corporate experience to empower emerging leaders. After paying off $65,000 of debt and climbing the corporate ladder, she discovered that abundant living on a 9-5 is possible.As the founder of Living in the Abundance (LITA), Amanda equips young adults with the tools to navigate corporate America and master their personal finances. Her book, The Financial Abundance Blueprint delivers a tracklist of strategies to help readers maximize their 9-5 experience to unlock financial freedom.Currently serving as a Senior Sales Enablement Professional at Google, Amanda brings over a decade of experience across top companies including BET Networks, The Walt Disney Company, and Verizon. Beyond her corporate roles, she is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, having impacted thousands of young professionals through workshops, coaching, and content creation.Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, Jon, and son, Jon Jr., attending 90s & 00s RnB concerts, traveling to sunny all-inclusive resorts, and serving her community as the reigning Mrs. California Black United States 2026. She holds a BS in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MS in Global Marketing Management from Boston University. Connect with Roberta on Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Madeline E. Smith, a UX researcher, creative mind, and new parent by adoption, for a grounded conversation about building a family intentionally while navigating the realities of career, caregiving, and the waiting game. We talk about ethical domestic adoption, centering the child in every decision, and what it looks like to return from parental leave into layoffs, a new team, and the quiet pressure to “prove yourself” as a working parent. Madeline also shares how her definition of ambition has shifted, the role of support systems and daycare, and why comparison at work and in parenting is something she’s actively learning to step away from.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeHow childhood ideas and media shaped Madeline’s early assumptions about adoptionNavigating ethical domestic adoption, choosing an agency, and practicing a child-first approachBuilding a village: support systems, daycare, sick days, and co-parenting logisticsReturning from parental leave into layoffs, a new team, and the pressure to overperformRedefining ambition after becoming a parent and cultivating empathy at work and at homeConnect with Madeline:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madsesmithAdopting On The Job with Madeline SmithWhat Winning the Lottery Taught Me About Team Preparedness and Research ContinuityMadeline Smith is Lead UX Researcher on Cisco’s IT Design Team, where she focuses on enhancing user experiences through thoughtful research and collaboration. Currently, she leads research initiatives for a large-scale project aimed at improving the licensing experience for Cisco’s customers, partners, and employees. Her journey into UX research began in academia, where she earned her Ph.D. in Technology & Social Behavior from Northwestern University and an M.S. in Information Science from Cornell University. She transitioned to industry UX research in 2021 and now draws on her academic roots to execute rigorous research, craft engaging presentations, and mentor junior researchers.Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Maigen Thomas, Founder of Level 11 Technology, accessibility consultant, and neurodivergent advocate for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and designing spaces where everyone can thrive. Maigen draws from her experience in enterprise UX, accessibility audits, and coaching early-career talent to show how we can expand our definitions of success, ability, and leadership.We talk about navigating layoffs, unmasking in business, and how small accessibility shifts can open doors to entire markets. Maigen also shares her vision for apprenticeship models, the long tail of systemic exclusion, and why she’s giving others permission to build differently out loud.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeHow Maigen launched Level 11 after a layoff—and why it was the best thing that could’ve happenedThe impact of neurodivergence, masking, and energy management in corporate spacesBuilding accessible websites that serve the 1.3 billion people with disabilities globallyCreating apprenticeship models that empower underrepresented and neurodivergent talentThe legacy of "ugly laws" and how empathy and inclusion drive Maigen’s advocacy todayConnect with Maigen:https://www.youtube.com/@maigenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maigenhttps://practicaluxbook.com](https://practicaluxbook.com/Maigen Thomas is the founder of Level 11 Technology, an Apprenticeship Agency. She has 10+ years of experience in enterprise software design and product development, and almost as many years of experience teaching and mentoring, most notably as a UX/UI Bootcamp Instructor at UC Berkeley. Maigen's specialization is in website accessibility and she gets excited to empower folks at all levels of business and technology experience with knowledge to ensure inclusive experiences for all of their customers, regardless of their level of ability or disability. Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Anna Vecchi—a first-generation Chinese Italian American graphic designer—for a deeply honest conversation about identity, generational trauma, and learning to define yourself on your own terms. Anna shares how growing up in a predominantly white community shaped her relationship with culture, creativity, and performance, and how reconnecting with her Chinese heritage through her wedding ceremony helped her reclaim a part of herself she'd long tucked away.We talk about the complexities of navigating strained mother-daughter relationships, setting boundaries in adulthood, and what healing looks like over time. Anna offers so much wisdom from her lived experience, and I'm honored to share this conversation with you.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeNavigating identity as a mixed-race, first-generation daughter of immigrantsHow wedding traditions helped Anna reconnect with her Chinese heritageThe pressure of performance and perfectionism in childhood and careerSetting boundaries with a volatile parent and moving toward acceptanceThe role of community and storytelling in healing intergenerational traumaConnect with Anna VecchiConnect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis week, I sit down with psychologist, certified coach, speaker, and creative, Dr. Kimberly Murray, to explore what it means to live and lead as a multi-passionate person. Kimberly shares her journey of integrating multiple roles: scientist, artist, strategist, and mom. We talk about what it looks like to honor your full self without burning out or compromising your values, and how creativity can be a quiet act of self-trust in a world that often demands certainty and conformity.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeFinding the through line between seemingly separate identitiesHonoring creativity without needing to monetize every passionHow motherhood reshaped Kimberly’s perspective on time, values, and perfectionThe power of alignment over obligation when making decisionsHer THREAD coaching framework for multi-passionate womenAbout Dr. Kimberly Murray:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkimberlymurray/https://drkimberlymurray.com/https://www.instagram.com/dr.kimberlymurray/Dr. Kimberly Murray is a Certified Life and Leadership Coach, speaker, psychologist, and creative spirit who helps high-achieving, multi-passionate women lead lives that feel as good as they look on paper. With 20+ years of experience navigating both technical and creative paths—including roles in government, education, entrepreneurship, and even a past life as a professional photographer—she knows firsthand that fulfillment doesn’t come from choosing one lane, but from honoring your full range.Kimberly specializes in helping high achievers tap into their strengths, align with their values, and design lives that support both performance and wellness. Whether she’s coaching, speaking, or hosting her podcast Simultaneity, her message is clear: you don’t have to limit yourself to just one version of success—you can live a rich, resonant “both/and” life.By day, Kimberly is a strategic planner in the federal government; by night (and often early morning), she’s an entrepreneur, mom of two brilliant kids, wife, and advocate for alignment over exhaustion. She holds a PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan, an MS in Biostatistics from Columbia University, and a BS in Psychology from Howard University.Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Kenna Lindsay—interdisciplinary artist, producer, and creative technologist—for a vibrant conversation about creative evolution, clowning, and protecting what matters most. Kenna has moved through photography, circus performance, and now video game production, all while holding a deep commitment to community, play, and making the internet a safer place for kids.We talk about reclaiming joy after injury, the emotional range required in performance art, and how Kenna’s lived experiences have fueled their advocacy work around child safety in games. This conversation is full of heart, humor, and powerful reminders that creativity is a way of being—not just a thing we do.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeHow clowning taught Kenna to embody emotion and practice joy dailyThe transition from live performance to indie game developmentLessons from the circus on collaboration, access, and vulnerabilityAdvocating for safer online spaces for kids in gaming communitiesNavigating identity, visibility, and creative integrity in tech spacesAbout Kenna:Website: https://kennamlindsay.com/Kenna is an interdisciplinary artist and producer. Kenna received a B.F.A from Rochester Institute of Technology. They also studied Physical Theatre at the Circus Center in the Clown Conservatory program. In 2020 they learned how to run an agile distributed circus and in 2021 they were a IGDA Foundation Diverse Game Developers: Virtual Exchange Velocity Program Recipient. They continued to volunteer with the IGDA Foundation in 2022 and 2023 coordinating the Virtual Exchange Velocity Program. Since being part of the Velocity Program Kenna has worked with several global interdisciplinary teams like Soda Den and Coquito Games. Today they endeavor to work with others that promote ethical production practices and focus on players’ fun and safety as key indicators of success through work with the IGDA Child Safety Special Interest Group and the IGDA Foundations in person and virtual programming. Kenna primarily creates out of the Journal Building Artist Residency in the unceded homeland of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe also known as San Francisco, California. Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Liza Kindred—writer, spiritual teacher, and author of F This Meditation—for a spacious, honest conversation about ambition, healing, and reclaiming our stories. Liza shares how she walked away from hustle culture and leaned into a slower, more compassionate way of being. We talk about the systems that keep us moving too fast, the sacred rebellion of self-trust, and the power of doing less in a world that demands more.From deconstructing the wellness industrial complex to embracing a life of protection rituals and radical gentleness, Liza’s wisdom is both grounding and deeply human.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeWhat it means to “retire from ambition” and redefine success on your own termsThe impact of trauma, hustle, and slowing down on the nervous systemLiza’s evolving spiritual practices and intuitive client workHow her memoir reclaims the narrative around systemic harm and healingBoundaries, burnout, and why transformation starts with self-compassionLinks & Resources:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liza_k/ Newsletter: https://www.lizakindred.com/newsletterSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Sahar Chung—Director of Product Strategy at Multiplayer—for a thoughtful conversation about evolving leadership, redefining research, and navigating growth in fast-paced environments. With a background in UX, visual design, and service design, Sahar brings a unique lens to how we lead teams, shift mental models, and stay grounded through change.We talk about the mindset shifts from IC to manager to director, how to avoid burnout in people-first roles, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful leadership tools we have. Sahar also shares how she’s building her leadership practice around intentionality, emotional regulation, and community—on and off the clock.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeThe mindset shifts from individual contributor to manager to directorReframing research as product strategy and leading change with intentionEmotional regulation, transparency, and avoiding the “swoop and poop”Why leadership doesn’t have to be lonely—and how to design your own support systemSahar’s tactile, restorative rituals outside of work (including dog stroller walks and swimming)Links & Resources:Sahar’s website: https://saharchung.comSahar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saharchung Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Brandie Smith—senior UX researcher at 5Tran, mother, and young breast cancer survivor—for a deeply personal conversation about navigating identity through unexpected life transitions. Brandie brings vulnerability, strength, and candor as she shares her journey through cancer, layoff, motherhood, and divorce—all in the span of a few years.We talk about the emotional and physical toll of treatment, what it means to ask for help, and how her definition of success and self has shifted. Brandie also opens up about becoming an advocate for aesthetic flat closure and how she’s using her research mindset to support and educate others.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeThe life-changing diagnosis that followed her 40th birthday and a routine checkupHow being laid off the day after her diagnosis became an unexpected turning pointThe mental and physical toll of treatment—and what she’s still healing fromChoosing to be public about her journey and advocating for other womenRedefining success and boundaries in her return to workLinks & Resources:LinkedIn: Brandie Ward-Smithhttps://askellyn.ai/the-day-after-i-turned-forty-i-was-diagnosed-with-breast-cancerConsidering going flat after mastectomy? Not Putting on a Shirt is the go-to source. It includes support, education, and a directory of surgeons experienced in aesthetic flat closure.Want to understand your breast cancer risk? Use one of these tools to start a personalized conversation with your doctor:IBIS Risk Calculator — Based on data from white women.BWHS Risk Calculator — Designed using data from Black women.Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Lia Fetterhoff—Director of Product Design and Research at Pathstream, creativity coach, and founder of Swishy—for an expansive conversation about creativity, identity, and honoring personal growth across seasons of life. Lia brings nearly two decades of experience in UX and design leadership, paired with her work as an artist and coach, to reflect on how we stay connected to our creative selves through transitions, setbacks, and changing responsibilities.We talk about rebuilding creative confidence after early discouragement, navigating the shift from individual contributor to manager, and how Lia’s side project Swishy has evolved into a multifaceted space for inspiration, reflection, and coaching.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeHow childhood creativity and early judgment shaped Lia’s relationship with artReconnecting with creative intuition after burnout and layoffLessons from mentoring, coaching, and managing design teamsEmbracing seasons of creativity as a working parentThe evolution of Swishy as a playground for curiosity and creative explorationLinks & ResourcesWebsite: swishie.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liafetterhoff/IG: @swishieofficialSubstack: https://swishie.substack.com/Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Amy Santee—career strategist, coach, and former UX researcher—for a rich conversation about values, work, and designing a career on your own terms. Amy brings her background in anthropology, coaching, and UX to the table as we explore the connections between self-research, career alignment, and systems-level change. We talk about the emotional undercurrents of career transitions, the realities of today’s job market, and how Amy’s personal journey into birdwatching helped her reclaim joy and rest outside of work.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeHow anthropology and UX research shaped Amy’s coaching philosophySigns you may be out of alignment with your core values at workNavigating the tension between human-centered design and capitalist systemsWorker identity, organizing, and reclaiming power in tech spacesThe role of hobbies like birdwatching in building a more fulfilling lifeLinks & Resources:Amy’s website: amysantee.comNewsletter: The Jawbreaker – sign up at amysantee.comPodcast: What is Wrong with HiringBook: Working Identity by Herminia IbarraBook: Just Enough Research by Erika HallAmy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amysanteeSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Alla Weinberg, CEO of Spoken Wheel and author of A Culture of Safety, to unpack how relational trauma shows up at work. We explore the difference between calling workplaces "toxic" and naming them for what they often are—abusive. Alla shares her perspective on the emotional toll of modern work environments, how power dynamics perpetuate harm, and why healing at work starts with connection.We also dive into what true safety looks and feels like at work, why shared leadership could be the future, and how trauma from our families of origin is often reenacted in the workplace. It's a powerful conversation for anyone navigating burnout, seeking more humane ways to work, or dreaming of a new model for leadership and collaboration.Topics Discussed in the Episode:Naming workplace trauma and emotional abuseRed flags of unsafety and how to recognize themWhy true safety requires healthy relationships—not just policiesThe case for circular leadership modelsHealing from work trauma and building inner safetyLinks & Resources:Alla's website: spokeandwheel.coBook: A Culture of Safety by Alla WeinbergAlla’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/Alla’s Instagram: @we.are.cyclebreakersHealing Trauma together: fourpercent.orgConnect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of In Her Words, I sat down with Jen Bokoff—activator, connector, strategist, and currently Director of Development at the Disability Rights Fund. Jen brings a grounded and joyful perspective to her work in philanthropy, motherhood, and systemic change. We explored everything from values-aligned leadership to the wonder of becoming a parent, and how burnout and joy intersect in complex times.Jen shared her experience advocating for parental leave, the joyful surprise of bonding with her daughter Eloise, and how play and presence have redefined her rituals and values. This is a tender and insightful conversation for anyone navigating identity shifts and trying to align life with their values—while still laughing through it.Topics Discussed in This EpisodeThe intersectional nature of philanthropy and values-aligned workBurnout, values conflict, and the importance of systemic and personal alignmentJen’s transition into motherhood and the wonder of watching her daughter growAdvocating for parental leave in a global organizationRedefining rituals, play, and joy post-babyConnect with Jen BokoffJen is a connector, agitator, idea mover, and strategist working to make philanthropy more inclusive and democratic. She currently is the director of development for the Disability Rights Fund and serves on the steering committee of the Human Rights Funders Network. She finds immense joy in spending time with family and friends and is proud of being “laughing girl” on the B-roll of several long-ago TV tapings.Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis week, I sat down with Connie Liu, a two-time founder and executive coach who’s currently building Tandem, a coaching and mentorship platform for startup teams. Connie’s career has taken a winding path—from engineering at MIT, to teaching in classrooms, to leading her own ventures—and throughout it all, she’s stayed committed to the idea that change begins with the courage to imagine something better. We talked about how she transitioned from the traditional tech route into education and entrepreneurship, what it’s like to build a business (twice!), and why coaching has been a grounding force in her life.This conversation is packed with stories about forging new paths, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning how to trust yourself—even when it doesn’t all make sense on paper.Topics Discussed in This Episode:How Connie shifted from engineering to education and became a founderThe challenges and mindset shifts of building a company for the first timeWhy storytelling and sales are essential founder skillsThe role of coaching in leadership, growth, and healingBuilding community, emotional honesty, and sustainable paths forwardConnie is a two-time founder and executive coach. She currently runs Tandem, a coaching and mentorship platform for startup teams. In addition, she coaches founders who have launched their idea and are scaling their impact. She is recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 and has an MBA from Stanford and a mechanical engineering degree from MIT. She is passionate about empowering people to reach their highest goals, which is the throughline to all her work.https://www.linkedin.com/in/connieliu95/https://www.trytandem.com/https://joincoachingcorner.com/ Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, I sit down with Stacey Messier, the dynamic General Manager of CIC New England and a true creative force. Together, we explore a deeply personal and often taboo topic: the decision to not have children. Stacey opens up about her family history, intergenerational trauma, and how societal pressures influenced her path. We talk honestly about setting boundaries, redefining motherhood, and how creativity can become a form of birthing and nurturing in its own right.This episode is not just about motherhood; it's about identity, legacy, and honoring our intuition. Stacey shares how her art and leadership work have become her "babies," and we dig into what it means to live a creative life. From building immersive murals to embracing new artistic chapters, Stacey's story is a reminder that creativity, like life, is a process of unfolding, intention, and presence.Topics Discussed in the Episode:Why Stacey chose a child-free lifeNavigating family expectations and boundariesRedefining motherhood through creativityArtistic evolution and community muralsEmbodiment and creative flowCarrying creativity into leadershipLinks & Resources:Stacey Messier's website: www.staceymessier.comStacey on Instagram: @staceymessierartStacey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceymessier/Stacey on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mLWh_gjzfwBook recommendation: Blue Mind by Wallace J. NicholsIf this conversation resonated with you, don’t forget to rate, follow, and share the podcast with a friend. And if you loved it, leave a review—it really helps others discover these important conversations. Thanks for tuning in!Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn Her Words is a podcast for women navigating life’s turning points—with clarity, heart, and a little bit of mess. Hosted by Roberta Dombrowski, each episode features honest reflections and grounded conversations about career shifts, motherhood, identity, and ambition. Whether you're stepping into a new role at work, preparing for a baby, or just figuring out what’s next, this show offers a place to feel seen, supported, and inspired. You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin—just start here.Connect with Roberta on LinkedInSeason 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeGrab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/storeConnect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!