Welcome back to Mama, what's next? For all the mid-career women and moms looking to roles that are filled with more purpose, more impact, more contribution to people and society - Corporate Social Responsiblity might be a great choice for you.

Today I talk about my own career change story and how I transitioned from marketing to Corporate Responsibility.

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Ehrlichkeit und Authentizität zahlen sich aus.

In dieser Episode erkunde ich mit Recruiterin Sarah Ann Johnson die kraftvolle Rolle von Authentizität und Offenheit auf dem beruflichen Weg. Sarah teilt, wie ein ehrlicher LinkedIn-Post, in dem sie über Fehlentscheidungen und ihre eigene Arbeitslosigkeit sprach, eine überraschende Welle an Unterstützung und Jobmöglichkeiten auslöste. Wir sprechen über die Angst, als gescheitert wahrgenommen zu werden, und warum gerade die Verletzlichkeit uns stärken kann. Sie erzählt, wie sie ihren Weg zu einem erfüllenderen Job gefunden hat und was wir alle daraus lernen können, wenn wir uns authentisch und ungeschönt zeigen.

Auch wenn der Sound ab und zu etwas holprig ist – die Technik wollte diesmal nicht so richtig mitspielen - hoffe ich dennoch, dass ihr euch ein paar hilfreiche Anregungen mitnehmen könnt, sei es für eigene Erfolge, Misserfolge oder die nächste Entscheidung auf eurem beruflichen Weg.

Enjoy & Viel Spaß beim Zuhören!

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Welcome back to Mama, what's next? Today with my working mom advice session on how I create magic soul nurturing mornings that actually work, yes!

Because let's be honest, who gets up at 5am? (even though I loved Robin Sharma's book the 5am Club)

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Welcome back to the 2nd episode with with career strategist Daniela Sarmiento. We are here to discuss self-advocacy, personal branding, and breaking through the barriers that often hold us back in our careers. Daniela reveals how the biggest "no" often comes from within and encourages listeners to advocate firmly for their needs and non-negotiables at work, especially during the hiring or promotion process.

We explore her tips on confidently negotiating terms that align with your values and lifestyle and staying transparent about your life circumstances (like parenting needs). For example your non-negotiables. Daniela emphasizes the importance of presenting yourself as a sought-after candidate, even if you’re just starting out, and shares how identifying and communicating your unique strengths can attract career opportunities in unexpected ways.

Key takeaways include Daniela’s insights on setting boundaries, overcoming fear of rejection, and practical tips for building a supportive professional network. Tune in for an empowering discussion on showing up authentically, making strategic career moves, and taking charge of your professional journey, no matter your starting point.

Talking points are:

• The importance of having a personal brand message
• Why you need to have a career portfolio defined
• Ways to exude executive presence to attract more leadership opportunities
• Self-doubt often holds individuals back from achieving their goals.
• Networking and mentorship are crucial for professional growth.
• Women often face unique challenges in the workplace.
• Negotiating work-life balance is vital for personal well-being
• Defining your non-negotiables in your job
• Authenticity in professional settings fosters trust and connection.
• Career transitions require self-discovery and clarity.

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Dein Kind fordert immer mehr Eigenständigkeit, und du fühlst dich manchmal an deine Grenzen gebracht? Heute sprechen wir darüber, warum diese Phase nicht nur für dein Kind entscheidend ist, sondern auch eine unglaubliche Chance für dein eigenes Wachstum birgt.

In dieser Folge von Mama, What’s Next? habe ich die großartige Jana Kuderna zu Gast, eine erfahrene Psychotherapeutin für Kinder und Jugendliche. Gemeinsam tauchen wir in die herausfordernde Phase der kindlichen Autonomieentwicklung ein – eine Zeit, die sowohl für Mütter als auch für Kinder spannend und intensiv ist. Jana erklärt, wie die kindliche Seele unermüdlich nach Eigenständigkeit strebt und warum es für Mütter so wichtig ist, in dieser Phase ihre eigenen ungelösten Themen zu erkennen.

Wir sprechen darüber, wie gesunde Aggressionen bei Kindern ein Zeichen von psychischer Entwicklung sind und wie Mütter, die sich getriggert fühlen, dies als Chance zur eigenen inneren Befreiung nutzen können. Jana zeigt auf, dass der Weg zur Selbstbestimmung der Mutter der Schlüssel zu einer gesunden Mutter-Kind-Beziehung und zur Förderung der kindlichen Eigenständigkeit ist.

In diesem inspirierenden Gespräch erfährst du, wie du als Mama den Abnabelungsprozess deines Kindes als Möglichkeit für dein persönliches Wachstum nutzen kannst – und wie dies die Basis für eine stärkere und klarere Bindung schafft.

Freu dich auf ein tiefgehendes Gespräch voller wertvoller Einsichten und praktischer Tipps!

Themen:

• Autonomiephase: Was passiert mit unseren Kindern und wie gehen wir als Mamas damit um?
• Gesunde Aggressionen: Warum sie wichtig sind und wie sie unsere Kinder in die Eigenständigkeit führen.
• Triggerpunkte bei Müttern: Wie ungelöste Themen aus der eigenen Kindheit uns beeinflussen.
• Wie wir als Mütter durch die Erziehung unserer Kinder innerlich wachsen können.

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In todays episode I speak with Executive Career Coach and Personal Branding Expert Daniela Sarmiento from Barcelona who shares with me why personal branding becomes increasingly important in todays world.

Daniela shares her experience in transitioning from working as a recruiter and headhunter to starting her own personal branding and image consulting business. She speaks about helping professionals, particularly those in leadership roles, stand out by improving how they communicate, not just in their CVs but also in person. It's about making sure their personality, leadership, and values shine through in interviews and conversations.

We explore the challenges women face in the workplace, including self-doubt and the need for mentorship. The discussion highlights the necessity of authenticity, negotiation skills, and the impact of executive presence.

We also discuss the importance of building a personal brand, especially for introverts who might find it challenging to stand out. She offers guidance on how women can craft a strong personal image that reflects not only skills but also presence and personality. We touch on networking, self-presentation, and the ongoing process of personal transformation, encouraging people to take control of their professional narrative. Often, people are so used to their roles that they forget to showcase their unique strengths, which is crucial for career growth.

Talking points are:

• The importance of having a personal brand message
• Why you need to have a career portfolio defined
• Ways to exude executive presence to attract more leadership opportunities
• Self-doubt often holds individuals back from achieving their goals.
• Networking and mentorship are crucial for professional growth.
• Women often face unique challenges in the workplace.
• Negotiating work-life balance is vital for personal well-being
• Defining your non-negotiables in your job
• Authenticity in professional settings fosters trust and connection.
• Career transitions require self-discovery and clarity.

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Your decisions are only as good as the information you have. As your information changes, so should your decisions.

At one point in my career I approached an Australian beauty media company to create a joint venture and launch their business in Europe. I partnered with a very close friend. Which made matters even worse when I started to realize that this is not the right path for me. It became my biggest founders f*kk up. Lots of money down the drain and a very close friendship ruined.

So why did I no longer want to do it?

I realized the legal setup was increasingly unideal for me.

I learnt that my friend and I were not suited for the roles we were meant to take on.

I learnt that what I was meant to do going forward in the business did not bring me joy.

So in essence - I learnt A LOT.

About myself.

About friendships and work partnerships.

About strengths in work and business.

About fluffy ideas and the reality of founding a company.

I hope you enjoy the conversation.. with myself.

Did you enjoy this episode? If you feel someone would benefit from listening to it, please share it with friends or on social media via screenshot :) and rate Mama, what's next? on iTunes or Apple Podcasts, so these stories reach even more mamas.

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Mini Gift for you

8 Schritte zum Traumjob: So gelingt der Wiedereinstieg für Mütter spielend leicht

A journey of pain to purpose

Imagine battling the heartache of infertility, navigating the complexities of IVF treatments, and lastly trusting someone else to carry your hopes for a family.

Now imagine losing it all. Twice.

This episode takes you deep into the raw, emotional journey of IVF, surrogacy, loss and grief.

Hear how Lia struggled to balance her high-pressure career as an executive with fertility treatments and how she moved through unimaginable heartbreak into hope—and why the conversation around workplace support, surrogacy, and IVF is more urgent than ever.

In todays episode of Mama, what's next? Lia de Feo shares her deeply personal journey through motherhood, fertility challenges, and the heartbreaking loss of her two children. She discusses the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, and the importance of intuition when it comes to our own bodies. We talk about the complexities of surrogacy, and the emotional rollercoaster of IVF that many women have to go through. Lia talks about the need for support and understanding for those navigating similar paths and shares her mission to help others through their struggles.

Ultimately, she reflects on how her own grief and heartbreaking experiences have moved her to connect even deeper with spirituality and explore what deeper meaning her journey could have. Ultimately asking herself the question: can I make something positive, out of my pain? This then led her to advocate for womens reproductive rights in New York and now she work on a book about her own journey and the history of reproductive rights.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Motherhood Begins

03:03 Navigating Fertility Challenges

06:10 The Heartbreaking Loss of a Child

12:02 The Importance of Self-Advocacy

15:00 Exploring Surrogacy as an Option

20:06 The Complexities of Surrogacy

24:46 The Emotional Rollercoaster of IVF

30:04 Finding Hope After Loss

36:01 The Birth of a New Hope

42:06 Turning Pain into Purpose

47:52