In this inspiring episode of Women and Work, Delaine Blazek shares how she went from therapist to sales powerhouse—and why she walked away from a toxic tech culture even after hitting #1 on the sales board.

She talks candidly about sexism in the workplace, scaling a business by mentoring women in sales, and launching her own company, Solis Coaching & Consulting.

Diane Moca, founder and CEO of @MomSub, talks with leaders like this every week—follow her for more.

#WorkingWomen #WomenAndWork #MomSub #WomenInBusiness #SalesCoach #EntrepreneurJourney #Leadership #WorkplaceEquality

Visit MomSub.com to learn more.

Michelle Fadeley, a marketing executive, community advocate, and longtime feminist leader, shares her path from navigating male-dominated industries to helping ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois—in our Women and Work podcast.

After more than a decade balancing a full-time career with volunteer leadership in the National Organization for Women, Michelle opens up about what it means to lead with purpose, face systemic barriers, and push through imposter syndrome—all while redefining what ambition looks like.

She talks about building coalitions for gender equality, stepping into high-stakes public service by running for state representative, and how personal choices like marriage and deciding not to have children shaped her ability to lead boldly and unapologetically.

From marketing analytics to advocacy, Michelle’s story is a masterclass in creating impact beyond the 9-to-5—especially when you choose to live a life “bigger than yourself.”

What would you fight for, even if no one was paying you to do it?

Diane Moca, founder and CEO of @MomSub, talks with leaders like this every week—follow her for more.

#WorkingWomen #PurposeDrivenCareer #WomenInLeadership #MarketingExecutive #EqualRightsAmendment #WomenAndWork #MomSub #CareerWithImpact #AuthenticSuccess

Lynette Correa Vélez, a career coach, tech entrepreneur, and mom of one, shares her journey from getting laid off during the Great Recession to launching a social impact startup—and ultimately building a platform aimed at closing the global women’s wage gap—in our Women and Work podcast.

After navigating early career setbacks, becoming a first-time mom in grad school, and juggling life as part of a dual-career household, Lynette opens up about the hard choices working parents face and the power of flexibility, community, and purpose.

She shares what it was like to graduate ten months pregnant, find support in an unexpected childcare provider, and face the “motherhood penalty” head-on. When her mother passed away in 2022, Lynette turned her grief into action—founding a career coaching platform in her mom’s honor.

From running a business in her 20s to creating tech-driven solutions for working women, Lynette offers a raw and inspiring look at what it means to rewrite your story—on your own terms.

What would you change if your work no longer fit your life?

Diane Moca, founder and CEO of @MomSub, talks with leaders like this every week—follow her for more.

#WorkingMoms #CareerPivot #WomenInLeadership #MomLife #Entrepreneurship #WomenAndWork #MomSub #ChildcareSupport #LeadershipDevelopment #AuthenticSuccess

In this episode, we talk with Holly O’Donnell, a leadership consultant and mom of one, about walking away from corporate America after becoming a parent—and accidentally launching a business that took off faster than she imagined. From a demanding three-hour commute to missing her daughter’s first steps, Holly shares the raw turning points that pushed her to redefine success on her own terms.

She opens up about the unexpected challenges of entrepreneurship, including juggling travel with motherhood and overcoming the guilt that comes with both. Holly also shares how she built a new career from her passion for leadership development, the power of community, and why telling people your dream is the first step to making it real.

From quiet beginnings to leading national workshops and writing a book, Holly offers an honest look at what it takes to start over, keep learning, and build a life that actually fits.

What would you change if your work no longer fit your life?

I talk with leaders like this every week—follow me for more.

#WorkingMoms #CareerPivot #WomenInLeadership #MomLife #Entrepreneurship #WomenAndWork #MomSub #ChildcareSupport #LeadershipDevelopment #AuthenticSuccess

In this episode, we talk with Brittney Keller, a marketing leader and mom of two, about navigating leadership in a male-dominated industry while balancing the complex demands of working parenthood. From being mistaken for an intern in her first job to growing into a trusted expert who leads paid media teams, Brittney shares the pivotal moments that helped her find her voice—and her value.

She opens up about the emotional toll of not being taken seriously early in her career, and how supportive mentors helped her shift from frustration to confidence. We also dive into her return-to-work journey after maternity leave, including a powerful story about negotiating benefits while newly pregnant—and the impact of honest conversations with a female boss.

From pushing past self-doubt to mentoring other women today, Brittney offers insights into what it takes to lead with authenticity, ask for what you need, and still be home in time for bedtime stories.

What have you learned about advocating for yourself—at work or at home?

#WorkingMoms #LeadershipJourney #WomenInMarketing #CareerGrowth #MentorshipMatters #ParentingAndCareer #WomenAndWork #MomSub #childcare

In this episode, we talk with Jill, a parent and investigative reporter, about her unexpected journey through a childcare crisis—and the reporting project that grew from it. After moving from New York to Los Angeles with her husband and young daughter, Jill found herself facing limited parental leave, expensive care options, and the impossible math many families are forced to calculate when juggling work and parenting.

Jill opens up about how a moment of breaking down in her car sparked a larger mission to uncover the realities families face when support systems fall short. Through her reporting, she sheds light on how workplaces, communities, and policies can better support caregivers—and how the current system often leaves working parents out to dry.

Whether it’s negotiating with your boss or calling in your in-laws, Jill’s story reminds us that solving childcare isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s a collective one.

What tough decisions have you had to make to stay afloat as a working parent?

#WorkingParents #ChildcareCrisis #ParentingAndCareer #CaregivingSupport #MomSub #WomenAndWork #JournalismForChange #ModernMotherhood

In this episode, we talk with MJ Wexler, a digital consultant, educator, and now children's book author of Moses Could Have Been Selfish. MJ shares how motherhood and a desire to teach empathy through storytelling inspired her to write and self-publish a meaningful Passover story for young readers.

From juggling web design clients and teaching at UCLA to raising her energetic son, MJ reflects on the challenges of parenting, working through exhaustion, and finding creative ways to preserve joy and connection. Her journey is filled withresilience, resourcefulness, and a deep commitment to raising compassionate kids.

Like many working moms, MJ found that the support of nearby family helped her stay afloat. MomSub.com was created to offer that same kind of trusted village for parents who need flexible, reliable help.

What creative solutions have helped you navigate the juggle of parenting and career?

#ChildrenBookAuthor #SelfPublishingJourney#CreativeMoms #MosesCouldHaveBeenSelfish#MomsWhoWrite #childcare#childcarebenefits #WomenAndWork#WorkingMomLife #MomSub

Stephanie Cecil fought hard to bring paid maternity (and paternity) leave to Frontier Credit Union when she worked there as a human resources director. In today’s episode of “Women and Work,” Stephanie explains the creative approach she took to finally get the top brass to agree despite their reservations about the cost.

This example underscores how it takes all of us to make improvements that benefit women and everyone else in the long run.

While the workplace can feel different for women – who may bristle when they have to prove themselves in ways that men don’t or worry they are being evaluated by their physical appearance – it’s not different in other ways because women,like men, want to be paid well for the work we do, find enjoyment and meaning in our work, and receive respect and acknowledgement for our contributions and achievements.

This episode was recorded when Stephanie Cecil was the human resources director for Frontier Credit Union in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Stephanie is now chief human resources officer at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas

I hope Stephanie’s story, and all of these conversations, can move us closer to our goals together.

#humanresources#HR #benefits #paidleave #familyleave #maternityleave #paternityleave #paidmaternityleave #paidpaternityleave #childcare #childcarebenefits