Marilyn Vetter is a shining example of what it means to lead with heart. ♥️⁠ Driven and accomplished, she built an impressive career—but along the way, she discovered that true success isn’t just about titles or milestones. It’s about presence, peace, and purpose.⁠

In her chapter "Chasing Contentment" from Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, Marilyn shares the moment she chose to step away from the cycle of overwork and embrace a more fulfilling way forward.⁠

Now, as CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, she’s aligning her work with her values—restoring millions of acres of conservation habitat and modeling for her team that balance + boundaries matter just as much as results. Marilyn is the kind of leader I always wished for — her team is LUCKY to have her! 🌟⁠

Marilyn's story is an impactful reminder that you can achieve extraordinary things while living a life that feels grounded, joyful, and complete. I loved this conversation and can't wait for you to hear Marilyn's wisdom 💛

🌟 Connect with Marilyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynvetter/ | Instagram: instagram.com/vetter_marilyn/

📗 You can read Marilyn's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Sometimes life presses pause on the path you thought you were on—and you're left to navigate what comes next. ✨

In this episode, we explore Dr. Susan E. Borrego's chapter "Letting Go of Being Let Go" from the best-selling book Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go. Sue speaks with grace and strength as she shares the raw truth of being pushed out of a successful leadership role—not for performance, but for politics—revealing the silence and grief that followed, and how she ultimately found her way back to herself. 💫

She opens up about the experience of letting go, rebuilding her sense of self, and choosing to lead with presence and purpose—no matter the circumstance. Sue's story is a beautiful reminder that our jobs don't define us—and sometimes, what feels like an ending is an invitation to step into something more aligned.

Our conversation ends where all great leadership should begin—rooted in love.

I'm so grateful to call Sue a friend and to share her wisdom, her grace, and her courage with you. 💛

🌟 Connect with Sue on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanborrego/

💛 Sue's Website: https://www.sueborrego.com/

🌟 Sue’s TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlRxqC0Sze4

📗 You can read Sue's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you really want… is a story you’ve been holding onto for too long? A story that says, “You need to have it all figured out.” “Certainty is safer than possibility.” “You’re not ready.”

This week on The Flourish Careers Podcast, I’m talking with Dominique Luster—archivist, storyteller, and founder of The Luster Company, where she’s devoted to preserving and uplifting Black narratives.

As an archivist, Dominique’s work is all about collecting and preserving stories. In her chapter, “The Lies We Hold,” from Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, she realized there were also stories she was holding about herself that were quietly keeping her stuck.

When faced with personal loss and the uncertainty of a changing world, Dominique reached a crossroads. The life she was living no longer fit the person she was becoming. And like any good archivist, she got curious. Her inspiration was Charity, her fifth great-grandmother, a woman who, against all odds, built a life, a business, and a lasting legacy.

This is a story about letting go of certainty. A story about creating a legacy. About choosing curiosity over perfection and trusting that with the right mindset, strategy, and a seed of faith… You can (and will) figure it out.

🌟 Connect with Dominique on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiqueluster/ | and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelustercompany/

💛 Website, The Luster Company: https://www.thelustercompany.com/

📗 You can read Dominique's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️ For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Imagine how different our work environments could be if every leader approached challenges with compassion.

Imagine how much more fulfilling our careers would feel if kindness led the way.

Now, imagine what’s possible when we let go of the self-sabotaging behaviors that keep us stuck—isolating, self-medicating, or holding onto past pain—and step into a life where we show up with intention and purpose.

In this episode, I talk with Amy Quesenberry, founder of Start With Compassion, as she shares her story of releasing past trauma and embracing a life guided by compassion. And let me just say—Amy is the real deal. I had the joy of spending a few days with her in real life, and she radiates compassion. It’s not just something she talks about—it’s how she moves through the world. She listens with her whole heart, greets everyone with joyful, grounded energy, and somehow always knows how to lighten the moment with a perfectly timed laugh.

Amy's story is a reminder that there’s another life waiting for us—we just have to be brave enough to find it. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about letting go and choosing compassion as a way of life.

📗 You can read Amy's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Amy: https://linkin.bio/start_with_compassion

💛 Website: Start With Compassion:https://startwithcompassion.com/

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️ For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

What if the bravest thing you could do is slow down?

After years working in academia, with no real summers off, Jackie Cetera made a bold move: she let go of the hustle, tuned into her intuition, and finally gave herself the break she desperately needed.

What followed was a season of sunshine and self-discovery that changed everything. 😎

In this week’s episode, I’m delighted to share my conversation with Jackie Cetera—founder of JNC Innovations, a champion of women’s empowerment, and one of the most extraordinary experience creators I’ve ever seen in action. No detail is missed!💚

With humor and a whole lot of heart, Jackie walks us through what it means to let go of a former version of yourself—and how letting go isn’t giving up, it’s making space for something far more meaningful.

Her story is a beautiful reminder that we’re allowed to pause and create a life that lights us up from the inside out. 💫⁠

📗 You can read Jackie's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Jackie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-cetera/

💛 Website: JNC Innovations: https://linktr.ee/jncinnovations

🌟 Meet all the courageous women rewriting the rules of success: https://course.flourish.careers/Lessons-In-Letting-Go

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️ For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Let’s talk about something real…⁠ Fear. Doubt. Uncertainty.⁠

They have a sneaky way of showing up anytime we’re considering a change, especially when it’s tied to our careers or sense of purpose.⁠

Dr. Shawnté Elbert knows that feeling. When life threw her a curveball, she realized she had a choice: let fear run the show or practice something different.⁠

Her choice? Inhale faith. Exhale fear.⁠

It’s not just a one-time thing. It’s a practice and a mantra—a way of moving forward even when the next step feels unclear. With honesty, humor, and heart, Shawnté shares how she navigated big life pivots, embraced uncertainty, and discovered the value of rewriting her story. Her path is a reminder that fear often signals growth, not failure.⁠

If you're standing at a crossroads, feeling unsure of what’s next, this conversation will meet you right where you are and inspire you to take your next tiny, brave step forward.⁠

📗 You can read Shawnté's entire chapter in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go, available now on Amazon https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Shawnté on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnteelbert/

💛 Websites: Elbert Innovative Solutions: https://elbertsolutions.my.canva.site/eis | Sister Wells: https://www.sisterwells.org/

📗 Blog, Dr. E Speaks! Using words to heal and inspire: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/dr-e-speaks-7190711196314959873/

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

What happens when you listen and act on your intuition? A beautiful partnership and a bold collaboration begin. Today, we’re kicking off a very special season—one dedicated to celebrating the women behind the book Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go. To launch the series, I’m joined by the dynamic duo who brought this project to life: Jen Pestikas and Hope Mueller.

Together, they describe their collaboration as naïve joy—a blend of trust, inspiration, and the belief that something magical happens when women come together to share their stories.

In this heartfelt conversation, we explore the spark behind the Brave Women at Work book series, why letting go became the theme of this latest collection, the courage it takes to release old identities, roles, or expectations, and an extra-special behind-the-scenes peek at the magic that unfolded along the way.

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot or simply feeling the call to release something, you’ll feel supported here. Stay tuned—this season is packed with stories that are honest and wildly inspiring.

📗 Buy the book! Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go: https://amzn.to/43X5Dq6

🌟 Connect with Hope Mueller https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-mueller-3167896/

🌟 Connect with Jen Pestikas https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferpestikas

💛 Check out CLIMB conferences https://www.climbconferences.com/about

🎧 Related Episodes: Special Edition: Brave Women, Bold Stories, A Celebration of Letting Go: https://flourish.careers/brave-women-letting-go/

🌟 Ready to Let Go? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Is your work starting to feel a little… meh?

Before you toss everything out the window and start fresh, hang tight—sometimes, all it takes is a slight shift to bring back that spark. In today's episode (the season 8 finale!), we're tackling creative rituals—simple practices that can help you feel more energized, inspired, and connected to your work.

These aren't big, dramatic changes. We're talking about tiny, meaningful moments that add up—like screen-free evenings, curiosity lists, or a good old-fashioned mood board. Whether you're in a season of change, feeling stuck in your routine, or just craving more joy in your day-to-day, this conversation is for you.

And a quick peek ahead—Season 9 is coming soon!

In a few weeks, we're kicking off a very special series inspired by Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go. I'll chat with my co-authors about the stories behind the book—stories of reinvention, release, and what it means to let go in your career and your life.

Make sure you're subscribed to the Flourish Careers newsletter for updates, special savings, and a dose of heart-based career inspiration.

The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

🌟 Feeling stuck? Fried to Flourishing career change experience offers career clarity, resume refresh, and job search coaching. Use code PODCAST for $50 off!

💛 Stay in touch! Newsletter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest | Freebies + Shop

🖋️For detailed show notes, visit the Flourish Careers Blog

Please note that I value confidentiality. In cases where real-life experiences are recounted, names may be changed, or stories are shared with direct permission from those involved.