In this episode of Beyond Barriers, you’ll hear a transformative conversation about balancing career ambition with the responsibilities of motherhood. Mel Goodman, a former corporate leader turned entrepreneur, shares her candid journey of navigating the challenges of building a career while raising two young daughters. Mel recounts how she reached her breaking point, burned out, and then rebuilt her life by embracing the idea of becoming the CEO of her own life.
You’ll learn about her powerful inside-out approach to redefining success, grounded in clarity, alignment with values, and a mindset shift toward prioritizing what truly matters. Mel discusses the realities of the mental load, societal pressures, and unspoken biases working moms face—and how she created WorkMom to help other women thrive without compromising their ambition or fulfillment. If you’re ready to reclaim your time, focus, and confidence, this episode is for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Redefining Success: How aligning your career with your values can lead to greater fulfillment and clarity.
- The Power of Choice: Why becoming the CEO of your own life starts with realizing you have control over your priorities.
- Overcoming Burnout: Practical strategies for managing the mental load and creating balance in work and motherhood.
- Confidence Through Clarity: How identifying your core values and vision can empower you to make decisions that align with your goals.
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[00:26] Redefining Success: A Personal Journey
[01:03] Challenges of Working Mothers
[01:18] Mel Goodman's Story
[03:10] Balancing Career and Motherhood
[05:04] The Impact of COVID-19
[06:25] Realizations and New Beginnings
[08:42] The Grow Framework
[11:15] Integrating Life and Career
[13:06] The Importance of Reflection and Clarity
[19:10] Building Confidence and Resilience
[23:17] Entrepreneurial Journey
[25:06] Identifying the Need for a New Perspective on Working Motherhood
[26:12] Building Confidence and Resilience as an Entrepreneur
[26:18] Daily Habits and Rituals for Success
[28:39] Balancing Work and Family Without Childcare
[29:59] Empathy and Support for Working Parents in the Workplace
[35:56] The Importance of Networking and Mentorship
[46:17] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch AlbomQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better. -Maya AngelouQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: EmpatheticQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Living in alignment with my values.Q: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: Proud Mary - Tina TurnerQ: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: I want my legacy to be that I empowered women, especially working moms, to reclaim their lives by helping them realize that true success doesn't come from doing more or achieving external milestones. It comes from aligning their actions with their values and focusing on what truly matters. -
Quotes
The biggest lesson I learned wasn't just that I had choice. It was that I'm in control. And I think that most people look for external fixes, more time, more support, or changes at work. But I don't think that we can rely on society or the government or companies to save us.
Mel Goodman
We all change when we become moms, whether we want to believe that or not. But so much changes in our lives. And it's really important for us to take the time to reflect and identify who that new person is.
Mel Goodman
The very first thing I did was getting very clear on what I now value in my life, what really matters to me, so that I could prioritize those things and simplify the rest and delegate the rest, outsource the rest.
Mel Goodman
Take a pause to really identify what you want in this next phase of your life and your career without sacrificing the career that you had built up until a pause.
Mel Goodman
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About
Mel Goodman is a seasoned corporate leader turned entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in tech and hospitality, where she built and led successful sales teams. As a mom to two young girls, Mel understands the challenge of balancing a demanding career with the responsibilities of motherhood.
These experiences fueled her mission to help ambitious moms succeed in their careers while being the moms they want to be, without burnout. As the founder of WorkMom, she empowers working mothers to confidently manage their dual roles without compromising on impact or fulfillment.
WorkMom's flagship program, The Collective, is a membership platform that includes a step-by-step success path, workshops, masterclasses, and networking - all designed to help working moms excel both at home and in their careers.