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Ever feel like balancing career and motherhood is a never-ending juggling act where something’s always about to fall?”

Hello, and welcome back to the Empowered and Unapologetic podcast! I’m your host, Veronica Cisneros, and today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Kathy Sullivan—a powerhouse executive coach and change agent. As the owner of Talent Principles, Kathy has spent years empowering women to break through barriers at work and beyond. She’s here to share some insight into her journey, her work with high-achieving women, and the wisdom from her book, Moms Eat First: Five Principles to Prioritize Yourself and Create the Change You Crave.

Summary

• Reflection is key to self-preservation and understanding what is important to you.
• Rediscovering possibilities is essential to feeding your soul and dreaming big.
• It’s never too late to reset your priorities based on what is important to you.
• Amid adversity, you can reclaim power through choice and perseverance.
• Peace prevails when you release what you can’t control and focus on what you can.
• Organizations can better support working moms by providing flexibility, support, and pay equity.
• Maintain resilience and personal growth by defining self-care, knowing yourself, and celebrating wins.

Building a Career While Raising a Family

Kathy’s story is one of resilience, as she balances her successful career as an executive coach with being a single mom of two. “Day by day,” Kathy says. For her, it was a journey of self-reflection and learning to prioritize herself. She describes how her background in HR and organizational development, coupled with her own life experiences, shaped her approach to empowering women. Kathy understands the unique challenges women face in balancing career aspirations with family life.

“Many women feel guilty about not being able to ‘do it all.’ But self-care is the foundation that lets us show up as the best version of ourselves.” – Kathy Sullivan

Common Barriers for High-Achieving Women

Through her work, Kathy has noticed recurring struggles faced by ambitious women, especially mothers. Guilt often tops the list, as women juggle professional roles, parenting, and societal expectations. This guilt can sometimes turn into what Kathy calls “mom-gree”—a blend of responsibility overload and resentment from trying to do it all.

As a mother and executive, Kathy recognized the need for women to reframe their mindset, letting go of guilt and unrealistic expectations. Kathy encourages women to question: What am I feeling guilty about? Are these responsibilities real, or are they imposed by societal expectations?

“Understanding our guilt and our ‘responsibilities’ lets us release what’s not serving us and helps us create a new vision of balance.” – Kathy Sullivan

The Five Principles to Prioritize Yourself

In Moms Eat First, Kathy outlines five principles—her “Five Rs”—designed to help women prioritize themselves:

1. Reflection: Kathy believes that self-reflection is foundational to self-preservation. By truly understanding your values and needs, you can anchor yourself against external pressures and internal doubts.“Reflection is key. It’s about understanding who you are and what you value—this clarity drives everything else.”
2. Rediscovering Possibilities: It’s easy to get trapped by constraints, whether financial, social, or emotional. Kathy encourages dreaming big and imagining possibilities beyond our self-imposed limits. By shifting our focus to what’s possible, rather than what’s holding us back, we empower ourselves to make real changes.
3. Reframing: Reframe how you view obstacles and challenges. “Sometimes, the expectations we hold ourselves to are societal constructs,” she says. By reframing these, you create space for growth and balance.
4. Resilience: Resilience doesn’t mean doing it all—it’s about setting boundaries, asking for help, and not being afraid to pivot. Kathy points out that resilience is more about adapting than enduring.
5. Releasing Guilt: Guilt can drain your energy and leave you feeling “stuck.” Kathy stresses that we need to release the guilt we feel over not being “enough” in every role. By letting go of guilt, we reclaim the energy to invest in the things that truly matter to us.

Embracing Vulnerability and Seeking Support

Like many of us, Kathy had moments of feeling she needed to prove herself. She explains that learning to ask for help and accept support was a turning point. Vulnerability, she says, isn’t a weakness but a source of strength that connects us to others and reminds us we’re not alone.

I could relate deeply to this. When I faced my own marital challenges, I felt the need to overcompensate as a mother. I felt responsible, and that guilt weighed heavily on me. But as Kathy and I discussed, learning to let go of that burden was a powerful shift.

“Vulnerability doesn’t mean we’re weak—it’s what empowers us to grow and thrive.” – Kathy Sullivan

A New Vision for Working Moms

For working moms feeling stretched thin, Kathy’s Five Principles offer a roadmap to reclaim balance. As she shares, “We need to step back and ask ourselves—what do I want? What’s holding me back?” She encourages women to not just survive, but to thrive by creating a life that aligns with their deepest values and dreams.

In our conversation, Kathy reminded me—and hopefully you, too—that while it may be challenging to juggle it all, prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the foundation for everything else.

So, to all you high-achieving women out there: take a moment to reflect, dream big, and remember that it’s okay to put yourself first.

“Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s the foundation of everything else we do.” – Kathy Sullivan

In life and work, challenges are a given, but learning to navigate them can make all the difference. I’ve faced tough lessons—failing exams, setbacks in business—but each taught me a critical lesson: celebrate the journey, no matter the outcome. Even when I felt I let others down, taking time to recognize progress was a huge shift. Sometimes delays work in our favor, opening doors we didn’t even know existed.

“Still celebrate. Don’t give up just because the outcome isn’t immediate.” – Kathy Sullivan

When it comes to balance, prioritizing what you can control is key. My guest, Kathy, shared her experience with this. For her, the most significant lesson was recognizing that her reactions to challenges weren’t helping her. She emphasized the importance of self-awareness and focusing on the bigger picture. Her journey taught her to be mindful of how her actions influenced others, especially her children.

Embracing Accountability and Letting Go

Setting boundaries can be life-changing, but it’s not always easy. Working with a professional can help avoid the pitfalls of trying to do it alone. I’ve seen many women overcompensate in an attempt to meet everyone’s needs, only to end up exhausted. When they finally set healthy boundaries, they experience a renewed sense of joy and connection in their relationships.

“Letting go of control and accepting reality is hard but incredibly powerful.” – Veronica Cisneros

Boundaries aren’t just about saying no; they’re about reclaiming your energy and showing up fully in both personal and professional spaces. It’s about being okay with not doing it all and knowing that prioritizing yourself benefits everyone around you.

Speak to a Therapist

Our team at Outside the Norm Counseling understands the unique struggles women experience and provides compassionate, tailored care to guide you through difficult times. Don’t face these challenges alone—reach out to us at Outside the Norm Counseling and take the first step toward feeling empowered and supported in your journey. For more information, go to Outside the Norm Counseling or call us at 951-395-3288.

Meet Kathy Sullivan

Kathy Sullivan is a passionate advocate for women, a board-certified executive coach, and the founder of Talent Principles, an organizational development consultancy. Based just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, Kathy empowers women—especially working moms—to navigate the complexities of their careers and personal lives with clarity and confidence. As a single mom to two children and a Great Dane, Kathy understands firsthand the demands of balancing personal and professional roles.

With a Master’s in Organizational Management, an Executive Coaching Certificate from Case Western Reserve University, and certification as a Prosci® Change Management Practitioner, Kathy’s work is both deeply personal and highly skilled. Her book, Moms Eat First: 5 Principles to Prioritize Yourself and Create the Change You Crave, challenges the notion that mothers must choose between being “good moms” and reaching their own aspirations. Through relatable stories and actionable strategies, Kathy guides women to identify what truly matters, prioritize themselves without guilt, and let go of what no longer serves them. In her role as a change agent, author, and keynote speaker, Kathy is dedicated to helping women create meaningful, sustainable changes that enable them to thrive.

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TALK TO A THERAPIST

If you’re feeling stuck and ready to explore these challenges more deeply, consider reaching out for professional help. Here at Outside the Norm Counseling, we’re here to support you on your journey to self-discovery and confidence. For more information, go to Outside the Norm Counselingor call us at 951-395-3288.

Thank you for joining me today. Remember, you are beautiful, you are worthy and empowered. Until next time, stay unapologetically you. Bye for now.

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• Outside The Norm Counseling – 951 395 3288 call to schedule an appointment today!
• 5 Things that are Killing your Marriage Free Guide available at www.veronicacisneros.org

Meet Veronica Cisneros

As a leading authority in women’s empowerment and a fierce advocate for building strong networks, Veronica is your go-to guru for turning fears into victories, struggles into strengths, and doubts into boundless opportunities.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 10 plus years; empowering high-achieving women in business to conquer both professional heights and personal fulfillment. She doesn’t do bandaids!
Veronica has a unique approach to overcoming obstacles and smashing through the glass ceilings that loom over ambitious women. With her arsenal of practical tools, actionable strategies, and unwavering support, Veronica doesn’t just help women succeed in their careers – she helps them thrive in every facet of their lives.

But Veronica’s expertise isn’t just theoretical – it’s personal. With over 24 years of marriage, three daughters, and a soaring career, Veronica embodies the resilience and determination needed to navigate life’s challenges. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Group Private Practice Owner, of Outside The Norm Counseling, Marriage Coach, and the voice behind the Empowered and Unapologetic podcast, Veronica effortlessly guides women to challenge themselves beyond their comfort zones.

Veronica is more than an expert – she’s a partner in transformation, turning mundane relationships into true connections. With her relatable charm and infectious humor, Veronica illuminates the path for women who refuse to settle for anything less than success in both business and relationships. Through practical tips, heartfelt anecdotes, and her trademark wit, Veronica empowers every woman to cultivate unbreakable bonds without sacrificing their ambitions.

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