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Show Notes:
Livia Paggi is a political risk consultant, business partner, and mother of three who has always lived life by her own rules. In this episode, she shares her remarkable career journey from helping global investors navigate geopolitical crises to turning around a bankrupt company with colleagues after her second daughter was born. When professional triumph collided with devastating personal loss—losing her third baby just one day before the due date—Livia's perspective on success and meaning was changed forever. She candidly discusses what her therapist called "post-traumatic growth," how loss gave her a laser focus on what truly matters, and why she believes the corporate world's messaging to working mothers can be harmful. We explore the financial realities of making it work with 2 career-focused parents, the crucial role of community and ritual that modern mothers lack, and how motherhood and loss gave her the confidence to go after what she wants. Livia's honesty and refusal to accept the status quo will challenge how you think about integrating career, family, and purpose.
Timestamps:
04:35 – Growing up as an only child but always wanting a big family of 3-4 kids
05:40 – Early career path from development work to political risk consulting for stability and roots
11:10 – First daughter coinciding with promotion: motherhood as confidence booster, not obstacle
18:00 – Second daughter and taking over a bankrupt company as business partners
21:03 – Thriving in chaos and working during maternity leave on "things that move the needle"
23:37 – Financial honesty: spending entire salary on childcare and needing a supportive partner
27:23 – Losing third baby one day before due date and the complete life reset
33:02 – Post-traumatic growth and finding laser focus on what truly matters
40:18 – Transition to public sector work driven by desire to give back to community
44:35 – Quick fire round: resilience lessons, community-based childcare, and advice to pre-kids self
