In this heartfelt and empowering conversation, I sit down with my friend Glauci Fernandes – an accomplished program leader with a global career at companies like Disney and Mattel, and now, a mother navigating purpose and ambition with grace. Glauci opens up about moving abroad, learning to lead in different cultures, and how motherhood reshaped her view of success and identity. We also dig into the pressure women feel to “choose” between career and family, and why Glauci believes becoming a mother made her more creative, more productive, and more powerful.If you’ve ever felt torn between ambition and motherhood, or unsure if the timing of your life matches society’s expectations, this one is for you!

00:00 Introducing Glauci: Global career, big transitions, and building community

2:30 What does a program manager do?

4:08 Ambition, moving abroad, and working in the US and Brazil 10:16 Ambition and motherhood 13:15 Meeting your partner in your 30s

16:15 Having kids in your 40s & realizing what really matters

23:00 Traveling the world

27:03 Maternity leave and the 1st year after having a baby

34:00 Learning to be ok with what we can't control

36:00 Are good mothers always "selfless"?

40:15 The maternal instinct

42:28 Your kid makes you want to live longer

44:04 Guilt and control

46:30 Advice to future mothers and women afraid of losing their careers

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