I spent years building a corporate career I loved at Fortune 500 companies. I got my start at Philip Morris International, where I learned how to dissect data through market research. At the ad agency Alcone Sim’s O’Brien, I discovered the power of creative messaging. At Revlon, I mastered brand management in an image-driven world and learned that every woman wants to feel beautiful. And at Bristol Myers-Squibb, I led direct-to-consumer marketing efforts -- TV, print, radio and CRM. It’s all about attention, impact, trust and true connection of brands with real people.

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I loved my professional life and I was climbing steadily. Then, everything came to a screeching halt. I became pregnant with my second child and unexpectedly placed on bedrest for five months. That changed everything.

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Suddenly, my husband and I had to make decisions we weren’t prepared for, about our careers, our roles in our young family and how to hold everything together without family nearby to help. I didn’t know how to do both -- career and motherhood -- and succeed at both.

So I chose what many women choose. I sacrificed my corporate career. The decision hurt but it was necessary.
I stepped back.

That was the first big sacrifice I made for my family and it wouldn’t be the last.

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Eventually, I found my way back. I transitioned into consulting for the flexibility, then stepped into entrepreneurship to build a business on my own terms. But as my kids grew older and I regained a little more me-time, I started asking deeper questions.