In this episode, I chat with Jess Galica - a beacon of structured thinking and people management, whose insights are shaping the way we see the pursuit of success as women. Have you ever felt lost amidst the stars of your career path? Jess's journey and the platform "Reclaim Your Career" might just be the gravity assist you need to get back on course. We'll navigate the challenges women face in the workplace, from biases and hurdles to the often-unseen impact of caregiving responsibilities. You'll hear how women of color and those with marginalized identities experience these obstacles even more acutely and why it's critical to address systemic issues, not just individual efforts, to foster true change. Get ready to reframe your perspective on success with Jess's thought-provoking questions and discover how to navigate work-life balance with intention. And of course, there’s a therapeutic exercise that might just untangle some of those self-limiting stories we tell ourselves, which I can't wait to share with you. Timestamps: 00:00 Regretful of not following own aspirations earlier. 06:25 Pressure on women to have it all. 10:29 Women face challenges in workforce and caregiving. 14:16 Writing goals, distilling insights, caring about people. 16:44 "Prioritize over balance, accept it won't feel good." 21:34 Success in career as a generalist, not specialist. 24:50 Parenthood brings calm, clarity, and prioritization skills. 26:52 Parenthood improves boundary-setting and boosts productivity. 30:19 Embracing and challenging personal stories for growth. About Jess: Jessica Galica is the bestselling author of Leap: Why It's Time to Let Go to Get Ahead In Your Career. Before publishing Leap, Jess spent 15 years building a successful corporate career at some of the world's most prestigious companies like Apple, Bain, and Siemens. In 2020 she began researching and writing about women's experiences in the workplace, as she craved a more authentic and purposeful career after stepping into motherhood. Today Jess works as a leadership and career coach and speaks to organizations about building meaningful careers, advancing women, and the delicate balance between life and work. She holds an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management and lives in Boston where she is a mom to two young children. Connect with Jess: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessgalica/ Website - https://www.reclaimyourcareer.co/coaching Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/ Listen on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wij --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elenaagar/support