For many of us, our careers are not just about meeting deadlines or achieving goals—they reflect our values and passions. As a result, the way we engage with our work can shape our overall well-being in meaningful ways.
We spoke with 38 inspiring women leaders from the Dreamers & Doers community to explore how their approach to work directly enhances their lives. From setting boundaries to nurturing creativity, they’ve discovered that intentional work can bring joy, balance, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Ultimately, these reflections demonstrate how small shifts in how we work can make a significant difference. If you’re looking to be more mindful in how you approach your to-do list and what that means for your body and mind, their insights could be exactly what you need.
Bernice Chao
Chief Creative Officer at TDW+Co, understanding community audiences, developing meaningful campaigns, and precisely deploying relevant content across channels.
“My work allows me to channel creativity into purposeful storytelling that uplifts underrepresented voices. This not only gives me a sense of fulfillment but also helps me stay connected to my cultural roots and community. The process of crafting narratives that resonate with others gives me a deep sense of purpose and joy. This enhances my emotional and mental well-being. This creative outlet acts as a form of self-expression and therapy, allowing me to balance work demands with personal growth and mindfulness.”
Madeline Moitozo
Founder and CEO of Juniper Media, a female-founded media company harnessing the power of journalistic storytelling to create social change.
“My company exists to shed light on people’s lived experiences. The brands I work with know that reflecting real voices makes a difference in resonating with their target audience. This year alone, I’ve interviewed women living in red states who were denied abortions and parents whose children have severe asthma caused by extreme weather due to climate change. People have said things like, ‘The only other person I’ve shared this with is my therapist,’ or ‘I didn’t realize how much it would mean to have my story be a part of a bigger movement.’ It’s deeply fulfilling to discover stories that matter. But more so, it’s fulfilling to know the people telling them feel seen, heard, and valued by being a part of something bigger than themselves.”
Ashley Chang
Co-Founder and CEO of Sundays, an executive assistant service to accelerate parents in their careers while creating more quality time with family.
“Our customers are working parents. We give them time back by taking work and family admin off of their plate so they can do the work that lights them up. Every day, I get to hear from parents about the impact the people on our team have made. It’s the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. Getting to focus all of my energy on a problem I care about is very motivating.”
Amy Crutchfield
Founder and CEO of The Fractional Coach, an on-demand, chat-based mobile app, where you get to ask your most pressing career questions.
“In both executive search and career coaching, I am helping someone through a very important aspect of their life. Whether someone is out of work, feeling stuck, or just doesn’t know what steps to take, helping someone achieve professional success and fulfillment is a way of paying it forward. It feels enormously gratifying. Knowing you’ve positively impacted someone’s life, their ability to earn a good income, and provided them with a career path that sets the trajectory for their professional life is highly rewarding.”
Charmaine Green-Forde
Founder and CEO of Chapter tOO, LLC, an organizational and leadership development consultancy leveraging data-backed people insights to optimize engagement and strategy.
“I leverage structured blocks and give myself grace when things don’t go as planned. These blocks include dedicated time for connecting with others, focused work, and uninterrupted quiet periods at the start of each day. This balance enhances my productivity and overall sense of fulfillment.”
Aditi U. Joshi
Founder of Nagamed Digital Consulting, offering services to health systems, digital health startups, and individuals looking to evaluate their products and increase engagement.
“I am an emergency medicine physician and, after burning out twice, I had to figure out what was most important to me and reframe my relationship with work. I decided to create a job with freedom and the ability to make decisions for myself, while still having a positive impact. Knowing that we can always change our career trajectory and even title has made me much happier.”
Stephanie Skryzowski
Founder and CEO of 100 Degrees Consulting, providing CFO and bookkeeping services to nonprofits around the globe.
“My work is helping nonprofits manage their financial resources well so they can be more sustainable and create a greater impact on the world. This positively impacts my own well-being because I have seen firsthand how a well-run organization can create generations of change with their work in education, economic development, healthcare, and more. Knowing that my financial management and analysis can help nonprofit leaders make decisions to increase their organization’s impact helps me keep going and remain positive about my work when things get tough.”
Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC
Disability Public Speaker, DEIA Consultant, and Content Creator at Blindish Latina LLC, helping organizations become more inclusive and accessible through speaking and consulting.
“I love to set boundaries with my calendar and meeting availability. I take five weeks off from meetings/speaking engagements every summer. This is my third year doing that. I also don’t take meetings on Mondays or Fridays. This helps me have time for focused work and breaks. Having too many meetings is stressful and drains my energy. Setting these boundaries positively impacts my overall well-being.”
Kelli Kristin Binnings
Chief Brand Strategist at Build Smart Brands, helping business owners become brand leaders by showing them what’s possible when authenticity, purpose, and meaning align.
“My process over the years has evolved from leading with design and aesthetics to learning how to shape the boundaries and limits of creativity through the brand-building process. Kind of like carving a sculpture; it’s the removal and shaping of the piece of marble that makes the art. Working through the process is a cathartic experience for me. I am uncovering what’s necessary and removing what isn’t; shaping the brand, the team, and all the parts that impact a brand’s meaning. Working with teams that understand this stepped, structured part of brand-building gives me the freedom to explore what’s possible, create a plan for how we get there, and brings me immense joy through my work. To me, there’s no greater positive impact than the joy found in meaningful work.”
Tiffany Yu
Founder and CEO of Diversability, an award-winning community business on a mission to elevate disability pride, build disability power, and advance disability leadership.
“I often tell people that I’m building and funding the things I wish existed when I was younger. After I became disabled when I was nine, I felt extremely socially isolated and excluded. It made me viscerally understand how important social connection, healthy relationships, and community were to our well-being. A disability community is what I so desperately wanted growing up, so I created what many today know as Diversability. Thanks to the community that I built, I not only found my voice and became proud of my disability identity, but I also get to empower others to do the same.”
Christina Langdon
Founder of Christina Langdon High Performance Coaching & Consulting, helping CEOs and visionary leaders redefine success.
“I teach the science of achieving extraordinary goals from a practice of deepening awareness and imagination. When you visualize or imagine a bigger, better, and more joyful future, your present becomes better. I do this daily, making decisions today based on my desired future. It starts with building belief without certainty ahead of results. My years of daily anxiety and nervous energy have been replaced with a sense of purpose from this practice. I’ve taught this to my clients with big results for five years, which fills me up and feeds my well-being.”
Emily Luk
Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, revolutionizing how couples manage their finances and uncovering powerful insights into couple dynamics and financial management.
“I started Plenty with my husband because we believed that couples could be wealthier and happier if money was made simpler. What started off as a journey to build a financial platform for couples with better investment products, rapidly turned into a deep dive into learning and immersing ourselves in the world of relationships. Due to the nature of our business, we’ve brought on Esther Perel as an advisor. Our relationship has benefited so much from learning from her. I’ve also studied behavioral finance, relationship therapy exercises, and ways to improve communicating as a couple, which has inadvertently made me a better partner, friend, and daughter.”
Cynthia Hellen
Founder of RYLEN, designing sustainable solutions that not only address global challenges but also transform lives.
“Our focus on cross-cultural collaboration deeply enriches my sense of purpose and well-being. Working closely with diverse communities around the globe not only expands my worldview but also nurtures empathy and connection. This profound engagement fuels my creativity and passion, reminding me daily that our efforts are contributing to a more just and sustainable world.”
Catalina Parker
Co-Founder of Relatable Nonprofit, empowering people to transform their nonprofit careers into thriving consulting businesses.
“People who work in nonprofits are exceptional humans. They have big hearts and dreams. It’s incredibly rewarding to support these professionals during critical life transitions like career changes. Our students are driven by compassion and ambition. Helping them is not only a privilege but also brings me joy because I can relate to them.”
Lara Grant
Meditation and Well-being Coach at Mind Body Soul Travel, offering 21-day meditation and journaling programs and one-on-one personalized coaching to help people heal at the root.
“My work requires that I practice what I preach in terms of taking care of my well-being. I often look to my own experience to inform what I share when it comes to managing stress, releasing difficult emotions, and cultivating self-compassion. It’s also important for me to show up centered and loving when I’m leading. That means I must first prioritize my self-care needs. It’s a beautiful way that my clients inspire me to show up for myself so I can show up in service of others.”
Karimah Hudda
Founder of illumine.earth, a leadership, strategic advisory, and systems shifting enterprise born to purpose.
“My purpose is to defeat inequality so that everyone can rise. Every time I do purpose-aligned work, it fills me up. Every time I unlock a leader’s or team’s potential to have a positive impact at a speed and scale they previously thought impossible, I nourish my purpose.”
Emma Tessler
Founder and CEO of Ninety Five Media, a woman-owned and -operated digital marketing agency specializing in creating high-converting content that triples client growth.
“Every entrepreneur is faced with more ‘no’s’ than ‘yeses.’ While most people wouldn’t look at this as a positive, I do. Personally I think this is one of the biggest blessings in disguise for entrepreneurs. It trains you to find another way and build tough skin. Being rejected more times than you can count has taught me perseverance, dedication, and adaptability. I then apply this lesson to all other facets of my life as well. It has positively impacted my overall well-being by making me a better partner, leader, and individual to others around me!”
Ari Krzyzek
CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia, combining a balanced approach to creativity and technology to deliver transformative digital experiences.
“I make it a point to engage in creative problem-solving every day. For example, when faced with a challenging project, I’ll step away from my desk and brainstorm ideas using visual mind maps or sketch out concepts by hand. This creative approach not only fuels my passion for innovation but also acts as a mental reset, keeping me energized and motivated. By allowing space for creativity, I maintain a healthy work-life integration and a sense of fulfillment. This is crucial for my well-being as an entrepreneur.”
Yulia Saf
Founder of Miss Tourist, a go-to resource that helps over 300,000 monthly readers to plan an extraordinary vacation.
“I’ve implemented a ‘nomadic office’ policy. I go work from a different location in my city at least every two weeks. This constant change of scenery—from bustling cafes to serene parks—stimulates creativity, prevents monotony, and encourages daily micro-adventures. It’s turned my work week into a day that I can’t wait to have. It’s shown to improve both my productivity and creativity.”
Elle Wilson
Founder and CEO of Met Through Friends, an events and coaching company with a focus on developing in-person, friends-of-friends connections in dating and beyond.
“My work is highly social, connected, and collaborative, impacting the strength of my own relationships and fostering them. In an era of loneliness and isolation, it feels revolutionary and gratifying. The events I host are designed to bring singles closer to one another. However, they also have the benefit of bringing me closer to like-minded brands, creative hospitality professionals, and awesome people looking for deeper connections. As a person who particularly thrives on time spent with others, designing a company and business model that serves not only my own needs but the needs of others has been uniquely rewarding.”
Marissa Joy Pick
Founder of Marissa Pick Consulting LLC, providing strategic consulting focused on digital transformation, content marketing, social media strategy, personal branding, and more.
“Running my own business has allowed me to strike a balance between work and family time, positively impacting my life. Through work, I’ve discovered opportunities for personal growth and learning, ultimately boosting my sense of well-being. In the last five years, this journey has led to reduced stress and anxiety while fostering greater self-esteem and self-confidence.”
Kelly Hubbell
Founder and CEO of Sage Haus, a platform helping busy parents reclaim their time by outsourcing the mental load and creating home systems to support a healthy division of labor.
“I practice what I preach. I reclaimed valuable time and mental energy that I used to spend on running my household. This shift empowered me to pursue my passion for starting a business alongside my full-time job. It has given me the freedom to focus on growing my business and spend quality time with my family. Now, I help other moms do the same, enabling them to reclaim their time and energy to pursue their own passions while prioritizing their well-being.”
Jessica Sikora
Founder and CEO of Superbands, a nonprofit 501c3 dedicated to reshaping the fan experience to change the stigma of youth mental health.
“My work feels like a form of therapy for me. It is a creative outlet that nurtures my inner child. Having been a teen struggling with a sense of belonging, my work allows me to be creative and build that community I once craved. I’m able now to build a nonprofit that gives young music fans a place to go to feel hope and like they fit in somewhere. It’s a full-circle moment, where creativity and healing intertwine. Honestly, I couldn’t be more fulfilled by the fact that I’m making 13-year-old Jessica proud.”
Stacy Baker Masand
Founder of lunatic femme, a line of high-fashion luxury lingerie made in NYC that helps the playfully curious, creatively rebellious, and unapologetically sexy squeeze the juice out of life.
“I love visualization as a success tool, especially when a day requires me to play big or stretch outside my comfort zone. I start the day visualizing an important meeting or creative project and rehearse it in my mind. I’m delivering an amazing pitch, flowing with creativity, or performing with unprecedented success. It takes just two to three minutes. But the more I rehearse ahead of the event, meeting, project, the stronger, more focused and limitless I feel in the moment.”
Meredith Noble
Chief Grant Writing Unicorn at Learn Grant Writing, helping burnt-out professionals learn how to write grants and make money doing it.
“If you want to improve your overall well-being, coach others. While I’m often asked tactical questions on grant writing, the real unlock occurs with mindset work. To do this effectively, I am constantly challenged and inspired to be better.”
Liya Safina
Executive Creative Advisor at Verbal+Visual, a digital design and development studio specializing in immersive digital commerce.
“I take the time to do nothing in order to do something, and I recognize the surprising benefits of a mid-day pause. Everyone has their own version of this. For me, it’s playing with the dog, whipping up creative lunch dishes, experimenting with new AI tools, or taking an hour to unwind at the beach with no specific goal other than being outside. These moments of unconscious problem-solving can spark insights and boost the chances of finding a solution.”
Brittany Woitas
Founder and Managing Principal at Kōvly Studio, a brand and marketing agency for experience-driven brands.
“Six years ago, my agency proudly implemented the four-day work week. This shift has created a culture that is extremely driven and focused on productivity, while also allowing for space and time for team members to live fulfilling lives outside the office.”
Kinsey Wolf
Founder of Polaris Growth Studio, a growth consultancy that works with future-focused technology companies to provide marketing and sales strategy and execution.
“As a fractional CMO, I’m fortunate to work with entrepreneurs at key moments of their journey. It’s incredibly rewarding to help bring these big ideas to life and see what an impact it can make on both the company and its customers. To me, this opportunity to activate potential is a high calling.”
Ronit Menashe
Co-Founder of WeNatal, transforming the fertility space with the first prenatal supplement optimized for her and him.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of running WeNatal is the vibrant community we’ve built around our mission. Beyond the joy of receiving positive pregnancy test results from our customers after their struggles with infertility is the human connection that profoundly impacts our well-being. As a naturally social person, I thrive on interactions that energize and inspire me. Both my co-founder, Vida, and I are passionate about surrounding ourselves with uplifting individuals who share our enthusiasm for wellness. Through WeNatal, we’ve created a supportive network of doctors, nutritionists, and wellness advocates who continually enrich our lives with their knowledge and positivity.”
Alice Huang
Founder of Growth Magic, helping entrepreneurs focus on their $10,000/hour tasks to maximize growth and revenue.
“When my client can finally go on that vacation that’s well overdue, it makes my day. When we win the biggest partnership to date, it makes my heart warm. Knowing the impact I’ve made in my clients’ businesses brings me tremendous joy.”
Monique Moran
Founder and CEO of Growth Assembly, a go-to-market consultancy and advisory, transforming marketing, sales, product development, and customer success.
“Guiding teams to align their marketing, sales, and customer success efforts into a cohesive, growth-driven strategy not only drives business success but also reinforces my belief in the power of collaboration and innovation. Seeing the tangible results of our efforts—whether it’s a new product launch, a successful partnership, or an improved customer experience—fuels my passion and keeps me energized. This sense of purpose and the knowledge that I’m making a real difference in people’s careers and businesses is incredibly rewarding and contributes to my overall sense of well-being.”
Laura DiFrancesco
Founder and CEO of Laura DiFrancesco LLC, an education and publishing company focused on empowering women to dream and live with wild ambition.
“My well-being is deeply intertwined with the way I balance the creative and analytical sides of my brain—a practice known as being ‘Golden Brained.’ In a recent episode of my podcast, I shared how I strengthen the left and right sides of my brain by spending time developing them both. This is a breath of fresh air for my style of learning and growing in a society that promotes focusing on one thing. This approach allows me to spend time in an area of my life, brain, and business, which helps me recharge other areas of my life. Recharging my brain through various pursuits enables me to feel energetic and fulfilled, helping me avoid feeling depleted or burnt out.”
Mary Lemmer
Founder of Improve, a creative consultancy that offers workshops, training, and coaching for leaders and teams using improv-inspired and research-backed programming.
“I use the same improv comedy techniques that I teach to my clients to stay present, think creatively, and navigate life’s uncertainties. For example, the ‘pointing’ exercise, where I label objects around me, grounds me in the moment and sharpens my focus. The second part, where I label objects as something they aren’t, like calling a ‘cup’ a ‘koala,’ sparks creativity and helps me think outside the box, especially when tackling challenges. This practice not only benefits my clients but also keeps me mentally agile and resilient in my own life.”
Maya Sharfi
CEO of Build Yourself, an executive and career coaching company that helps women leaders advance to and thrive in executive leadership roles—without overworking or burning out.
“Instead of starting my day with an email or a business problem, I set a timer for 20 minutes and write. I focus on short essays for LinkedIn or make progress on my book. This practice prevents me from jumping into stressed, reactive problem-solver mode first thing. It keeps me thinking big while setting a visionary and centered tone for the rest of my day.”
Sydney de Arenas Sherman
Founder & CEO of Admin Boutique, providing the dynamic team a small business needs to thrive.
“Despite having more businesses than ever, I’ve managed to reduce my work hours to part time while ensuring sustainable business growth. Prioritizing what matters, which in my case was more time with my young children, not only supports our personal well-being but, if done with intention, also fuels business success allowing us to live our best lives without sacrificing work goals. It took me about two years to reach my current 25-hour workweek. But by setting a strict schedule, knowing exactly what you’re spending time on, and learning to delegate or say no, you can get there too!”
Allison LaGuardia
Owner and President of ALL Media, a woman-owned full service media strategy, planning, and buying for small to midsize brands.
“Running ALL Media while raising kids has been quite the juggling act, but I’m showing my daughter what it looks like to chase your dreams and be there for your family. She gets to see me diving into client strategies and running the show at work. I hope that lights a fire in her to go after big things too. But it’s not all about the grind—I make sure to carve out plenty of time for what really counts. We have our mother-daughter hangouts, which really drives home the point that having a killer career doesn’t mean ditching family time. I’m giving her a crash course in juggling priorities, managing time like a boss, and keeping the fire alive for both work and family. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.”
Collette DeVries
Founder and CEO of Code Financial Services, empowering small businesses with tools and guidance to thrive, going beyond bookkeeping to support business growth.
“At the core of my work is fostering genuine client connections—it’s about trust and understanding, not just numbers—which keeps me energized, fulfilled, and ready to tackle any challenge. My work allows me to build deep, lasting relationships with my clients. Being their go-to advisor—helping them navigate growth, manage finances with clarity, and feel confident in their decisions—brings me a sense of purpose and fulfillment beyond just numbers.”
Allison Ullo
Founder and CEO of Leaves of Leisure, a luxury tea company with a focus on herbal and low-caffeine teas.
“I align my professional goals with how I want to feel in my personal life. Every six months, I sit down with The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte and set my goals based on the emotions I want to cultivate. Whether that’s feeling energized, connected, or accomplished, I create a roadmap that breaks down my monthly, weekly, and daily to-dos into steps that lead me closer to those feelings. It’s a blend of intention and strategy that keeps me grounded and ensures that my work doesn’t just fulfill business needs, but it also nurtures me on a personal level.”
All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, an award-winning community amplifying extraordinary entrepreneurial women through PR opportunities, authentic connection, and trajectory-shifting resources. Learn more about Dreamers & Doers membership and what role it may play in transforming your journey.