Leaning My Way

Psychotherapist Jaclyn Udell shares her unconventional life path from studying Mandarin in North Carolina to working in Chinese textiles, retraining as a psychedelic therapist in New York, and building her practice in London as a new mother. Jaclyn discusses how exposure to diverse cultures—from the American South to China, New York, Paris, and London—shaped her unique approach to career decisions and motherhood. She reveals how freelancing allowed her to create a gradual, personalized return to work after having her son Bram, and the emotional journey of separation and establishing her own identity beyond motherhood. Jaclyn's perspective on navigating cultural differences in parenting, her views on community building, and her family's latest adventure considering a move to a futuristic "network state" community showcase her adaptable approach to life. Her story illustrates how blending different cultural influences and rejecting rigid structures can lead to a more integrated and fulfilling life path.

In this special episode, Mikenzie gets to chat with her older sister Candice about her career and motherhood journey. Candice is a mother of four girls who has navigated multiple career transitions from corporate real estate law to in-house counsel, stay-at-home motherhood, and now entrepreneurship. In this  episode, Candice shares about her lifelong plan to be both a mother and lawyer—and how reality repeatedly disrupted those carefully laid plans. Candice opens up about the challenges of balancing high-pressure corporate law work with family responsibilities, her experience with pregnancy during a new job, navigating shifting financial dynamics with her husband, her decision to become a stay-at-home mother, and ultimately finding her entrepreneurial path. She shares candidly about postpartum anxiety, miscarriage, and the gradual process of learning to prioritize herself. Candice's evolution from a meticulous planner to someone who embraces uncertainty offers valuable perspective for anyone struggling to reconcile career ambitions with family life. Her ultimate message is powerful: "Trust yourself. Because you are all you need in terms of guidance.”

Emily is a commercial operations leader at a major tech company, where she’s helped grow the organization from scrappy startup to public company—all while becoming one of the first senior employees to navigate parenthood.

In this episode, Emily shares openly about her deep-rooted drive for achievement, being the primary breadwinner in her family, and the ever-evolving dynamics of balancing an intense job with life as a mother of two. We talk about the crucial role her husband plays in childcare, how she prioritizes core friendships, and her ongoing work to set boundaries.

Emily’s honesty, clarity, and self-awareness make this a must-listen for anyone trying to figure out how to build a big career and be fully present at home.

Cecilie Jakobsen is the founder and CEO of Wawa Fertility and a single mother to her son and stepdaughter. In this episode, she shares how she turned personal fertility pain into purpose and how she is building a VC-backed startup while raising a child. Cecilie shares openly about her fertility challenges, how she uses her flexibility to make running a business and family work, the crucial role of family and friend support in her life and much more. Cecilie’s honesty, grit, and creativity will leave you rethinking what’s possible for career, for motherhood, and for your life overall.

Welcome to Leaning My Way, a show where I have honest conversations with working mothers about how they really "do it all". This show serves as a resource for all women, whether you're a mother, considering becoming one or just asking some of these questions about how to balance career and parenting. 

Join us every Thursday for new episodes of Leaning My Way.