In this episode of the Real Life Real Kitchen podcast, Zoe Willis engages in a profound conversation with Deb Smallwood, a trailblazing executive and advocate for women's empowerment. Deb shares her insights from a 46-year career, focusing on the non-linear paths women and importantly, mothers, often take in their careers, the importance of financial independence, and the common struggles of self-doubt among women in leadership roles.

The discussion also touches on the differences in how men and women process experiences and the necessity of support and vulnerability in both personal and professional lives.

Deb emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself, accepting one's identity beyond roles, and making conscious choices to navigate life's challenges. The episode concludes with reflections on finding joy and acceptance in difficult situations, reinforcing the message that empowerment comes from within and that we all have the power to shape our narratives.

Welcome to the Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast with your host, Zoë F. Willis, English mother-of-many, Mum Mentor, and your host at this weekly gathering of real talk, real food, and real family life.

Each week I sit down with someone whose work nourishes minds, bodies, or communities. From the kitchen table to the wider world, these are the quiet voices making a loud difference.

👤 About Deb Smallwood

Deb Smallwood spent four decades rising through corporate leadership into C-suite roles—often with exhaustion, anxiety, and the need to constantly prove her worth. Her inner shift led her to research the experiences of more than fifty high-achieving women leaders and inspired her book SelfPowerment: The Inner Shift for High Achieving Women Who Want More Than Just Success and the research-informed framework that redefines success from within and invite women to shift the question from “Will they choose me?” to “Do I choose them?”

🌐 Where to Find Deb Smallwood

• Website: www.selfpowerment.com
• Buy Her Book: https://amzn.to/4cBny9P
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deb.smallwood.94
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deb-smallwood/

🧰 Links & Resources Mentioned

📝 Command the Chaos – The Mum Life Management Planner

https://shorturl.at/bbzm7

💌 Join The Kitchen Correspondence – my weekly newsletter with episodes, reflections & family food wisdom

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

☕ Support the Show – help keep the kettle on and the podcast going

https://the-real-life-real-kitchen.captivate.fm/support

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🌍 Where Else You Can Find Me

All the links are here ⬇️! Come say hello.

• 🥰 https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

Takeaways:

• Deb Smallwood, a renowned advocate for women's empowerment, shares invaluable insights from her extensive career.
• The podcast emphasizes the importance of financial independence for women to enhance their life choices.
• Listeners learn that self-doubt is a common struggle among successful women in leadership roles.
• The discussion highlights the necessity of personal accountability in managing one's emotions and life direction.
• Deb's upcoming book, Of Self Powerment, aims to assist women in discovering their true purpose and identity.
• The conversation reveals that both men and women face unique challenges in their professional journeys.