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Shannon Watts on PR Expert, Intentional Career Pause, and the Pivot That Led to Moms Demand Action, Bestselling Author of Fired Up and Firestarter University
Are you feeling guilty about taking a career pause? Do you wonder if you're too old or too late to make a major professional pivot? In this highly Inspirational episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Shannon Watts—Founder of Moms Demand Action, Time's 100 Most Influential People, and author of Fired Up. Shannon shares her authentic story of leaving a successful corporate career and taking a deliberate five-year break to focus on family.
Known as the “summoner of women’s audacity,” Shannon Watts organizes and mobilizes women to create political, electoral and cultural change. She was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, a Forbes 50 over 50 Changemaker, a Glamour Woman of the Year, a WORTH Magazine Worth 100 and a 2025 Parents Next Gen Award winner. She’s the founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots group fighting gun violence in the U.S. During the 2024 election, she organized the largest Zoom gathering in history, mobilizing over 200,000 voters and raising over $11 million in support of the Kamala Harris campaign, and co-hosted the weekly Women Wednesdays for Harris calls with Indivisible. Her most recent book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, was an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller and led to the creation of Firestarter University and Bonfire communities, online and in-person gatherings to help women tap into their political, professional and personal power.
Key Takeaways:
- ADHD is Your Special Sauce: Shannon discusses her struggles with undiagnosed ADHD as a youth and how she eventually learned to turn her disorganization and intense focus into a core strength.
- The Five-Year Pivot: Hear the authentic story of making a terrifying pivot at 35 and realizing that the five-year career pause she took to focus on family was the exact, perfect preparation needed to launch a national movement.
- The Fire Formula: Discover her personal strategic framework for finding purpose: true fulfillment happens when your Values, Abilities, and Desires come into clear alignment.
- The Power of Bonfire Communities: Shannon stresses that no one can live on fire alone.
- Activism at Any Age: Learn why your second act—after age 40, 50, or beyond—is your most powerful. Shannon encourages listeners to find their mission and reminds us that you have the skills right now to start creating change.
Shannon's journey is proof that the pause, the uncertainty, and the unrecognized opportunities in your current routine are actually building you for a massive second act. Stop undervaluing your non-traditional experiences.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!
CONNECT WITH SHANNON WATTS:
Substack
Playlist
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
View all episodes
By Shannon NashAre you feeling guilty about taking a career pause? Do you wonder if you're too old or too late to make a major professional pivot? In this highly Inspirational episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Shannon Watts—Founder of Moms Demand Action, Time's 100 Most Influential People, and author of Fired Up. Shannon shares her authentic story of leaving a successful corporate career and taking a deliberate five-year break to focus on family.
Known as the “summoner of women’s audacity,” Shannon Watts organizes and mobilizes women to create political, electoral and cultural change. She was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, a Forbes 50 over 50 Changemaker, a Glamour Woman of the Year, a WORTH Magazine Worth 100 and a 2025 Parents Next Gen Award winner. She’s the founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots group fighting gun violence in the U.S. During the 2024 election, she organized the largest Zoom gathering in history, mobilizing over 200,000 voters and raising over $11 million in support of the Kamala Harris campaign, and co-hosted the weekly Women Wednesdays for Harris calls with Indivisible. Her most recent book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, was an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller and led to the creation of Firestarter University and Bonfire communities, online and in-person gatherings to help women tap into their political, professional and personal power.
Key Takeaways:
- ADHD is Your Special Sauce: Shannon discusses her struggles with undiagnosed ADHD as a youth and how she eventually learned to turn her disorganization and intense focus into a core strength.
- The Five-Year Pivot: Hear the authentic story of making a terrifying pivot at 35 and realizing that the five-year career pause she took to focus on family was the exact, perfect preparation needed to launch a national movement.
- The Fire Formula: Discover her personal strategic framework for finding purpose: true fulfillment happens when your Values, Abilities, and Desires come into clear alignment.
- The Power of Bonfire Communities: Shannon stresses that no one can live on fire alone.
- Activism at Any Age: Learn why your second act—after age 40, 50, or beyond—is your most powerful. Shannon encourages listeners to find their mission and reminds us that you have the skills right now to start creating change.
Shannon's journey is proof that the pause, the uncertainty, and the unrecognized opportunities in your current routine are actually building you for a massive second act. Stop undervaluing your non-traditional experiences.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!
CONNECT WITH SHANNON WATTS:
Substack
Playlist
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)