What if the tension you are feeling right now, whether in your career, business, or life, isn’t a problem to solve, but an invitation to step into flow?

In this episode, Monique sits down with Kathy Keating, a technology executive and bestselling author of Liquid. With more than 30 years of experience as a CTO, founder, board director, and advisor, Kathy has walked leaders through the fire of SaaS, FinTech, HR Tech, and healthcare, always in the moments where growth felt the most complex. 

Kathy’s framework is simple yet profound: complexity isn’t something to fix. It’s something to influence. She reveals why speed is an outcome -  not a checklist item, why leaders who embrace stretch unlock the deepest growth, and what AI really means for the future of our work. She also shares why discomfort isn’t a threat, but the most powerful signal of expansion. 

This episode will shift how you see leadership, growth, and change, not just in your career, but in the way you live your life. 

(03:27) - Sneak peek of Kathy’s new book, Liquid

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

When what you’ve always done stops working, it can feel unsettling. But disruption often carries a quiet invitation: maybe the only way forward is going back to the basics of who you are and what you truly believe.

In this episode, Monique explores what happens when life, work, or the world no longer responds to the patterns that once made sense. Whether it’s shifting industries, changing careers, or personal rhythms that suddenly feel heavy, she invites listeners to lean into the power of first principles. She offers a reminder that going back to the basics isn’t about stepping backward. It’s about rediscovering clarity, anchoring in values, and building something new with intention. 

(01:31) - Why many of us feel both stuck and energized in change

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Taking a moment to pause, reset, and be present.

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

What do you do when change is happening and you’re not in charge?

In this candid AMA-style conversation, Monique sits down with her husband and long-time tech leader, Ben Schafer to unpack what it means to lead through change, especially when you’re not in a formal leadership role. 

Monique shares real stories from her own career pivots - from consultant to product leader to director, and breaks down what most people miss about internal transitions, leadership identity, and decision-making during moments of uncertainty. From soft power and emotional intelligence to tactical frameworks, this is the conversation most people wish they had earlier in their leadership journey. 

If you’re ever found yourself asking: Why does this feel off? Am I outgrowing something? Am I still valuable here? This one’s for you.

(02:57) - Defining and recognizing transitions

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

You don’t need millions to start investing. You just need curiosity, intention, and the willingness to begin before you feel ready. 

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with Natalie Levy, founder of She’s Independent, to explore how angel investing becomes a pathway not just to financial returns, but also to confidence and leadership. 

Natalie shares how her journey, from Wall Street to values-aligned investing, was never about having it all figured out. It was about starting scared, taking intentional steps, and letting each decision deepen her sense of self and purpose. Together, they explore how wealth, influence, and impact can begin with something as simple as curiosity, and how the act of investing (even in small amounts) can unlock success, board opportunities, and belief. 

This episode is not just about money. It’s about reclaiming power, building the muscle of confidence through action, and choosing a life that aligns with who you truly are.

(01:36) - Introducing Natalie Levy & the story behind She’s Independent

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

You’ve returned to work after a necessary break—maybe it was for your health, family, or just life. But now you’re wondering… why does it feel like you’re starting from scratch?

In this episode, Monique offers a grounded, strategic take on what it really looks like to return to work after a career pause and the quiet courage it takes to advocate for yourself in the process. Drawing from a real-life conversation, she shares the story of a professional who came back to work only to feel like she had lost her place. 

Through thoughtful guidance and practical insight, Monique unpacks how to re-establish visibility, align with leadership, and position yourself as a strategic asset, not a problem to solve. This episode is a permission slip to stop waiting for recognition and start initiating the conversations that will move your career forward.

At its core, it’s not just about getting your old projects back. It’s about owning your worth, communicating with clarity, and building the future you’re still deeply called to lead. 

(02:00) - Returning to work after a break

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

Do you ever feel a mix of emotions when revisiting places connected to your family history? Whether it's a relative's home, a cherished childhood vacation spot, or a community where you spent a lot of time steeped in memories, sometimes these "family spaces" can feel complicated. We evolve, these places change, and the history can be heavy. But what if these complicated places offered an unexpected opportunity for personal growth and creating new, meaningful connections?

In this personal episode, Monique shares her journey back to her family's farm in the rural Midwest. This isn't where she grew up, but it's a 'family space' that forms a rich part of her family's roots, steeped in generations of stories, transformations, and memories. Monique unpacks the emotional nuances of returning to spaces with mixed feelings and reveals how she chose to see familiar places, create new experiences, and make new meaning for this next generation. 

This episode is your invitation to acknowledge that more than one truth can exist simultaneously. You don't have to have it all figured out, and it's okay for things to feel uncertain. Learn how to create new, positive associations and memories in places that once felt fraught. It's time to embrace the art of rediscovery: redefining your relationship with these spaces, fostering new peace, and deepening your connection to your roots, all on your own terms.

(01:11) - A quiet pause in the Midwest

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

In this special case study episode, Monique takes listeners inside an experiment of her own — using Google’s AI tool, Google NotebookLM, to analyze the first 20 episodes of this podcast. 

Part recap, part reflection, this episode blends AI with insight and gently explores how technology can help us see our evolution more clearly. Monique shares surprising themes that emerged and offers a simple invitation: What might you discover if you used a tool like this on your work… or your own life?

Whether you’re new to this podcast or have been here from the start, this is the perfect moment to catch up and maybe see your own story with fresh eyes. Let’s dive in!

(01:40) - Exploring NotebookLM: An AI Tool for Summarization

(09:46) - Navigating the Nonlinear Journey

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

What if your next professional breakthrough isn’t about doing more but showing up differently?

In this episode, Monique Schafer sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur and social media strategist, Mary Robb. As the founder and CEO of Social Practice, Mary brings the kind of clarity and warmth that cuts through the noise and reminds us what social media was always meant to be: connection, storytelling, and service.

Together, Mary and Monique unpack the messy, beautiful, and often emotional process of showing up online, not just as a business, but as a whole human. They talk about the difference between business and personal branding (and how to do both without losing your mind), why values should lead your content, and how to create boundaries that protect your mental health while still building real influence.

This one’s for the multi-passionate leader, who’s been silently asking: How do I put myself out there without losing myself? For the high-achiever who’s built a career but hasn’t quite figured out how to bring their voice forward. And for anyone who just knows it’s time to start using her voice with intention — imperfectly, honestly, and on purpose. Let’s dive in!

(05:00) - Business Brand vs Personal Brand: What’s the Difference?

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8

This episode is a little different. No guest. No perfectly mapped-out lesson. Just me — showing up in the middle of a quiet, in-between season.

You know those times when the words don’t come? When everything feels a little slower, a little foggier… and you’re not quite sure what’s next, but you know you’re not where you used to be? That’s where I’ve been. 

Today, I’m inviting you into the pause. The space between clarity and action. The soft unraveling that happens when you finally let your nervous system breathe. This isn’t an episode with big “aha” moments — it’s one that meets you exactly where you are, especially if you’ve been craving permission to slow down, feel more, and do a little less. 

If you’re in a season of reflection, reset, or just needing a little more quiet in a loud world — you are not alone. 

(01:33) - Reflections on a Week of Uncertainty

Got a question that's keeping you up at night? Need a new way to look at a problem? 

'Ask Monique' is your chance to get personalized insights. Submit your questions about business, professional life, or personal development, and let's dive into the messy, beautiful, and ever-changing world together. 

https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8