2. Radical Accountability: Building Strength, Identity, and Intentional Success

Guest: Roxanne Engstrom | Founder, Hawa Images | Brand Storytelling Photographer | hawaImages.com | roxengstrom.com

Episode Overview

What does it actually look like to build a meaningful life and business while navigating a chronic illness diagnosis, raising four kids, living across continents, and refusing to let any of it define you? Roxanne Engstrom is here to tell you.

In Jen's first guest episode, Roxanne brings raw honesty, perspective, and a lot of laughter to the topics that matter most: self-trust, identity beyond your roles, intentional community, and what it really means to build a life in alignment.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

On resilience and reframing your narrative — Why she stopped searching "MS warrior" hashtags and what she built instead — The difference between toxic positivity and depth of joy — and why it matters for how you lead, parent, and show up.

On radical accountability and self-trust — How Roxanne responded to being told she'd be in a wheelchair in 18 months — by running the Chicago Marathon — The direct link between keeping your promises to yourself and building unshakeable confidence — Her framework for "radical editing" — and why pivoting isn't failure, it's realignment.

On identity beyond your roles — What Roxanne learned living on a remote island off East Africa about role deprivation and self-worth — Why your identity being tied to what you do quietly erodes your resilience — How she rebuilt her business from zero after relocating and why losing it all was actually clarifying.

On authentic community and connection — Why the "just be yourself" advice is useless without the real work behind it — and what that work actually looks like — Her rule for networking events — How to build genuine community from scratch in a new city.

On the work-life pendulum — Why "balance" is a lie that made women feel like they were constantly failing and what to replace it with — The moment dropping her daughter off at college shifted everything.

On building a business true to yourself — How Roxanne's photography goes beyond beautiful images to ethical brand storytelling — Why women stop on set and cry — and what that reveals about how rarely we pause to celebrate what we've built.

Key Topics:

1. Roxanne’s journey through MS diagnosis and redefining resilience
2. The role of joy versus happiness in overcoming adversity
3. Cultivating self-trust and radical responsibility in health and life
4. Setting boundaries and curating social media spaces for mental health
5. The importance of intentional habits, movement, and nutrition
6. Transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth and authenticity
7. How to create meaningful, deep connections and community
8. Shifting identity beyond roles to foster true self-worth
9. Parenting with integrity and teaching children by example
10. Living in alignment with core values and future self-visions

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Welcome & Introduction to Roxanne Eggstrom’s resilience story

[02:09] - Finding joy amidst a chronic illness diagnosis

[04:02] - MS diagnosis and early support journey

[05:04] - Curating social media for mental health & hope

[08:14] - Habits that strengthen resilience

[10:21] - The Chicago Marathon

[12:14] - Value of visible progress and celebrating wins

[20:04] - The importance of authenticity & self-acceptance

[25:29] - Parenting with love, boundaries, and integrity

[32:55] - The myth of work-life balance

[36:00] - Building genuine relationships & meaningful connection

[42:55] - Living authentically: role de-association & self-worth

[45:41] - Recognizing what matters

[50:49] - Small daily steps for a resilient & joyful life

[55:18] - Hawa Images: Authentic storytelling & client transformation

[57:56] - Rapid fire insights: Books, advice, and habits for resilience

Meet Roxanne Engstrom:

"Hi, I'm Roxanne Engstrom- founder and storyteller of Hawa Images! I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs show up with clarity, confidence, and connection through brand photography that goes deeper than a headshot—so their visuals finally match the value they bring and they can connect with their ideal clients and share their story with intention and strategy."

Connect with Roxanne:

Hawa Image website: https://hawaimages.com/

Hawa Images Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawaimages

Roxanne Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxengstrom