We Are Women Unapologetically

Jessica Cumming
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Created for women who are: Pivoting careers or reinventing themselves Balancing care for both kids and aging parents Navigating professional shifts - from layoffs to promotions Ready to write their next chapter, authentically and boldly Why this podcast? Because I've been there - juggling career pivots, family demands, and personal reinvention. And I know you have too. What to expect: Honest conversations about real challenges and victories Stories from women who've turned obstacles into opportunities Practical strategies for navigating change with confidence

  1. 1d ago

    When Something Has Changed: Clarity, Burnout, and Starting Over

    In this 50th episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, I’m reflecting on what change has taught me about clarity, capacity, leadership, burnout, discomfort, and starting over. This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest conversation about what happens when something in your life has changed, but you are still trying to carry everything the old way. Maybe you have been asking yourself why you feel different even though your life looks the same. Maybe something that used to feel right no longer feels right, and you have not known how to explain that yet. Maybe your capacity has changed, but you keep expecting yourself to show up the same way you always have. Maybe the discomfort, resentment, exhaustion, or Sunday-night dread you keep pushing through is trying to tell you something. That is what this episode is about. Over the last 50 episodes, we have talked about career transitions, caregiving, grief, confidence, reinvention, self-trust, disappointment, leadership, burnout, and the quiet moments when we realize life no longer fits the way it used to. In this episode, I’m sharing five lessons that keep coming back to me: Growth often starts before you can explain it.Your capacity changes when your life changes.Discomfort is giving you information.Change reveals what your life actually requires now.Being unapologetic means telling the truth sooner. If you are in a season where you feel proud and tired, grateful and restless, capable and overloaded, or successful and ready for something different, this episode is for you. You do not need a whole plan to acknowledge the change. Sometimes the first step is simply admitting that something has changed. And that is where clarity begins. So as you listen, sit with this question: What has changed in my life that I have not fully acknowledged yet? If this episode speaks to you, send it to someone who may be navigating change quietly. And then take one next step: Subscribe so you never miss another episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically. Download the free Clarity in 10 Reset to pause, reflect, and begin naming what has changed. Ready for deeper support? Book a call with me and let’s get clear together. Connect with me on LinkedIn for more conversations on leadership, clarity, career transitions, and living unapologetically. And if this conversation would serve your organization, women’s leadership group, ERG, conference, or retreat, invite me to speak.

    22 min

  2. Jun 17

    How to Lead Through Summer Without Letting Urgency Run the Work

    Summer can change the rhythm of work fast. PTO stacks up, vacations overlap, kids are out of school, approvals take longer, and suddenly every request starts to feel urgent. But every request does not deserve the same level of urgency. In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming breaks down how to lead through the summer season without letting urgency run the work. This is a practical leadership reset for managers, project owners, senior individual contributors, caregivers, and high performers trying to keep work moving while real-life calendars keep shifting. You’ll learn how to sort work by what actually needs priority, progress, or a hold; how to build a coverage map before someone goes out on PTO; how to name what changes before saying yes to one more “Can we get this done before vacation?” request; and how to use a simple 10-minute summer reset to keep your team focused. Because urgency can get your attention, but it should not be what makes the plan. In this episode, we cover: How summer changes workplace rhythm, priorities, and decision-making Why every task should not receive the same level of urgency How to sort work into priority, progress, and hold How to plan around PTO, vacation coverage, and unavailable decision-makers Why leaders need to name tradeoffs before saying yes to urgent requests How to use the 10-minute summer reset with your team What to do when the calendar starts driving the work instead of leadership guiding it If you are leading a team, managing projects, navigating summer PTO, or trying to keep work moving without creating unnecessary pressure, this episode will help you slow the chaos, focus the work, and lead with more intention. Subscribe to We Are Women, Unapologetically, for bold conversations about leadership, career transitions, confidence, growth, and what it really means to lead without losing yourself. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn Inquire about having Jessica speak at your event

    16 min

  3. Jun 10

    Breaking Intergenerational Trauma Through Parenting with Mary Wilcox Smith

    In this episode of We Are Women Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming sits down with Mary Wilcox Smith, speaker, author, entrepreneur, and parent coach, for an honest conversation about intergenerational trauma, parenting, perfectionism, resilience, and healing. Mary shares her journey from building businesses across three continents to raising four daughters, navigating one child’s serious medical needs, and confronting how childhood trauma, grief, abuse, and loss shaped the way she moved through life and motherhood. Together, Jessica and Mary explore how trauma is not always measured by what happens on the outside, but by what a child was able to handle at the time. They also discuss how parents can unintentionally pass down anxiety, perfectionism, and coping patterns, and how awareness can become the first step toward breaking generational cycles. Mary also introduces her book, The Microstep Method for the Overwhelmed Parent, and explains how small, practical microsteps can help parents build connection, emotional safety, and resilience without trying to overhaul everything at once. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered how their past affects their parenting, confidence, relationships, or ability to let go. It is a powerful reminder that healing often begins with one honest moment, one new response, and one small step forward. Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide loss, abuse, trauma, and mental health Connect with Mary Wilcox Smith Learn more about Mary Wilcox Smith, her parent coaching services, speaking, and resources at her website: Website: Mary Smith Parent Coach / Mary Wilcox SmithBook: The Microstep Method for the Overwhelmed Parent, available on Amazon, Kindle, and AudibleLinkedIn: Mary Wilcox SmithInstagram: Mary Wilcox Smith Connect with Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacumming04/ Website: https://www.jcnewbeginnings.com/speaking Clarity in 10: https://www.jcnewbeginnings.com/clarity-in-10

    47 min

  4. Jun 3

    Advocate for Yourself in Healthcare: Patient Communication and Stem Cell Recovery with Dana Sherwin

    In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming sits down with Dana Sherwin, healthcare consultant, speaker, and stem cell transplant survivor, for a powerful conversation about patient advocacy, healthcare communication, and learning how to take an active role in your own care.Dana shares her journey from healthcare leadership to navigating a blood cancer disorder, preparing for a stem cell transplant, and discovering a renewed purpose in helping people communicate more effectively with doctors. This conversation explores why so many patients feel unprepared for medical appointments, how to ask better questions, and why understanding your body and health history matters before a diagnosis changes everything. Key takeaways from this episode: • Why patient advocacy starts before you are seriously ill • How to prepare for doctor’s appointments with better questions • Why knowing your symptoms, health history, and body matters • How healthcare communication can impact diagnosis, treatment, and confidence • What Dana’s stem cell transplant recovery taught her about purpose, resilience, and self-advocacy • Why being curious and taking care of yourself may be one of the most powerful health decisions you make. Connect with Dana SherwinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desherwin/ Website: TheThinkingPatient.com Connect with Jessica Cumming LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacumming04/ Website: jcnewbeginnings.com

    38 min

  5. May 20

    The Manager Aftershock: Leadership Burnout During Reorgs Nobody Talks About (Part 4)

    Reorgs don’t just impact teams.They impact the managers trying to hold everything together. In Part 4 of this leadership mini-series, Jessica Cumming dives into the emotional and operational reality managers face after organizational change. The pressure to keep morale up, maintain productivity, answer impossible questions, and absorb the fallout without falling apart yourself. This episode explores:• Leadership burnout during reorgs• The hidden weight middle managers carry• How to lead with humanity without becoming the emotional dumping ground• Why managers end up over-functioning or emotionally disengaging• The downstream impact of layoffs, restructuring, and cost-cutting decisions• Communication strategies for leading teams through uncertainty• How to protect your energy while still protecting your people Jessica also shares personal stories from her leadership experience at Dell Technologies, including global team transitions, organizational restructuring, and what happens when leadership decisions create ripple effects teams are forced to absorb long after the announcement is over. If you’ve ever felt emotionally exhausted trying to lead through instability while pretending everything is “business as usual,” this conversation is for you. Because leadership during a reorg isn’t just about keeping work moving.It’s about staying human while everything around you changes. 🎧 Listen now and share with a leader who needs this reminder. Connect on LinkedIn

    12 min

  6. May 13

    The First 30 Days After a Reorg: How Leaders Rebuild Teams, Trust and Execution (Part 3)

    The announcement is over.The org chart is updated.But this is the phase leaders almost never get coached on.Thirty days after a reorg is when the real operational problems start showing up.Priorities get blurry. Decision-making slows down. Meetings multiply. Teams hesitate. And underneath all of it is one question nobody wants to say out loud:“Okay… now what?”In Part 3 of this 4-part leadership series, Jessica Cumming breaks down what actually happens after organizational change and why so many teams struggle to regain momentum after a corporate reorg.Drawing from nearly 20 years leading through constant restructuring at Dell Technologies, Jessica shares a practical leadership playbook for rebuilding clarity, restoring ownership, and helping teams execute again without burning people out in the process.This episode covers:• The hidden leadership mistakes that stall teams after a reorg• Why “ownership fog” quietly destroys execution• How priority drift creates burnout and confusion• The operational trust leaders must rebuild after change• A practical framework for decision ownership and accountability• How to reduce meeting overload and decision paralysis• What leaders should communicate in the first 30 days after restructuring• How to restore confidence without fake positivity or corporate spinIf you’re leading through layoffs, restructuring, mergers, leadership turnover, or organizational change, this episode gives you practical strategies to stabilize your team and move forward with clarity and direction.Listen now and come back for Part 4, where the focus shifts to the leaders themselves and the emotional weight of carrying teams through constant change.Clarity in 10: https://www.jcnewbeginnings.com/clarity-in-10 Connect with Jessica on LinkedinBook Jessica to Speak

    20 min

  7. May 6

    How to Lead During a Reorg Announcement: What to Say, Do, and Prioritize (Part 2)

    Announcement week isn’t the whole reorg.It’s the spike.This is where everything intensifies.Questions increase.Rumors spread.Work either stalls or explodes into activity that looks productive but isn’t.And your team is looking to you for direction… while you’re still waiting for answers yourself.This is the moment most leaders get wrong.They either freeze and wait.Or they overwork and create more noise.Neither creates stability.In this episode, I break down exactly how to lead during announcement week so your team stays focused, work keeps moving, and you don’t burn yourself out trying to hold everything together.We’re talking what to actually do this week.How to communicate when you don’t have clean answersHow to reduce rumor cycles without shutting people downHow to set clear priorities so your team knows what mattersWhen to pause work and protect qualityHow to stop becoming the unofficial crisis hotlineBecause your team doesn’t need you to be perfect.They need you to be steady.This is Part 2 of the reorg leadership series.Part 1 covers what happens before the announcement and how to lead through the uncertainty leading up to it.If you’re in the middle of this right now, this episode will meet you there.Key TakeawaysWhy announcement week creates a spike in stress, noise, and decision pressureThe difference between productive work and anxiety-driven activityHow to reset priorities so your team doesn’t scatterWhat to say when people ask questions you can’t fully answer yetHow to protect your team’s time, focus, and energyA practical playbook to lead through this week without losing controlHow to ConnectIf this episode hit, share it with someone navigating a reorg right now.If you need a fast reset, download the Clarity in 10™ tool to get focused in minutes.If you’re leading through this and want support specific to your situation, book a clarity call with me. We’ll map out exactly how to lead through it without burning out.Connect with me on LinkedIn: ⁠JessicaCumming⁠04Explore coaching and speaking: www.⁠JCNew Beginnings.com⁠

    13 min

  8. Apr 29

    How to Lead When Leadership Goes Silent: Navigating Uncertainty Before a Reorg (Part 1)

    Something shifts before a reorg is ever announced. Meetings move. Priorities change. Conversations happen without context. And the people who usually have answers stop sharing them. This is the phase most leaders and managers struggle with, because you’re still expected to deliver, keep your team focused, and answer questions you don’t have answers to. In this episode, I break down how to lead during that exact moment. Not after the announcement. Not once everything is clear. But while things are still uncertain. I walk through what’s actually happening behind the scenes, why leadership often goes quiet, and how that silence impacts your team’s confidence, focus, and performance. More importantly, I give you a clear way to operate so you’re not stuck reacting, over-explaining, or second-guessing every decision. If you’re the one people are looking to right now, this will help you create direction without pretending you have all the answers. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.Part 2 will focus on how to lead during announcement week and what to do in the first few days once everything becomes public. Key Takeaways How to recognize the early signals of a reorg before it’s announcedWhy leadership goes quiet and what that usually means behind the scenesThe impact uncertainty has on team behavior, trust, and productivityHow to communicate clearly when you don’t have full informationThe difference between trying to sound confident and actually creating stabilityA simple 72-hour reset to help your team regain focus and directionThis episode is for you if you’re: Leading a team or influencing outcomes, even without the titleNoticing changes but getting little to no communicationBeing asked to keep work moving without clear prioritiesTired of overthinking decisions and want a more grounded way to leadIf this episode hit, share it with someone who’s navigating the same situation. If you’re looking to strengthen how you make decisions, communicate in high-stakes moments, and lead without second-guessing, this is the work I do with leaders and organizations every day. How to Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn: Jessica CummingExplore coaching Explore speaking

    18 min
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Created for women who are: Pivoting careers or reinventing themselves Balancing care for both kids and aging parents Navigating professional shifts - from layoffs to promotions Ready to write their next chapter, authentically and boldly Why this podcast? Because I've been there - juggling career pivots, family demands, and personal reinvention. And I know you have too. What to expect: Honest conversations about real challenges and victories Stories from women who've turned obstacles into opportunities Practical strategies for navigating change with confidence

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