In Her Words

Roberta Dombrowski
  • 5.0 (4)
  • CAREERS

In Her Words is a podcast for women navigating life’s turning points—with clarity, heart, and a little bit of mess. Hosted by Roberta Dombrowski, each episode features honest reflections and grounded conversations about career shifts, motherhood, identity, and ambition. Whether you're stepping into a new role at work, preparing for a baby, or just figuring out what’s next, this show offers a place to feel seen, supported, and inspired. You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin—just start here.

  1. Getting to know your host with Roberta Dombrowski and Amy Santee

    20M AGO

    Getting to know your host with Roberta Dombrowski and Amy Santee

    Send a text In this episode, Amy Santee returns to the podcast, only this time, she’s in the interviewer seat as we flip the script and share more of my story. We talk through my winding career path (from biomedical photography to instructional design to product and research leadership), and the moments that forced me to get honest about what I value and what I can’t ignore anymore. We also explore the tension many women feel between stability and fulfillment, how family messaging can shape our beliefs about work, and why layoffs and workplace trauma can become a wake-up call. I share what led me into coaching, why I’m now pursuing a mental health counseling degree, and how I’m thinking about building a more sustainable “portfolio career” that honors both my values and real-life needs. Topics Discussed in This Episode Roberta’s early identity story (transracial adoptee) and how it shaped her relationship to workCareer pivots from photography → instructional design → product → user research/VP leadership, and what each chapter taught herHow family beliefs about stability vs. fulfillment created long-term internal conflict (and how she now checks that voice)Recognizing values misalignment at work, spotting “stated vs. lived” values, and trusting body-based red flagsLayoffs, workplace boundaries, and why “work as the acceptable addiction” keeps women over-functioningWhat’s next: grad school for mental health counseling, integrating therapy + coaching, and building a sustainable portfolio careerAbout Amy Santee Amy Santee is a Career Strategist and Coach for tech professionals who want to design their careers with intention and bring their good to the world. Since 2020, she has partnered with hundreds of individuals to implement a practice of self-research, self-advocacy, and strategy, so they can navigate the professional world with courage and confidence. Her passion for non-traditional career development, personal growth, and positive impact brought her to coaching after a decade of working in user experience. Connect with Amy Santee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysantee/ Website: https://www.amysantee.com About Roberta Dombrowski Roberta Dombrowski is Founder of Learn Mindfully and host of In Her Words. She has over a decade of experience spanning tech, non-profits, and academia. Her work has been featured by the Association of Talent Development, Learning Guild, and Product School. She holds PCC accreditation through the International Coaching Federation, CPCC through Co-Active Training Institute. Her unique approach blends the wisdom of the head, heart, and body - guiding clients to rediscover joy, resilience, and connection in their work and lives.  By fostering deeper self-awareness and authentic leadership, Roberta helps individuals reshape how they relate to their careers, themselves, and their teams. Her personal experience as a transracial adoptee and overfunctioning tech executive heavily influences her approach to business. Connect with Roberta Dombrowski LinkedIn: Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    49 min
  2. The Hidden Cost of High Achievement with Dr. Alessandra Wall

    FEB 10

    The Hidden Cost of High Achievement with Dr. Alessandra Wall

    Send a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alessandra Wall, psychologist, author, and CEO of Noteworthy for a candid conversation about evolution, ambition, and what it actually takes to build a life that can hold your success. Dr. Wall shares her path from child psychology to adult therapy, then into coaching and leadership advisory work, including the real fear (and financial risk) that came with changing direction more than once. We talk about how success isn’t just revenue or titles. It’s also white space on the calendar, the quality of the clients and leaders you choose to support, and the ability to stay in the work without sacrificing your health, relationships, or sense of self. We also explore loneliness at the top, the “deservingness” patterns that show up for high achievers, and why so many women struggle to answer the simplest question: what would I do with three hours to myself? Topics Discussed in This Episode Career pivots and changing valuesFrom therapy to coaching to advisory workRedefining success beyond moneyLoneliness at the top and finding communityDeservingness, burnout, and spaciousnessAbout Dr. Alessandra Wall At the highest levels of success and leadership, being the one with the vision and the responsibility to drive change is, in the best of times, exhilarating, but also often lonely and exhausting work. For over 20 years, Dr. Alessandra Wall, psychologist, author, and CEO of Noteworthy, has served as a trusted advisor to leaders, founders, and exceptional women, helping them make better decisions at every level of their career and life so they can maintain the drive, desire, bandwidth, and fulfillment they need to change the world for the better. Her work shapes leaders and organizations across industries, from start-ups to the Fortune 100. Connect with Dr. Alessandra Wall LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/dralessandrawall Website: Noteworthyinc.co Newsletter: https://noteworthy-inc.kit.com/newsletter Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    42 min
  3. Navigating the Strong Woman Archetype with Christian Sismone

    FEB 3

    Navigating the Strong Woman Archetype with Christian Sismone

    Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Christian Simone, feminine strategist, project manager, podcast host, and Master of Social Work student, for a grounded conversation about ambition, softness, and what it really means to be “the strong one.” Christian shares how her background in tech shaped her views on strategy, and why she’s now pursuing macro social work to build systems that support women more sustainably. We explore the emotional and physical cost of constantly performing strength, especially for women who’ve been conditioned to suppress their needs. Christian breaks down how “soft life” isn’t about opting out, but instead it’s about integrating structure and self-possession, learning to receive support, and creating a life you can actually enjoy after the work gets done. Topics Discussed in This Episode Redefining strategy beyond capitalism: efficiency, wellbeing, and life after workChristian’s transition from tech to macro social work and systems-level changeThe burden of being “the strong one,” including burnout, grief, and suppressed needsReceiving support as a practice: deservingness, boundaries, and self-compassionWhat “soft life” means in practice: integrating masculine structure with feminine sustainabilityAbout Christian Sismone: Christian Sismone is a feminine strategist, project manager, podcast host, and MSW student helping ambitious women 35+ navigate the “messy middle” with more truth, softness, and self-possession. Blending psychological insight with refined feminine wisdom, she guides women who are rebuilding their identity, shedding the strong-woman armor, reclaiming their presence, and stepping into power that doesn’t require burnout or bravado. Known for her warm clarity and incisive storytelling, Christian speaks on mindset, soulful structure, and embodied evolution, bringing a resonance that invites women to rise without hardening and return to themselves without losing their edge. Connect with Christian: ChristianSismone.com Linkedin.com/in/christian-ohonba https://cohonba1.systeme.io/softpivot Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    36 min
  4. Exploring your relationship to work with Roberta Dombrowski

    JAN 26

    Exploring your relationship to work with Roberta Dombrowski

    Send us a text In this solo episode, I open season two of In Her Words by reflecting on the growing sense of disappointment and disillusionment many of us are experiencing at work. With layoffs continuing to rise, particularly impacting women, I explore how these moments often force us into deeper inflection points around identity, meaning, and alignment. I share my own experience of being laid off in 2023 and what it revealed about how tightly my sense of self had become intertwined with my job. From there, I invite you to pause and examine your own relationship to work—how it fits into the broader context of your life, what needs it’s fulfilling, and where it may no longer be serving you. Drawing on frameworks like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the idea of vocation as calling, this episode sets the foundation for the season ahead as we begin to question not just what we do for work, but why we do it. Topics Discussed in This Episode The current state of work and the emotional impact of widespread layoffsHow work shapes identity, self-worth, and belongingReflective questions to explore who you are beyond your jobApplying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to motivation and fulfillment at workReimagining work as a calling rather than an obligationLinks & Resources: Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn  Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    9 min
  5. A Brief Intermission

    JAN 6 · BONUS

    A Brief Intermission

    Send us a text This short intermission recording features host, Roberta Dombrowski, sharing a candid update on what to expect from season 2 of In Her Words. Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    1 min
  6. Making Things That Matter with Vivianne Castillo

    12/16/2025

    Making Things That Matter with Vivianne Castillo

    Send us a text In this episode, I meet with Vivianne Castillo, a multidisciplinary creative, organizational culture strategist, and founder of Choose Courage, Inc. for a powerful conversation about chaos, creativity, and what it means to make things that matter. Vivianne brings her background in psychology, UX, trauma-informed practice, and entrepreneurship to explore how uncertainty can become a catalyst for clarity, courage, and creative expression. We talk about navigating seasons of instability, rebuilding trust in ourselves, discerning what truly matters when life feels overwhelming, and why entrepreneurship can be a healing pathway rather than a hustle. Vivianne also shares the evolution of her businesses from Humanity Centered to Choose Courage, Inc. to her latest creative venture, Moonpaws, and how courage and curiosity have shaped every step. Topics Discussed in This Episode How chaos, uncertainty, and “trash-fire seasons” can spark creativityHopelessness, helplessness, and reclaiming personal powerRituals and micro-acts of creativity that help rebuild trust in yourselfEntrepreneurship as a healing experience and the shift toward regenerative commerceVivianne’s personal journey from UX to founding multiple businesses rooted in courage, creativity, and communityConnect with Vivianne: Website: https://choosecourageinc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vccastillo/ Vivianne Castillo is a multidisciplinary creative, org culture strategist, and the founder of Choose Courage Inc., a platform where leaders and entrepreneurs come to grow through coaching, storytelling, and bold conversations. She's also the founder of moonpaws, a pet astrology app for dogs (and their humans), and HmntyCntrd, a FastCo award-winning consulting company focused on restoring humanity to workplaces. Vivianne is on a mission to help people and organizations choose courage over comfort through betting on themselves and their business idea or through bold conversations about trauma-informed leadership. Whether she’s leading group coaching, building whimsical digital products, or designing transformative leadership experiences, Vivianne’s work centers around one core truth: courage is a daily practice. Her creativity shows up across mediums – from pet parent oracle cards to trauma-informed organizational change — and she’s known for helping people reclaim their agency, challenge oppressive norms, and create lives and companies that feel as good as they look on paper. Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn   Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    45 min
  7. Living in Abundance with Amanda Henry

    12/09/2025

    Living in Abundance with Amanda Henry

    Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Henry—workshop facilitator, personal finance educator, pageant titleholder, and founder of Living in the Abundance—for a powerful conversation about money, identity, and navigating life as a first-generation college student. Amanda brings candor, humor, and deep reflection as we talk through the realities of debt, generational expectations, and building a life grounded in values rather than survival. We explore how being first-gen shaped her college years at Penn, the financial lessons she had to teach herself, and how those experiences led her to launch a platform, a book, and a budding nonprofit focused on helping others break cycles and build stability. Amanda also opens up about career alignment, motherhood, survivor’s guilt, and what abundance truly means at this stage of her life. Topics Discussed in This Episode Navigating college as a first-generation student and learning the “unwritten rules”Shifts in money mindset—from survival mode to financial literacy and investingThe meaning of value-based spending and staying aligned with personal prioritiesHow identity, expectations, and family dynamics shape career and financial choicesAmanda’s community work, pageant platform, and vision for a scholarship-focused nonprofitConnect with Amanda: livingintheabundance.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsamandajhenry/ https://www.tiktok.com/@livingintheabundance https://www.instagram.com/livingintheabundance/# https://www.threads.com/@livingintheabundance Amanda Henry is a Black first-generation Ivy League graduate, devoted wife, and mother who brings her seasoned corporate experience to empower emerging leaders. After paying off $65,000 of debt and climbing the corporate ladder, she discovered that abundant living on a 9-5 is possible. As the founder of Living in the Abundance (LITA), Amanda equips young adults with the tools to navigate corporate America and master their personal finances. Her book, The Financial Abundance Blueprint delivers a tracklist of strategies to help readers maximize their 9-5 experience to unlock financial freedom. Currently serving as a Senior Sales Enablement Professional at Google, Amanda brings over a decade of experience across top companies including BET Networks, The Walt Disney Company, and Verizon. Beyond her corporate roles, she is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, having impacted thousands of young professionals through workshops, coaching, and content creation. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, Jon, and son, Jon Jr., attending 90s & 00s RnB concerts, traveling to sunny all-inclusive resorts, and serving her community as the reigning Mrs. California Black United States 2026. She holds a BS in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MS in Global Marketing Management from Boston University.  Connect w Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    46 min
  8. The Adoption Journey with Madeline Smith

    12/02/2025

    The Adoption Journey with Madeline Smith

    Send us a text  In this episode, I sit down with Madeline E. Smith, a UX researcher, creative mind, and new parent by adoption, for a grounded conversation about building a family intentionally while navigating the realities of career, caregiving, and the waiting game.  We talk about ethical domestic adoption, centering the child in every decision, and what it looks like to return from parental leave into layoffs, a new team, and the quiet pressure to “prove yourself” as a working parent. Madeline also shares how her definition of ambition has shifted, the role of support systems and daycare, and why comparison at work and in parenting is something she’s actively learning to step away from. Topics Discussed in This Episode How childhood ideas and media shaped Madeline’s early assumptions about adoptionNavigating ethical domestic adoption, choosing an agency, and practicing a child-first approachBuilding a village: support systems, daycare, sick days, and co-parenting logisticsReturning from parental leave into layoffs, a new team, and the pressure to overperformRedefining ambition after becoming a parent and cultivating empathy at work and at homeConnect with Madeline: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madsesmith Adopting On The Job with Madeline Smith What Winning the Lottery Taught Me About Team Preparedness and Research Continuity Madeline Smith is Lead UX Researcher on Cisco’s IT Design Team, where she focuses on enhancing user experiences through thoughtful research and collaboration. Currently, she leads research initiatives for a large-scale project aimed at improving the licensing experience for Cisco’s customers, partners, and employees. Her journey into UX research began in academia, where she earned her Ph.D. in Technology & Social Behavior from Northwestern University and an M.S. in Information Science from Cornell University. She transitioned to industry UX research in 2021 and now draws on her academic roots to execute rigorous research, craft engaging presentations, and mentor junior researchers. Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn Season 2 reflection exercises https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Grab Consciously Crafting Your Career Path: https://www.learnmindfully.co/store Connect with Roberta on LinkedIn If this episode sparked new insight, please consider rating, following, or reviewing the show. It’s the best way to help more people find and benefit from these vital conversations. Thanks for listening!

    41 min
See All (22)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

In Her Words is a podcast for women navigating life’s turning points—with clarity, heart, and a little bit of mess. Hosted by Roberta Dombrowski, each episode features honest reflections and grounded conversations about career shifts, motherhood, identity, and ambition. Whether you're stepping into a new role at work, preparing for a baby, or just figuring out what’s next, this show offers a place to feel seen, supported, and inspired. You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin—just start here.

Information

  • Creator
    Roberta Dombrowski
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 In Her Words
  • Show Website
    In Her Words