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. Ep 29 | Finding Stability in Entrepreneurship with Mary Brown

    2D AGO

    Ep 29 | Finding Stability in Entrepreneurship with Mary Brown

    Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to go from contract UX researcher to business owner?  Not by launching something from scratch, but by buying a company that was already running? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Mary Brown, co-owner and COO of Your Therapy Billing, an insurance billing company supporting small and mid-size therapy clinics. Mary shares how repeated layoffs in tech sparked a search for something more stable and self-directed, how the loss of her mother reframed what she wanted from her career, and what the first nine months of owning a small business actually feels like from the inside. Topics Discussed in the Episode How layoffs in UX and tech led Mary to rethink her career pathDiscovering entrepreneurship through acquisition and the community that made it possibleWhy she chose an unglamorous, recession-proof business over a sexy oneThe biggest personal shift moving from individual contributor to business ownerNavigating the day-to-day realities of owning and operating a small businessWhy insurance billing is so broken and why that makes her work matterAbout Mary Brown Mary Brown is the Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Your Therapy Billing, an insurance billing company supporting small and mid-sized therapy clinics. She spent eight years in UX research at companies like LinkedIn and Pinterest, helping teams navigate uncertainty by deeply understanding people and turning ambiguity into clear decisions. After experiencing layoffs, the instability of the job market, and profound personal loss, Mary chose not to wait for permission or the “perfect” next role. Instead, she made a bold pivot into small business ownership.  In April 2025, she acquired Your Therapy Billing and now leads the company with a focus on growth, smarter systems, and solving real pain points. Her journey is shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a belief that women don’t need linear paths to build meaningful, successful careers. They just need the courage to redefine them. Connect with Mary Brown 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!

    37 min
  2. Ep 28 | From Burnout to Business Owner with Bianca Gay

    APR 7

    Ep 28 | From Burnout to Business Owner with Bianca Gay

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop trying to make a career path linear and start asking what kind of work actually makes sense for you right now?  In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Bianca Gay, owner of Three Coupe Society, a small business focused on crafting intentional beverages and collaborating with local businesses to curate thoughtful drink experiences. Bianca shares her journey from UX researcher at Foot Locker to entrepreneur, the burnout that finally pushed her out the door, and how she and her husband are building something rooted in community, creativity, and collaboration one intentional drink at a time. Topics Discussed in the Episode Navigating constant change and ambiguity in corporate as a Black womanBurning out with a plan — and running toward something, not just awayCo-running a business with your spouse as two introvertsWhy Three Coupe Society runs on word of mouth and values alignmentCreativity practices that embrace process over perfectionLetting go of the linear career path and following what gives you energyAbout Bianca Gay Bianca Gay is the owner of 3 Coupe Society, a small business focused on creating thoughtfully-crafted drinks and collaborating with local businesses to curate intentional beverage menus. They host events that encourage a community curious about what’s in their coupe!  She is also a freelance operations specialist, which allows her to blend her experience as an Experience Researcher and Operations Manager by helping other businesses solve organizational challenges and establish strategic priorities. Connect with Bianca Gay instagram: @3coupesociety website: 3coupesociety.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancagay  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!

    33 min
  3. Ep 27 | The Entrepreneurs Mindset with Pame Barba

    MAR 31

    Ep 27 | The Entrepreneurs Mindset with Pame Barba

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really look like to grow up inside a business, and then go on to build several of your own? In this episode of In Her Words, I sit down with Pame Barba, facilitator, strategist, and leadership coach, to trace her winding path from a sweater factory in Ecuador to a startup incubator in Atlanta to her current season as a full-time corporate employee who never stopped being an entrepreneur at heart. Pame shares the honest, unglamorous side of entrepreneurship, the anxiety that drove some of her biggest decisions, the moment she realized she was chasing the wrong metrics, and why she thinks portfolio careers are the future. Topics Discussed in the Episode Growing up entrepreneurial across two countries and industriesBurning out of tech at 27 and starting a business from scratchThe mindset game no one warns you about in entrepreneurshipHow anxiety quietly ran her business decisions for yearsRedefining "enough" instead of chasing big revenue goalsWhy different seasons of life call for different career pathsAbout Pame Barba Pamela Barba (she/her/ella) believes that it’s up to us to create the world we want to live in. And it starts with you owning your brilliance. (yes, you!) She helps entrepreneurs and creators launch and scale their one-of-a-kind ideas. Her grounded advice has been featured on Forbes and on stages nationwide. As a previously undocumented immigrant, she became an advocate for economic and immigrant equity after her family lost everything and migrated to the US. Now she helps marginalized folks transform their communities by launching brands, businesses, and community-driven projects. After spending a lifetime in the design and entrepreneurship space she learned that safety and self-trust are key in the creation process. She’s obsessed with demystifying innovation and guiding folks to trust their inner fire. Whatever the case wherever the wifi is connecting Pamela is on a mission to help folks start some sh*t. Connect with Pame Barba http://www.mspamelabarba.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelabarba/ https://startsomething.beehiiv.com/   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!

    34 min
  4. Ep 26 | What I Heard: The State of Work for Women in Tech with Roberta Dombrowski

    MAR 24

    Ep 26 | What I Heard: The State of Work for Women in Tech with Roberta Dombrowski

    Send us Fan Mail Over the last two months, I've been doing research with women in tech — and what I found is bigger than my own work with Learn Mindfully. It's a reflection of the moment we're all living in right now. In this solo episode, I'm sharing the themes that surfaced most consistently across my conversations: compounding trauma from repeated layoffs, burnout that gets blamed on the individual, a job market that's quietly eroding confidence, and a grief that most of us haven't had space to name. This isn't a personal failing. It's a systemic one. Topics Discussed in the Episode Layoffs are causing compounding, recurring trauma in techBurnout is systemic — but we're internalizing it personallyThe job market is actively eroding confidence and identityManager relationships are the single biggest factor at workGrief beneath the burnout — mourning a version of work that's goneWhy most support out there is actually gaslightingLearn more about Get Your Story Straight 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. 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!

    11 min
  5. Ep 25 | Unlocking Creativity with Victoria Montgomery

    MAR 17

    Ep 25 | Unlocking Creativity with Victoria Montgomery

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Victoria Montgomery, transition coach and founder of Voice Nerve Motion LLC, to explore her journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurship. Victoria shares how a growing disconnect from her creative roots and the grief of watching time pass without honoring her values sparked a deeper reckoning in her professional life.  Together, we talk about the physical and emotional toll of working in a misaligned environment, exactly when she knew it was time to leave, and what it looks like to help others navigate similar transitions. Victoria also opens up about her evolution as a leader, the power of curiosity and emotional intelligence in the workplace, and the creative practices she's embracing this year. Topics Discussed in the Episode Reconnecting with creativity through shadow workBurnout, values misalignment, and leaving corporatePhysical symptoms of a misaligned work environmentHow insecure leadership erodes credibilityEffort vs. force and finding values alignmentVictoria's coaching practice at Voice Nerve Motion LLCIntentional creative practices to prioritize in the new yearAbout Victoria Montgomery Victoria Montgomery is a human-centered professional with experience across mission-focused sectors, with a passion for helping individuals and teams realize their full potential through developing a healthy relationship with their power and owning who they are becoming. Victoria has worked in talent acquisition and as a people manager to serve business leaders and functions, as well as individuals in the social impact space, honing her EQ skills. Her approach is heavily influenced by her love and commitment to psychology and the challenge of personal growth within teams, individuals, and their interplay. Connect with Victoria Montgomery LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-montgomery2525/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toriataughtme/ Company IG: https://www.instagram.com/voicenervemotion/# X: https://x.com/montyybynature 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!

    39 min
  6. Ep 24 | The Power of Your Story with Alaina Shearer

    MAR 10

    Ep 24 | The Power of Your Story with Alaina Shearer

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Alaina Shearer, branding expert, storyteller, and founder of Good Is Now, for a conversation about voice, courage, and what it means to take a stand in your work. Alaina shares how storytelling has shaped her life from an early age, from writing and public speaking as a child to building movements as an entrepreneur and even running for Congress.  We talk about the connection between storytelling and personal power, why so many people stay quiet even when something matters deeply to them, and how taking a stand can actually strengthen your brand rather than hurt it. Alaina also shares what she’s learned from reinvention, entrepreneurship, and helping others tell stories that create connection and change.  Topics Discussed in This Episode Storytelling and early experiences with speakingRunning for Congress and building a public voiceTaking a stand in your businessFear, trolls, and being seen onlineReinvention, branding, and betting on yourselfAbout Alaina Shearer Alaina Shearer is a branding expert and movement maker who never settles for the status quo, and who inspires her clients and audiences to do the same. She leads founders and businesses to discover their brand truth – no easy feat – but one that changes their growth trajectory. Her method is holistic and rooted in a desire to create brands and content strategies that feel fit, not forced. Connect with Alaina Shearer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-now-b2b-agency/ Website: https://www.goodisnow.com/  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!

    33 min
  7. Ep 23 | Redefining Success with Roberta Dombrowski

    MAR 3

    Ep 23 | Redefining Success with Roberta Dombrowski

    Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode, I explore a theme that’s been surfacing again and again in my client conversations: how we define success—and how that definition may need to evolve. Many of us fell into our careers through timing, practicality, or opportunity. It worked for a while. But with layoffs, burnout, and shifting priorities, more people are pausing to ask: What does success actually mean to me now? I unpack the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, why so many workplaces rely almost entirely on external validation, and how that can leave us feeling drained. Most importantly, I walk through reflective questions you can use to reconnect with your values and redefine success in a way that aligns with your current season of life. Topics Discussed in This Episode External vs. internal motivationWhy extrinsic rewards lose their powerHow success shifts across life seasonsUsing peak moments and anger as values dataMoving from validation to alignmentSeason 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
  8. Ep 22| Navigating the Magic Dark with Kitty Gonzalez

    FEB 24

    Ep 22| Navigating the Magic Dark with Kitty Gonzalez

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Kitty Gonzalez—coach, yoga teacher, and former L’Oréal marketer—for a grounded conversation about career pivots, identity, and the courage it takes to choose community and alignment over the “shoulds.” Kitty shares what it was like growing up between Mexico City and the U.S., and how living between cultures shaped her adaptability, awareness, and sense of belonging. We talk about her years in product development and marketing at L’Oréal, the long “slow build” of realizing it wasn’t her forever path, and how COVID created the space to finally listen to what she already knew. Kitty opens up about leaving corporate, the jarring reality of an open calendar, learning how to sell herself, and how yoga became a lifeline—first for her own healing and embodiment, then as a community anchor in every place she lives. We also explore what Kitty calls the “magic dark”—that uncomfortable in-between season where you’re doing all the right things but the outcome hasn’t arrived yet. Her reminder is simple: keep moving, keep asking for help, and trust that something is unfolding—even when you can’t see it yet. Topics Discussed in This Episode Kitty’s bicultural upbringing shaped identity, belonging, and adaptability.Leaving L’Oréal took years of journaling and inner knowing.Coaching certification revealed the gap between skills and selling. Entrepreneurship brought freedom, but also loneliness and constant hustle.Yoga supported healing, embodiment, and community through major transitions.The “magic dark” demands persistence, trust, and asking for help.About Kitty Gonzalez Kitty Gonzalez is an Executive Coach at Athena who helps high-achieving leaders create clarity, alignment, and meaningful change in their work and lives. Born in Mexico City and raised between Mexico and the U.S., she brings a deeply multicultural lens to her coaching. Before Athena, she spent nearly a decade in global marketing at L’Oréal and later built her own wellness and coaching practice, Wherever Forever. Kitty is also a certified yoga teacher, and her approach blends strategy with grounded, embodied wisdom. She currently lives between Michigan and Mexico City with her husband and their cat, Tikka. Connect with Kitty Instagram: @wherever__forever Website: https://whereverforever.com/  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!

    39 min
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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
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 In Her Words
  • Show Website
    In Her Words