What do you do when the unimaginable happens?

In this conversation, Melissa Saleh shares her profound journey through grief, motherhood, and the challenges of navigating loss. From her experiences as a corporate lawyer to her transition into tech and startups, she discusses the impact of her personal tragedies, including the loss of her first child, and how these experiences have shaped her identity and purpose. Melissa emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a means of healing and the need for a supportive environment for those experiencing loss. She also addresses the challenges faced by women in the workplace, particularly regarding maternity leave and the need for systemic change. Through her narrative, she aims to create a lighthouse for others who are navigating similar journeys, offering hope and understanding.

About Melissa:

Melissa Saleh is a serial entrepreneur who has spent her career at the intersection of technology and human behavior. Since 2004 she has combined storytelling and bleeding-edge technology to build successful products, companies and brands.

In 2020 she cofounded FairPlay AI, the world's first Fairness-as-a-Service company.

Prior to that she created and executed narrative strategies for companies including Facebook, Google, Citibank and GE. After founding the content strategy firm Brick Wall Media in 2013, she built up a roster of Fortune 500 clients and worked extensively with early-stage cos to develop their mission, voice and brand narrative, then communicate them powerfully to the world.

As a journalist and editor, she launched and ran digital properties for The New York Times, Newsweek, Discover Magazine and others. She began her career as a labor and employment lawyer in New York City, then transitioned to media by founding the internationally-acclaimed blog Opinionistas, which revealed life inside the world's toniest law firms.

She has written for The New York Times, The New York Observer, Wired, The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast and others, and has appeared on-air for CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business and NPR. She received her JD from UVA School of Law and her BA from Dartmouth.

Connect with Melissa:

https://www.threads.net/@melissa.l.saleh

https://www.instagram.com/melissa.l.saleh/

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

Mother Founder Retreat

Dovetail® App

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today’s episode, we're joined by Lee Sevier, a former big law lawyer who boldly chose to leave her demanding career and be more present with her children. We dive into her journey of managing career aspirations and family priorities, discussing the trade-offs, challenges, and moments of clarity along the way. Lee also shares her experiences with her son’s developmental needs, revealing the reality of balancing specialized therapies with the everyday demands of family life.

Lee’s story is one of resilience, shifting priorities, and the importance of self-compassion, offering insights that any parent, career-driven or not, will find inspiring.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difficult decision to step away from a big law career to focus on family
• Lee’s journey navigating her son’s special needs and therapy
• How to embrace career pauses without seeing them as gaps
• Tips for balancing career ambitions with the responsibilities of parenthood

Connect with Lee:

LinkedIn

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

Mother Founder Retreat

Dovetail® App

Social:

Instagram: @dovetailapp

TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today's episode, I welcome Kate Westlund Tovsen, the founder of the Society of Working Moms, a community designed for moms of all ages and stages to connect and get support. Kate shares insights about the group’s features, including monthly workshops, weekly group coaching, and a low-stakes book club. She also discusses the importance of work-life balance and the challenges she faced as a working mom of two. We dive into the inspiration behind creating the Society of Working Moms and how it has evolved since its inception six months ago. The conversation also touches on the community's approach to fostering connections, setting boundaries, and navigating the complexities of motherhood and career. Lastly, Kate talks about the group's coaching sessions, expert-led workshops, and the invaluable support members receive from each other.

Kate Westlund Tovsen is the founder of The Society of Working Moms, a membership community for and by moms of all ages and stages who love their families and their careers but who might not feel fully supported in either. Members enjoy a well-managed and engaged Slack community made up of generous women who provide overwhelming confirmation that we are not, in fact, alone. The group also boasts features such as monthly workshops, weekly group coaching sessions, and a "low-stakes book club."

Outside of being the group's community manager and her "real job" as a communications consultant, Kate enjoys doing endless DIY home projects around her kids' schedules and toys, exploring the beautiful lakes and woods that surround her home, snuggling with her family while watching a movie, and building IRL community in her small northern Minnesota town.

Connect with Kate:

Working Moms Society: Use code ANDBOTH for 50% off your first month of membership

Instagram: @thetovsens

Linkedin

Email: hello@katetovsenmedia.com

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

Dovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academy

Caregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093

Social:

Instagram: @dovetailapp

TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today’s episode, our guest is Jenny Armstrong, an elected Alaska state representative and founder of Wild Awake and Delve, two companies focused on empowering women and driving social good. Jenny shares her inspiring journey from the East Coast to Alaska, where she now balances politics, business, and motherhood. We discuss her work advocating for paid family leave, mental health, and childcare, along with her passion for helping other women succeed in leadership and entrepreneurship. Jenny also opens up about her family’s unique journey, including welcoming two refugee girls from Afghanistan into their home. Join us for an episode filled with insights on leadership, community impact, and what it truly means to make a difference.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Jenny ran for office and her legislative focus on family, mental health, and equality
• How she’s helping women entrepreneurs build impactful businesses through Wild Awake
• The challenges of balancing motherhood with a political career
• Her family’s journey welcoming two refugee girls and helping them thrive in the U.S.
• Practical advice for anyone looking to make a difference in their community

Hit play to join us for an inspiring conversation with Jenny Armstrong about leadership, community, and the drive to make a positive impact!

Connect with Jenny:

Website: https://www.wildawakecreative.com/

Instagram: @wild_awake_creative

Linkedin

Email: jennie@wildawakecreative.com

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

Dovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academy

Caregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093

Social:

Instagram: @dovetailapp

TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In this episode, we sit down with Tori Johnston, a marketing consultant and former CMO for top fitness brands like SoulCycle and Exponential Fitness. Tori shares her career journey from corporate marketing to consulting, while balancing her role as a mom to a three-and-a-half-year-old. She talks about the challenges of managing work and family life, the transition from city living to suburban life, and her experiences navigating the demands of being a female executive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Questions Tori Answered:

• How did Tori transition from corporate marketing to consulting in the fitness industry?
• What are the biggest challenges she faces balancing her professional career and motherhood?
• How has her experience as a female executive influenced her views on workplace flexibility for moms?
• What advice does Tori have for moms balancing early parenthood with maintaining a career?

Key Takeaways:

• Tori shares how she integrates fitness and reading into her busy schedule to stay grounded and find balance.
• She discusses the importance of having strong support systems for working moms, both at work and in society.
• Tori highlights how building a strong community around family life is crucial, especially for raising children.
• Flexibility, self-care, and realistic expectations are key to managing a demanding career and family life.

Join us to learn how Tori Johnston manages her thriving fitness marketing career while balancing the demands of motherhood.

Connect with Tori:

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

Dovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academy

Caregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093

Social:

Instagram: @dovetaildesigns.co

TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today's episode, I explore the multifaceted dynamics of balancing a creative career, parenting, and personal identity. Our guest, Chauncey Zalkin, shares her journey from being a senior VP in marketing to a creative entrepreneur focusing on writing and fiction projects, with aspirations to become a therapist. We discuss the challenges of maintaining authenticity, the influence of her entrepreneurial father and artistically inclined mother on her pursuits, and the importance of creative legacy. She also talks about her experience with school performance, balancing twin birthdays, and the need for intentional growth in entrepreneurship. We also hone in on empathetic parenting, co-parenting, the significance of accountability, and Chauncey's dreams of writing a book, collaborating on screenplays, and building a community through her podcast 'Actual People' and Substack.

Connect with Chauncey:

• Website: https://chaunceyzalkin.com/
• Podcast: Actual People
• Linkedin

Connect with Ashley:

• Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co
• Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing
• Dovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academy
• Caregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093

Social:

• Instagram: @dovetaildesigns.co
• TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today's episode, I sit down with Jen White, the founder and chief brand strategist of Collective Memory. Jen shares her incredible journey of over two decades as an entrepreneur and discusses the powerful connections between running a business and raising a family. We dive into the concept of moms being the CEOs of their households and explore how the skills we learn as mothers can directly translate into leadership roles in the business world.

We talk about the challenges of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and how making decisions for our families often mirrors the decision-making process in business. Jen, who has older children, offers insights into the different stages of motherhood and reflects on how her experiences have evolved over time.

We also explore the importance of mentorship, both in business and parenting, and how having someone a few steps ahead of you can be an invaluable resource. Jen shares her thoughts on what it means to lead with empathy and understanding, whether at home or in the workplace, and how giving ourselves credit for what we do as mothers can empower us in all aspects of life.

If you’ve ever felt like you're navigating both motherhood and entrepreneurship with uncertainty, this episode will provide you with the perspective and reassurance that you’re not alone. Join us as we explore the parallels between family and business, and how the lessons we learn in one area can inform and strengthen the other.

Connect with Jen:

• Website: https://drawingfrommemory.com/
• Linked In
• Email: jen@drawingfrommemory.com

Connect with Ashley:

• Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co
• Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing
• Dovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academy
• Caregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093

Social:

• Instagram: @dovetaildesigns.co
• TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

After a decade-and-a-half of chronic stress from trying to fit her square peg into the round hole of society, her body broke down, and she got Type 1 Diabetes as an adult, which dramatically shifted her perspectives. She now coaches women to expand into truer versions of themselves by discovering deep self-trust, writing their own rules, attuning to their hearts and bodies, and thriving in living their values.

Connect with Nicole:

• Website: https://nicolelenzen.com/
• Instagram: @nicolelenzencoaching
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelenzen
• Substack: https://blog.nicolelenzen.com/

'

Connect with Ashley:

• Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co
• Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing
• Dovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academy
• Caregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093

Social:

• Instagram: @dovetaildesigns.co
• TikTok: @dovetaildesigns.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/