Have you ever been told that work-life balance for women in STEM is a myth?
Do you want a meaningful science career and a rooted family life —but you worry that you’re “failing at both”?
Are you running low on time, energy, and sleep, trying to keep up with grant deadlines, conferences, and kids?
Do you wonder if negotiating career shifts, flexible jobs, STEM-adjacent roles, or maternity leave is proof you’re not a serious scientist?
Welcome to Science Careers for Moms — a TOP 2.5% GLOBALLY RANKED PODCAST for women in STEM who want a career path where they can thrive in science without sacrificing their family or personal wellbeing.
Hi! I’m Anokhi Kapasi, a PhD researcher and mom of two boys. I created this show because I know what it is like to feel torn between being a serious scientist and a present mom —and to realize that “trying harder” is not a strategy.
This show is different because it integrates career and life planning strategies designed specifically for science-minded moms in a work culture that was not built for caregivers. Every episode blends interviews with other scientists who have been where you are and career planning deep-dives where you will learn the answer to questions like:
🎯 Are there decision-making frameworks to help me navigate pivots, return-to-work, academia vs. industry…or to even know what the “next right move” is?
🎯 How do I set career goals that allow me to stay ambitious, connect with my family, and feel like myself again?
🎯 Is work–life balance for working moms in STEM actually possible, and what does it look like in practice?
🎯 Can I stay in science & tech without burnout, guilt, or losing sight of myself?
STEM-trained moms, I’ll teach you how to make confident career decisions that align with your whole life —not just professional development.
🎧 FOLLOW this show and never choose between being a good mom or a good scientist again!
🗣️ GUEST INTEREST FORM: https://calendly.com/anokhi-solveformom/guests-on-solve-for-mom
📩 QUESTIONS: hello@solveformom.com
🌐 VISIT: www.SolveForMom.com for more resources & information
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Avoid these 10 frequent life planning mistakes!
Your vision board isn't the problem…Your planning tool isn't the problem…Your goals aren't the problem.
The problem is how you are vision planning and not what you are planning for your ambitious mom life.
In this episode, I'm sharing how I went from spending almost 2 years fumbling through trial and error with vision planning, to finally creating a life planning system that actually works. Learn what NOT to do to create clarity and flexibility in planning for your ideal future—I've built a method that helps you get big results even though you are a busy mom.
And the best part? You can do this too.
I'm walking you through what mistakes to avoid, what safeguards to build in, and the exact strategies that make vision casting and life planning actually work—so you can spend less time managing your life and more time living it.
What You'll Learn:
- Why treating your plan as a rigid roadmap backfires
- How to stop overloading yourself with too many goals
- The “success trap”
- How to build resilience into your future
- How to stay aligned with your evolving life
This episode will help you avoid common life planning mistakes and create a clear roadmap for success.
Episode Highlights:
- (0:00): Introduction
- (3:15): Listener Shoutout. 🤩 Leave me a rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
- (4:06): A holistic method for planning your life
- (6:38): Mistakes #1 - #5
- (16:21): Mistake #6 - #10
- (26:16): Recap
>>> Curious where you are in your journey back to the “successful you”? 📱Take the Ambitious Mom Quiz to find out if life planning is the right tool to help you design your ideal life. Get insights tailored to your unique stage!!
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode.
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives
❓Questions? Leave me a message
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
// Life Planning Tools to Balance Ambitions and Motherhood //
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Do you ever feel like you're constantly battling BURNOUT while trying to maintain your identity as both a mom and a driven professional?
In today's episode, I continue my powerful conversation with Dr. Jihane Farrell, host of The 40s Fitness Reset podcast, as we explore creating work-life balance that truly aligns with your core values.
This episode is about transformation and how mindfulness and values-based decision making can help you create a balanced life on your own terms.
Dr. Jihane shares her step-by-step process for rebuilding her life from burnt out academic research to an intentional life that includes embracing her roles as a driven solopreneur and a mindful mama. You'll discover practical strategies for reconnecting with your core values, mastering your emotions, and approaching motherhood as a meaningful mission rather than a burden.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- 🔋 How tapping into your core values allows you to "come back to yourself" after feeling lost
- 🔋 Why raising a child is one of the most meaningful ways to have a positive impact in the world
- 🔋 Practical mindfulness techniques that helped Jihane regain emotional mastery during her burnout recovery
- 🔋 The powerful shift that happens when you stop blaming external circumstances and take personal responsibility
- 🔋How to recognize your unique "stress signature" before burnout takes hold
- 🔋 Actionable strategies for creating priorities that reflect your values rather than others' expectations
If you're ready to stop living in misalignment and create a life that honors who you truly are, hit play so you can achieve your ambitious mom life!
>>> Want to create a life where purpose and productivity actually coexist? Create your life plan: https://solveformom.com/balanced-mom-sales-page
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (1:15): How Dr. Jihane's burnout experience prepared her for motherhood
- (3:40): The importance of mindfulness meditation for emotional mastery
- (6:20): Finding meaning versus seeking happiness
- (8:30): Discovering core values through difficult experiences
- (11:45): Approaching motherhood as a high calling
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
Links Mentioned in Episode:
🎧 Podcast: The 40s Fitness Reset podcast
➡️ Continue the conversation on LinkedIn or by tagging @solveformom - https://www.linkedin.com/company/solve-for-mom/
Let's Connect!
❓Questions? Leave me a message
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference ay Home & Work //
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Your life vision isn't stuck in neutral. Your dreams haven't disappeared. The problem is that you're constantly putting everyone else first.
In this episode, I'm sharing how I went from feeling trapped in everyone else's priorities to finally reclaiming my power as CEO of my own life. From curiosity and clear vision to strategic planning and accountability—I've built a framework that includes my dreams, while fully embracing motherhood.
And the best part? You can do this too.
I'm walking you through my First-Step Framework, what I learned about reconnecting with myself, and the exact strategy that made my transformation possible—so you can stop playing small and start going for those big audacious goals.
If you're ready to stop feeling like you're depleting yourself and start reclaiming your independence and ideas, hit play so you can achieve your ambitious mom life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:44): The hidden reason why ambitious moms feel like they've lost themselves
- (4:28): Step 1: Think big with curiosity & self-discovery
- (7:41): Step 2: How to use life planning to dream big
- (9:41): 📞 Feeling stuck on that big idea? Book a FREE call with Anokhi!
- (10:52): Step 3: Developing strategy for your big plans
- (12:23): Step 4: How to take action for big impact
- (15:50): Step 5: Types of accountability networks for ambitious women
- (18:10): Recap - How to shift from reactive to proactive planning
💪 Looking for a proven system you can implement tonight? Download the Personal Code of Conduct Template to align your daily actions with your core values - designed for high‑achieving moms. Get your copy now at solveformom.com/resources.
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
❓Questions? Leave me a message
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
// How to Turn Your Big Ideas Into Real Impact //
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Today, you're getting a step-by-step process for building a thriving business in just 2.5 hours a day. If you constantly feel like your days are jam packed with endless to-do lists, this episode is your minimalist productivity blueprint.
Right now, you might think that building anything - let alone a business or a big dream of yours - while staying a present mom sounds impossible, or reserved for people with full-time childcare or fewer responsibilities.
But what if it wasn't just a nice idea? What if it was a simple, concrete system you could start right now?
You actually have the power to blend success and motherhood even with limited time, and today you're getting the exact framework I use to run my business in just 2.5 hours daily - while homeschooling two energetic boys.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- My complete evening work schedule and why it works with my life, not against it
- How I theme each day of the week to eliminate task-switching and maximize productivity
- The ONE thing approach that ensures meaningful progress even with limited time
- How life planning creates the foundation that makes minimal work hours possible
- Practical micro-tactics like cumulative batching and one-rule boundary-setting
If you're ready to stop letting time constraints hold you back and want to start creating impact with the time you actually have (not the time you wish you had), this episode is for you.
For those of you who are LONGING to regain control of your day and ready to break free from constantly putting your own needs and dreams on hold, try my private coaching session—designed to help you craft your personalized life plan.
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now! https://solveformom.com/book-life-planning
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Introduction
- (1:56): Common excuses for high-achieving moms
- (4:14): My work time block
- (6:31): Life planning as your foundation
- (8:49): My 2.5-hour work schedule breakdown
- (13:54): 3 Practical micro-tactics for busy moms seeking productive minimalism
- 💌 Become an SFM Insider for more FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
- (16:56): Wrap-up & where to start
If you're ready to create a life where you can be everything you need to be for your kids, your career, and yourself, hit play so you can achieve your ambitious mom life!
Previous Episodes Mentioned:
Description of scheduling buffers at 19:52 ⏮️ EP 61: [Community Question] T.I.M.E. Block Method to Finally Conquer Your Busy Schedule (Without Losing Family Time)
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
Let's Connect!
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
❓Questions? Leave me a message
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference at Home & Work //
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Your feeling of being stuck isn't the problem. Your inability to balance everything isn't the problem. Self-doubt when pursuing your dreams isn't the problem. The problem is that you haven't embraced the power of "yet" in your mindset.
In this episode, I'm sharing how I went from feeling defeated by unachieved goals...to finally transforming my personal growth journey through one tiny three-letter word. From reframing "can't" statements to celebrating micro-wins—I've built a system that creates space for growth amid real life.
And the best part? You can do this too.
I'm walking you through what adding "yet" to your vocabulary does for your brain, what micro-tasks can accomplish when you're feeling overwhelmed, and the exact mindset shifts that made this transformation possible—so you can achieve your ambitious mom life without feeling like a failure.
If you're ready to stop feeling defeated by unchecked boxes and unmet goals, hit play so you can achieve your ambitious mom life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (3:23): Introduction: The power of adding "yet" to your inner dialogue
- (4:18): The science behind growth mindset and how "yet" transforms your brain
- (12:21): How growth mindset and life planning work together
- (14:51): Mindset Shift #1: How to get out of black and white thinking
- (16:14): Mindset Shift #2: Breaking goals into simple micro-tasks
- (18:33): Mindset Shift #3: How to activate neural reinforcement with progress
- (21:51): Recap & Practical application
Links Mentioned in Episode:
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
📖 Negativity Bias - Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Bad is stronger than good. Review of General Psychology, 5(4), 323-370.
📖 Stress on working moms - Kahn, S., & Moore, M. (2018). The motherhood penalty: A meta-analysis of the effects of motherhood on women's career outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(5), 547-566.
Free Resources
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
✍🏻 The go-to blog for ambitious moms
📱Free Life Planning Quiz
📝 Free Template - Personal Code of Conduct
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
❓Questions? Leave me a message
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference ay Home & Work //
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Struggling to make confident decisions without second-guessing yourself? Do you get overwhelmed by figuring out your options?
In this episode, I reveal why traditional pros and cons lists fall short for ambitious moms who want clarity in complex life choices. I'll show you how life planning can become your ultimate decision-making superpower!
This is a show about confident decision-making where I teach you how to align choices with your core values to eliminate decision fatigue and get meaningful results in your ambitious mom life.
If you're ready to stop flip-flopping on decisions and instead start making decisions with clarity and purpose, hit play and together we achieve your ambitious mom life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:58): Why traditional pros & cons lists leave you second-guessing yourself
- (4:25): What confident decision-making actually looks like for high-achieving moms
- (5:02): The limitations of pros & cons lists that keep you stuck in indecision
- (6:51): How your life plan becomes your ultimate decision-making filter
- (12:03): Wrap-up
Links Mentioned in Episode:
❓Questions? Leave me a message
📞 Book your Free Exploratory call with Anokhi now!
⏮️ EP 60: At a Crossroads? The #1 Way to Make Decisions You'll Never Regret
Free Resources
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
✍🏻 The go-to blog for ambitious moms
📱Free Life Planning Quiz
📝 Free Template - Personal Code of Conduct
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
//Life Planning for Moms Who Want to Create Impact at Home and at Work //
Sunday Aug 31, 2025
Sunday Aug 31, 2025
Do you sometimes question if you're on the right path? Are your days passing by without meaningful progress towards your big goals?
Have you been overwhelmed by daily demands while your dreams take a back seat?
In today's episode, I share the three key signs you need a life plan to turn your ambitious goals into reality. This isn't just about creating another to-do list—it's about designing a comprehensive ROADMAP that aligns all aspects of your life with your deepest VALUES and biggest ASPIRATIONS.
This episode is perfect for ambitious moms who feel a calling to something greater but struggle to make consistent progress amid life's demands.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:42): Sign #1 - You feel a calling
- (4:24): Sign #2 - You're uncertain about your trajectory
- (5:55): How a life plan helps you filter what matters
- (7:18): Sign #3 - You’re overwhelmed
- (9:19): Recap
Links & Related Episodes Mentioned:
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
EP 65: Stop Living on Autopilot - Prioritize Your Life With Values-Driven Planning
EP 66: Stop Overcommitting: 4 Tips to Balance Ambitions & Purpose
Free Resources
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
📱Free Life Planning Quiz
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference //
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Hello Ambitious Mom!
Has summer break thrown your carefully crafted routines into complete chaos? Do you feel like your personal goals get completely lost in the summer shuffle?
Many ambitious moms find themselves scrambling to make the most of the time with their kids and family while desperately wanting to double down on projects that have gone to the wayside. When your days become jam-packed with managing everyone else's summer activities, your own goals keep getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list, leaving you feeling scattered and disconnected from yourself just when summer should be bringing you freedom, lightness, and joy.
In today's episode, I share how to create a 3-step vision for summer break that actually fills your cup instead of draining it. You'll discover how to create harmony between family time and personal needs, find those precious pockets of time for your own refreshment, and use summer's different rhythm to reconnect with your personal goals and identity.
This is a show about vision casting for your summer, where I teach you how intentional planning will help you transform from surviving to thriving during these precious summer months.
If you're ready to stop dreading summer and embrace all the awesomeness that comes with summer break, hit play and together we can Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:21): Submit questions for Figure It Out Friday episodes
- (3:00): Why ambitious moms struggle during summer break
- (6:09): Understanding vision casting for seasonal planning
- (7:50): It's never too late to implement your summer vision plan!
- (9:24): Step 1: Reconnect with yourself
- (12:59): Step 2: Connect during family time
- (14:33): Step 3: Schedule personal development and career growth to synchronize with the summer rhythm
- (17:59): Treat summer break as a change in your “scheduling environment”
- (21:34): How these three components work together to create a fulfilling summer
Resources Mentioned:
❓ Ask me a life planning question
📞 Schedule a free call with Anokhi
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips and exclusive content
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
📱 Join our community on LinkedIn
📫 Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Optimize Daily Decisions By Aligning Your Time to Your Values //