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
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Your imposter syndrome feels overwhelming—questioning your capabilities as a mom, dismissing your professional skills, and feeling disconnected from the ambitious woman you used to be.
And somehow you're still supposed to create a fulfilling life that balances motherhood and personal goals?
This episode is your confidence reset.
I'm walking you through the exact steps I use to identify and embrace ambitious traits that are already part of your daily mom life without feeling like you're "just a mom" or that your ambitions have disappeared.
From redefining ambition through a motherhood lens to building an "ambition inventory," these are the strategies that will help you feel reconnected to your capabilities, clear about your transferable skills, and actually excited about your potential again.
If you're feeling completely lost after motherhood or like a shell of the person you used to be, hit play so you can achieve your ambitious mom life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00) Teaser
- (2:53) The life coaching program that helps moms create purpose-driven roadmaps
- (5:25) Introduction: Why many high-achieving moms struggle with imposter syndrome
- (7:21) Step 1: Redefining ambition through a motherhood lens
- (8:49) Step 2: Documenting your invisible achievements
- (10:05) Step 3: Identifying transferable ambitious skills
- (11:57) Step 4: Documenting challenges overcome
- (13:10) Step 5: Getting external validation through a supportive community
- (17:30) Recap
Links Mentioned in Episode:
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
⏮️ EP 73: 5 Hidden Signs You're an Ambitious Mom (Even If You Don't Feel Like One) - Part 1
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
❓Questions? Leave me a message
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference ay Home & Work //
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
If you've ever felt like your ambitious side disappeared after becoming a mom, this episode reveals why you're more ambitious than you think. Ambitious moms often struggle to recognize their own skills in managing complex family logistics and making high-stakes decisions daily.
That's exactly why I'm redefining ambition through the lens of motherhood. These 5 hidden signs are the key to recognizing your innate ambitious traits while balancing the demands of raising children, managing a household, and pursuing personal dreams.
In this episode, I'm walking you through: ⭐️ How motherhood requires managing complexity that would challenge any CEO ⭐️ Why the high-stakes decisions you make daily showcase your ambitious nature ⭐️ How your continuous adaptation to children's changing needs demonstrates growth mindset ⭐️ The way your relentless persistence through exhaustion reveals your ambitious drive ⭐️ How your long-term vision for your family mirrors visionary leadership
You don't need to choose between being an amazing mom and pursuing your personal goals—but you do need to recognize the ambitious skills you're already using every day. This framework will help you reclaim your identity as an ambitious woman who happens to be a mom.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (3:30): Redefining traditional meaning of ambition for mothers
- (11:07): Hidden Sign #1: Managing complexity daily
- (12:26): Hidden Sign #2: Making high-stakes decisions
- (13:11): Hidden Sign #3: Continuous adaptation to changing needs
- (14:13): Hidden Sign #4: Relentless persistence through challenges
- (15:09): Hidden Sign #5: Holding a long-term vision
- (17:00): Wrap-up
Links Mentioned in Episode:
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
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
❓Questions? Leave me a message
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
// Meaningful Work by Aligning Your Time With Who Your Are //
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 //
Sunday Sep 07, 2025
Sunday Sep 07, 2025
Struggling to find even 5 minutes for yourself as a busy mom? Discover why planning your time is the key to creating more space in your schedule. These time management strategies will help you regain control of your day.
In this episode, I break down four proven ways planning actually SAVES TIME FOR BUSY MOMS instead of taking it away. If you're constantly overwhelmed, unable to catch up with your packed schedule, and struggling to fit everything in between family and work, this episode will transform how you think about time management.
You'll discover why setting aside just 15-30 minutes weekly for planning can create hours of time savings, reduce your mental load, and help you be more present with your family. These strategies work whether you're a working mom trying to balance career demands or a stay-at-home mom managing household responsibilities.
By the end of this episode, you'll have practical, actionable steps to create a planning system that fits your busy mom life and gives you the freedom to focus on what truly matters to you.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser - Is finding time as a busy mom impossible?
- (2:24): Principle #1: The counterintuitive approach to time that works
- (4:50): Principle #2: How to multiply your time with planning
- (8:09): Principle #3: Planning time-saving automation
- (9:15): Principle #4: End the 2 AM worry spiral and enter mental peace
- (13:20): Recap and actionable steps to start planning with minimal time investment
Links Mentioned in Episode:
Interested in Life Planning? Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
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
// Optimize Daily Decisions By Aligning Your Time to Your Values //
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 Aug 29, 2025
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Are you a high-achieving mom struggling with burnout? In this second part of my conversation with Lesley Alberts, host of The Grounded Mama Podcast, we explore mindset shifts that can help you find work-life balance while still pursuing your ambitions.
As high achievers, we often struggle with perfectionism and outcome-based thinking. Lesley and I discuss our differing perspectives on what balance truly means, especially for working moms who want to move forward on their dreams while avoiding stress, overwhelm, and burnout.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
🧠 How to reframe your perspective on work-life balance to make it work for you
🧠 Why focusing on the journey rather than just the outcome leads to greater fulfillment
🧠 Practical ways to set boundaries and honor your "full body yes and no"
🧠 How to shift from perfectionism to embracing curiosity and creativity
If you're ready to experience more joy while still honoring your ambitious nature, this episode will give you the mindset tools to find that balance!
Selected Quotable Moments
- "I think with a regulated nervous system, your perception of balance can shift and change into making balance work for you, not you working for it."
- "Joy is our life's assignment.”
- “We think we have control over an outcome, or a situation, or a circumstance, and all we truly have is choice. We only have the choice of how we're gonna show up, or how we're gonna handle that situation.”
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:09): Introduction to Lesley
- (3:10): Differing perspectives on work-life balance & types of balance
- (4:20): How hustle culture creates burnout in high-achieving moms
- (6:33): Setting boundaries to protect your energy as an ambitious mom
- (9:25): How curiosity can help you identify when you need to pause and recalibrate
- (12:06): Why regulating your nervous system is essential for success without burnout
- (14:51): Shifting from outcome-based thinking to process-focused joy
- (27:08): What is a “family’s nervous system blueprint”?
Lesley’s Links Mentioned:
🎧 Podcast: The Grounded Mama
IG: @groundedmamapodcast
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 at Home & Work //
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Do you ever find that your thoughts and emotions are holding you back? Today's episode is Part 1 of my conversation with Lesley Alberts, host of The Grounded Mama Podcast, to talk about how nervous system regulation can be the foundation for personal growth for high-achieving moms.
You are an amazing mama. You have a DESIRE TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR AMBITIONS —but to truly GROW MINDFULLY without stress, overstimulation, or burnout — you need nervous system strategies, avoiding triggers for anxiety, and building grounding habits.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
🧠 Why regulating your nervous system is essential for personal growth and identity
🧠 How somatic coaching helps moms process stored stress responses
🧠 Practical ways to ground yourself during overwhelming moments as a busy mom
🧠 How simple daily techniques can help you feel more regulated and present
Let's get you back on track today with this deep dive into nervous system regulation for ambitious moms!
Selected Quotable Moments
"True failure happens when you sit on the sidelines and you just wish and hope and wonder what if."
“Our mind is a great tool to help keep us safe, but we need to learn how to put the seatbelt on it and put it in the backseat versus the driver.”
“There are so many ‘shoulds’ in this world, and there's so much fear, guilt, and shame instilled with being productive.”
Episode Highlights
- (00:00): Teaser
- (2:10): Introduction to Lesley Alberts and her background
- (4:15): Perfectionism in high-achievers
- (09:00): What is trauma-informed somatic coaching and how it helps moms
- (15:02): What to focus on during life transitions & survival mode
- (16:04): Signs someone might benefit from nervous system regulation
- (24:06): How motherhood changes our identity and relationship with achievement
- (32:24): Simple grounding techniques for busy moms
- (38:24): Wrap-up
Lesley’s Links Mentioned:
🎧 Podcast: The Grounded Mama
▶️ Lesley’s Journey of discovering her nervous system was dysregulated
IG: @groundedmamapodcast
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 //