“Women are asked to parent like they don’t have jobs — and work like they don’t have kids.”

What happens when resilience becomes both a survival strategy… and a catalyst for systems change?

In this episode, we sit down with Giovanna Rossi — public affairs strategist, leadership coach, founder of Family Friendly New Mexico, and host of NPR’s The Well Woman Show. Giovanna shares the deeply personal story that shaped her work: watching her single mother walk across the stage to receive her diploma after years of sacrifice, determination, and raising a family while putting herself through school.

That experience became the foundation for Giovanna’s lifelong mission: improving the systems that impact women, caregivers, and families.

From policy work and workplace culture to burnout, invisible labor, and values-based leadership, this conversation explores what it means to lead sustainably in a world that often rewards overwork and perfectionism. Giovanna also shares practical insights from her Well Woman framework — helping leaders align their values with their actions so they can make meaningful impact without losing themselves in the process.

This is a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about leadership, caregiving, resilience, and redefining success.

You’ll Hear

• The childhood moment that shaped Giovanna’s understanding of resilience and possibility
• How her mother’s experience as a single parent inspired her work in systems change
• Why career paths are rarely linear — and how “squiggly lines” often lead to purpose
• The hidden conflict many caregivers face: “parent like you don’t have a job, work like you don’t have kids”
• How burnout is often tied to living out of alignment with your values
• Giovanna’s framework for distinguishing between what’s urgent and what’s truly important
• Why community and group support are essential for women leaders
• The invisible workload women often carry — and the pressure to appear perfect and productive
• How workplace policy changes can help women and families thrive instead of merely survive
• Why Giovanna believes busy women are the ones most capable of changing the world

Resources

• Well Woman Life
• The Well Woman Show (NPR): The Well Woman Show
• Family Friendly New Mexico
• Giovanna Rossi on LinkedIn: Giovanna Rossi LinkedIn
• @wellwomanlife on Instagram and Facebook

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