Real Talk on Balance,
Ambition, and Money

Does the idea of being “selfish” (in the best possible way) sound appealing? 

This National Work and Family Month, we’d like to invite you to consider it. After all, while work-life balance may seem like a bit of a fantasy to some, the aspiration remains important for several reasons, including: 

• Physical and mental health
• Reduced burnout and turnover
• Better work satisfaction and performance

So, here’s some real talk on balance, ambition, and money — from some of our favorite CFW speakers and sponsors.

As a three-time Olympic gold medalist, six-time WNBA All-Star, and dominant player on the Atlanta Dreams, Brittney has made her mark as one of the greatest players in basketball. 

In recent years, she also has experienced many new challenges and chapters in her life, all of which led to a crash course in how to create balance. 

Earlier this year she shared some of her lessons learned with the CFW community. Here’s what she had to say: 

“I know sometimes you don’t want to say selfish, but we need to be selfish. We have to pour out into the world so much — to get into the room, to get into that boardroom, to get that position. We shouldn’t have to go above and beyond to get it. 

“But sometimes that’s what it takes, and then you have to pour back into yourself, because if you’re only emptying out, once you get there, you’re just empty. 

“So, you have to be able to pour back in. So please be selfish with your time. Take that trip, take that spa day, take that time, whatever it is, and pour it into yourself.”

Watch it here.

Indraa Nasir, psychotherapist and author of Toxic Productivity, describes toxic productivity as “a mindset where we believe that we have to optimize every waking moment toward a predefined outcome.”

The problem, she adds, is that “you get to that outcome, and the goalpost shifts, and so nothing you do ever feels good enough.”

Sound familiar? 

In a recent interview with CFW, Nasir offered three helpful tips for navigating the challenge. Read them here.

Doing what you can to optimize your financial security is also a key part of feeling balanced, especially in uncertain times. 

That’s why, this month, we’re grateful to Fidelity’s Women Talk Money for sharing this article with us that offers four simple steps that, as they say, “can help you refresh your money mindset and feel more confident in your next financial move.” Read it here.

Women Making Headlines

Beauty legend Bobbi Brown proves that experience and timing are everything. Her brand Jones Road is on track to hit $200M in revenue just years after her Estée Lauder noncompete expired. 

Jenny Han, author and showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty, reflects on growth, creative risk-taking, and stepping behind the camera to direct her own words. 

Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni’s startup Phia is merging sustainability and style with an $8M seed round backed by leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and Sara Blakely. 

And new research from Rx Kids underscores how bold ideas in women’s health can create measurable change for families and communities.

Across industries, these stories remind us that reinvention isn’t about starting over; it’s about building forward.