It’s me—Jackie Segedin, the Editor in Chief of TMCW, here to bring my own questions to the bigger conversation, with the goal of creating inspiration and a community in the process. I serve as The Modern Career Woman’s visionary, connecting my readers with interesting people, relevant topics, and key voices in the conversation about work/life balance and ultimately, how to live the life you always dreamed of and imaged.
Q
What does a modern career woman mean to you?
A
A woman who makes time for her career, and incredibly successful at what she does, while also making equal if not more effort for her family + friends, and incredibly successful at making those people feel loved and cared for.
Furthermore, this kind of modern-day woman has a career that’s rooted in passion. She feels well and good in order to operate at optimal focus, strength, and speed. She has a roof over her head and an inspiring home with every space filled with intention. She has a family and a house full of noise, like the sound of little feet running down the stairs for Sunday morning pancakes. She has a fridge full of groceries, a pantry full of staples, to put nutrient-dense food on the table for herself and her family. She has weekend getaways to the beach, lake, or mountains to reset her mind, body, and spirit. She is fit in order to stay energized and strong.
Some women have a life like this. Some women desire a life like this. My goal is to inspire and motivate myself to obtain this life while encouraging all modern career women to do the same. (Of course, if that’s what they want!)
Q
Why is it important to you to create a platform dedicated to working women in the pursuit of following their dreams while living a well + intentional life? Why have you created The Modern Career Woman?
A
Over the last 4+ years, I worked in an industry that I am super passionate about, but the way I worked has not been healthy. My first year, I worked 12+ hours a day because it was a true startup with very limited staff members. In fact, it was just my boss and for the first year. I didn’t set boundaries. I stopped working out, I wasn’t the best partner, friend, etc. I was so focused on getting the company off the ground.
One day I woke up with a rash and a few days later with excruciating pain where the rash had been. I came to find out that I had shingles. And a bad case of it. I remember trying to go for a run around the lake and I couldn’t move without a sharp pain digging into my skin.
I started crying. How did I do this to myself?
The answer is simple— I am a hard worker, a true hustler, and determined. Too much of anything eventually negatively impacts something— and this something was my health. I needed balance — I needed help.
Fast forward six months, I still had pain but knew I’d continue to go crazy if I didn’t work out. So, I purchased a membership at a nearby spin studio and I will never forget that first workout. It was painful, but it felt so good. After 6-8 classes, my pain subsided and I built back my endurance and I was free without pain. While in a class during a climb with the lights off and music blaring, I had this powerful thought— I want to create a platform that offers inspiration and support to all women who are chasing dreams without sacrificing their health and personal life.
Then, a follow up thought and question, “How to do it all (all the things you want to do in this life) without falling apart?”
In that moment, The Modern Career Woman was born. I wanted to create a digital destination and platform for people who might be going through the same experience, but ultimately, I wanted to create it for myself.
Q
Who is your role model?
A
My mother. My Mom has been a straight-up badass my entire life. As the breadwinner in my household (what a household dynamic in the 80’s), my Mom was and is a trendsetter. She is the true definition of a modern career woman. She has dedicated herself to this drive and this lifestyle since the 1980’s!
After getting laid off from a senior level and very well paying position with SIX small children at home, she didn’t have any choice other than to fight like hell and build her own business. A business that would not only provide for eight people but a business that gave her flexibility to do it all as best as she could. She worked like crazy— more so than she would at a 9-5 job, more so than anyone I have ever seen work in my life. And that in itself is a sacrifice! She had control over her success, and her value—and if her kids were sick, she was always there to care for us. She would stop everything or at least it seemed like she did to make homemade chicken soup and the most comfortable and cozy bed set up on the couch!
I have always looked up to her and always will. She has always been there when we needed her and provided us with all we needed.
And, I know it was not easy.
She charted her own course and now at 70 years old, she is still making deals with the same grit she had 30+ years ago. She takes continuing education courses, refines her education to be better at her job. She is also the best grandmother, my twelve nieces and nephews could ask for. And, I look forward to the day I get to see her with my babes.
