She Left Her Career to Raise Her Kids. Then She Started Again.

What happens when the life you've built no longer fits the woman you're becoming?

This week on the Her Village Podcast, Jacqueline sits down with Dr. Vandana Arcot to talk about identity, ambition, motherhood, and the courage it takes to reinvent yourself.

After a successful global health career spanning more than a decade and work across 13+ countries, Dr. Arcot made the decision to step away from her professional life to focus on raising her children. Years later, she found herself navigating the vulnerable process of returning—not to who she used to be, but to a new version of herself.

Together, Jacqueline and Dr. Arcot explore:

• The emotional realities of stepping away from a career to focus on family
• Losing—and rediscovering—your sense of identity
• The guilt and fear that can come with wanting something more
• How motherhood reshaped Dr. Arcot's definition of success and leadership
• The pressure women feel to choose between caregiving and ambition
• Why reinvention isn't about becoming someone new—it's about reclaiming the parts of yourself that were waiting to be rediscovered
• The permission to evolve through different seasons of life

Dr. Arcot is the founder of Komselj, a strategy firm advancing women's and children's health and empowerment worldwide, and VUND, a home décor and fragrance company that supports women-led beekeeping initiatives. Her work has helped raise millions for global health causes while empowering women and communities around the world.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to dream again, pivot careers, pursue a passion, or redefine what success means to you, this conversation is for you.

Because every season changes us—and sometimes beginning again is exactly what we're meant to do.

Connect with Dr. Vandana Arcot:

• Website: https://www.komselj.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvandanaarcot/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvandanarcot

Support the show

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If you enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review. These conversations help more women feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live.

If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: joinhervillage.co 💛

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Reinvention is often portrayed as a dramatic before-and-after moment—a bold leap, a fresh start, a perfectly curated transformation.

But what if it doesn't look like that at all?

In this solo episode, Jacqueline shares what she's learning about reinvention while living it in real time. From infertility and loss to motherhood, podcasting, and building Her Village, she reflects on the many versions of herself she's loved, outgrown, and carried with her along the way.

Together, we'll explore:

• Why reinvention can feel a lot like grief—even when it's chosen
• The pressure women feel to justify change
• What happens when people don't understand your evolution
• The courage it takes to keep going in the messy middle
• How to recognize when restlessness may actually be an invitation

If you've been questioning what's next, missing parts of who you used to be, or wondering if you're allowed to want something different, this conversation is for you.

You don't have to have all the answers before you take the next step.

Maybe you're not lost.

Maybe you're becoming.

P.S. This conversation is the first in a series of episodes exploring what it means to evolve through motherhood, identity shifts, and the changing seasons of womanhood. I can't wait for you to hear what's coming next.

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review. These conversations help more women feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live.

If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: joinhervillage.co 💛

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Something unexpected happened at the first Her Village gatherings.

Women walked in nervous… and walked out feeling lighter, more connected, and reminded that they’re not alone.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing reflections from our very first gatherings and why I believe women are craving real, in-person community more than ever before.

We talk about:

• the loneliness of modern motherhood
• why making friends as an adult feels so hard
• the power of getting women in the same room
• what I observed during our first Her Village meetups
• motherhood, identity, and connection
• why I believe we all need a village again

This episode is less about events — and more about what happens when women finally feel safe enough to exhale.

If you’ve been craving deeper connection, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Her Village:
Instagram: @hervillagehq
Join the email list: joinhervillage.co

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review. These conversations help more women feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live.

If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: joinhervillage.co 💛

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