In this episode of the She Shares Podcast, host Viridiana Velazquez sits down with menopause coach Seema to discuss the deep link between hormonal transitions and our sense of self. Seema opens up about her personal battle with burnout, parenting three young children, and her late-stage diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease after moving to Switzerland as an expat. She shares the hard truth that women often place their security and happiness in the hands of their spouses, children, or jobs, when true alignment must come from within.

They explore the critical concept of "updating our inner story" during identity shifts, the lack of diverse representation for South Asian women in the menopause conversation, and how to cultivate "body literacy" to better understand physical and mental changes. From setting unapologetic boundaries (like declaring "office hours are closed" to kids) to learning the vulnerability of asking for help, this episode is a guide to navigating midlife with clarity, grace, and joy.

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In this episode of the She Shares Podcast, host Viridiana Velazquez sits down with Melanie Svalander, a corporate communications veteran who pivoted her career to become a professional mediator and Switzerland's pioneering divorce consultant. Drawing from her intense personal experience navigating a painful, six-year divorce process , Melanie highlights the isolation of separation and why she recognized a severe lack of neutral, practical guidance for individuals going through it.

Melanie pulling back the curtain on court litigation explains why judges deal strictly with technical facts, meaning an adversarial court will never award you the "emotional justice" you crave leaving both sides as losers financially, mentally, and physically. They dive deep into practical communication tools to protect children from devastating loyalty conflicts , the legal framework of the mandatory two-year separation law in Switzerland , and how state-covered mediation in Geneva can offer an amicable way forward. Finally, Melanie sheds light on the immense humility required to leave a stable corporate salary to start an entrepreneurial journey from scratch , leveraging networks like Réseau Entreprendre , and why self-reflection is non-negotiable if you want to stop repeating broken relationship cycles in your next chapter.

• The Court Court Check: The legal ecosystem operates solely on objective facts; expecting validation or an apology from a court judge creates a massive, painful gap because courts do not distribute emotional justice.
• Conflict, Not Separation, Harms Kids: Children are not intrinsically broken by the structural separation of their parents; rather, they are impacted by the ongoing toxic conflict, parentification, and emotional loyalty battles that follow.
• What is a Divorce Consultant?: Operating as an alternative form of dispute resolution (ADR), a divorce consultant serves as a completely neutral, objective partner to handle practical workflows and stabilize volatile emotions.
• Entrepreneurial Humility: Transitioning from a two-decade corporate career to entrepreneurship means setting aside your past title to manually learn digital marketing, business development, and financial accounting from ground zero.
• Breaking Repetitive Cycles: Walking away from a broken relationship without analyzing your own internal energetic patterns guarantees that you will simply carry the exact same problems directly into your next relationship.

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What happens when you stop trying to fit your career into a single, rigid box? In this episode, host Viridiana Velazquez connects with Zoe Fragou to talk about the beauty of being a multi-passionate professional. From leaving a secure corporate job during COVID to navigating high-stakes negotiation deals in the US, Zoe opens up about how she built her brand and mastered the mental hurdles of entrepreneurship. If you’ve ever felt like changing directions means throwing away your past, this conversation will completely reframe how you look at your professional evolution.

• The Power of Audacity: Success requires a willingness to put yourself out there and try without letting the fear of failure paralyze your potential.
• The Myth of "Starting Over": Changing directions in your career isn't resetting your progress to zero; it's a continuous adaptation and accumulation of everything you've already built.
• Embracing Multipotentiality: Feeling pulled toward multiple disciplines is a recent topic of public discussion, but it is a powerful professional pattern rather than a sign that something is "wrong" with you.
• Transitioning from Corporate: Taking the leap into self-employment requires overcoming the mental barrier of "what ifs" and stepping into an abundance of possibilities.
• Active Listening: True exchange and gathering deep, meaningful insights often come from being a quieter, more intentional listener in conversations.

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In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Stephanie Parague, founder of Wing Women, a coaching company dedicated to helping women reconnect with their confidence, values, and authentic selves. Born in Jamaica and now based in Switzerland after living in New York, Stephanie's journey is a masterclass in resilience, generational wisdom, and the courage to choose yourself.

Stephanie opens up about the women who shaped her: her mother and grandmother, who taught her that confidence isn't loud or external, it's quiet, internal, and built through boundaries. Her mother's famous "I don't care box" becomes a recurring thread throughout this conversation, offering a powerful reframe on what it really means to set boundaries without becoming cold or detached.

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Website: https://www.wingwomen.ch/

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L'histoire de Rebecca démythifie le mythe romantique de l'entrepreneur. Elle est honnête sur le fossé entre la passion et le profit, entre la créativité et l'administration, entre la générosité et la durabilité. Pour toute personne construisant une entreprise tout en luttant contre l'estime de soi, la fixation de limites ou la navigation dans le mélange confus entre amitié et affaires, son parcours offre à la fois des mises en garde et de l'espoir.

À Propos de Rebecca :

Entrepreneur franco-suisse basée à Genève, Rebecca est fondatrice de Malipa (cabinet de conseil spécialisé en hôtellerie et restauration) et co-propriétaire de la boîte de nuit Chez Jean-Luc. Nommée d'après ses grands-parents, Malipa reflète sa philosophie de créer des espaces où les gens se sentent véritablement accueillis.

Malgré un historique réussi dans l'hôtellerie de luxe sur quatre continents, le plus grand défi professionnel de Rebecca reste le même : facturer ce qu'elle vaut vraiment et prioriser le profit sur la satisfaction des autres.

Connectez avec Rebecca et Malipa : Site web / Instagram - Rebecca / Instagram Malipa

🎧 She Shares Podcast Où les femmes partagent leur parcours sans filtre.

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Olga shares her remarkable journey from banking in Ukraine to building one of Geneva's most iconic bakeries—all starting with a single Facebook post asking "Would anyone want to buy these cakes?"

In This Episode:

🇺🇦 Her path from Kyiv banking executive to entrepreneur (rejected for jobs for being "overqualified," so she tried something new)

📱 How a Facebook post in a Russian-speaking group launched the business with overwhelming interest

🍰 Baking with her daughter Christina—how family recipes from her grandmother's handwritten cookbook became bestsellers

🏪 Opening a bakery one week before COVID lockdown and pivoting to deliveries and crowdfunding campaigns

📈 Scaling from home-made cakes to multiple locations in 6 years (now in Plainpalais, near Manor, and Lausanne)

🇺🇦 Becoming Geneva's top employer of Ukrainian refugees (6 team members) and why this matters to her

🍪 The viral "crookie" trend that had people lining up from France

💪 Three pillars of her success: passion, persistence, and family support

Key Quotes:

"If you have an idea, just try. It's better to try and know you tried than regret you didn't."

"I'm an entrepreneur who never stops. As soon as we earn something, we invest it to grow."

"When you're busy, you're never sick."

Why Listen:

Olga's story proves that successful businesses often emerge from passion projects, not perfect five-year plans. She navigated international moves, crisis pivots, scaling challenges, and cultural integration while building something beloved in Geneva. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, parents balancing business and family, and anyone curious about building authentic community-driven brands.

About Christy's Bakery: Artisanal cakes rooted in Ukrainian traditions with modern techniques. Bestsellers: honey cake, Napoleon, red velvet. Known for viral trends, same-day orders via WhatsApp, and monthly local farm collaborations.

📍 Locations: Plainpalais | Near Manor | Lausanne 📸 Follow: @christys.bakery

Dans cet épisode profondément émouvant de She Shares, j'accueille Vanessa, maman de deux enfants qui partage avec une honnêteté déchirante son parcours à travers un accouchement traumatisant, une dépression postpartum non diagnostiquée pendant 4 ans, et sa transformation vers la guérison et la reconstruction de soi.

L'histoire de Vanessa est un cri du cœur qui expose les failles béantes du système de santé périnatal. Elle démontre avec une clarté brutale comment le trauma de naissance peut rester non diagnostiqué pendant des années, détruire des relations, impacter profondément les enfants, et voler l'identité d'une femme. Mais elle montre aussi qu'il n'est jamais trop tard pour guérir, pour nommer sa douleur, pour se retrouver.

🎧 She Shares Podcast Où les femmes partagent leur parcours sans filtre.

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Soutenez le podcast : Si le courage de Vanessa à partager son histoire vous a touchée, laissez un avis 5 étoiles et partagez cet épisode avec une maman qui a besoin d'entendre qu'il n'est jamais trop tard pour guérir et que sa souffrance mérite d'être reconnue.

Dans cet épisode émouvant, je reçois Mina, danseuse professionnelle de flamenco et danse contemporaine, et infirmière en neurochirurgie. Son parcours est une leçon magistrale de résilience, de transformation et de retour à soi.

Mina a dû mûrir très vite. Des épreuves familiales lourdes, la chirurgie ratée de sa mère, le cancer fulminant de sa grand-mère, l'ont confrontée très jeune à la fragilité de la vie. La danse est devenue son exutoire, son moyen d'exprimer ce qu'elle n'arrivait pas à dire avec des mots.

Mais à 17 ans, tout bascule.

Connectez avec Mina : Instagram

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