This week, right before Thanksgiving — a time when so many women already carry the emotional, logistical, and relational load for their families — a major federal rule was announced reclassifying several women-dominated professions as “non-professional.”

Nursing, teaching, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and physician assistant programs will lose access to Graduate PLUS loans beginning July 1, 2026.

This change affects workforce pipelines, access to care, financial risk, and the emotional landscape for the women who lead in these fields.

In this episode, we break down:

• What the new rule actually changes
• Why the impacted professions are overwhelmingly women-led
• The real-world consequences for care, education, and community services
• Why your nervous system may have reacted to this news
• How to stay grounded, clear, and steady when external ceilings rise
• How to take action without urgency or burnout

This is not a political episode — it is a leadership episode.
It’s about staying steady when the world undervalues the work women carry, and leading with clarity under fire.

As you move through this week — a week filled with expectations, planning, hosting, details, and emotional holding — I want to honor the truth:

Your leadership is not optional.
Your clarity is not small.
Your presence is not “non-professional.”

May your Thanksgiving include moments of peace, grounding, and gratitude for all that you bring to your family, your work, and your community.

I’m grateful for you.

If you feel called to take action, here are the links you can use.
You don’t need urgency — just steady leadership and clarity.

1. Contact Your Congressional Representative

Find your representative here:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Find your Senators here:
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

2. Submit a Public Comment to the Department of Education

New rules are posted here for public comment:
https://www.regulations.gov

3. Join or Follow Advocacy Groups Working on This Issue

• American Nurses Association
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• American Physical Therapy Association
• American Occupational Therapy Association
• National Association of Social Workers
• American Federation of Teachers
• Physician Assistant Education Association

Each of these organizations is preparing statements, analyses, and advocacy paths.

If this episode stirred something in your system, the Reset & Recharge Guide is designed to help you settle your nervous system, regain your clarity, and lead from steadiness — not urgency.

Download it free here: Click Here!

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What if the boldest career move you can make isn’t a yes — but a no?

In this powerful episode of UnCeiling You, Natalie sits down with Stacie Shifflett, a woman who has rewritten what leadership looks like in rooms where she was never “supposed” to hold power.

From turning down multiple offers from Booz Allen…
to negotiating work on her own terms…
to helping lead a $50 million acquisition without a college degree…
to walking away from lucrative roles that didn’t align with her values…

Stacie’s career is a masterclass in self-trust, boundaries, and courageous reinvention.

This episode will challenge the myth that success is built through sacrifice and saying yes.
Instead, you’ll learn how the right boundaries create clarity, authority, and sustainable leadership.

Resources

https://modernconsciousness.com/

https://unceilingzone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalielukephdbcmas/

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Learn More at https://unceilingzone.com/

Career advancement and leadership development don’t come from pushing harder — they come from learning how to lead with calm clarity. In this episode, we explore what it takes to shift from reacting under pressure to responding with confidence at work so you can grow sustainably without burning out.

This conversation with The Dutch Mentor goes straight to the heart of what overwhelmed high performers face: the invisible pace that drives urgency, overworking, and emotional exhaustion. Together we talk about how women in leadership — and anyone navigating high-pressure environments — can embrace calm leadership as a strategic advantage.

You’ll learn why burnout recovery isn’t just about slowing down; it’s about resetting your internal pace so you can lead with intentional career growth, stronger leadership boundaries, and authentic authority. Walter shares powerful frameworks, including E + R = O (Event + Response = Outcome), and shows how small shifts in awareness can create self-assured leadership rooted in presence rather than pressure.

We discuss the valley of despair that often happens when you transition from doing to leading — and how to navigate that moment with grace. We talk about delegation, trust, team empowerment, and the practical mindset shifts required for sustainable leadership.

Resources:

https://www.thedutchmentor.com/

Come check out Walter's services and book a FREE strategy call to discuss your journey and identify ways you might be able to collaborate!

The UnCeiling Zone: https://unceilingzone.com/

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Support the show

Learn More at https://unceilingzone.com/