In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm coming to you from bed, pillowed up and taped together, mostly to put down some proof of life. Last Wednesday (now 5 weeks ago) I was in a motorcycle accident on my way to work.

Learning to ride was a midlife goal I had wanted for years and kept putting on the back burner while I raised my kids. I finally did it. Then one pothole erased the check mark. So this episode is about what happens when the unexpected takes something from you, and what you decide to do with what is left. Gratitude for being here, frustration that it happened at all, and the stubborn refusal to hand back the part of me that wanted the adventure in the first place. All of that gets to be true at once.

If you are in the middle of something hard right now, whether it is hard in general or hard because you are a bit of a control enthusiast like me, this one is for you.

In this episode, I talk about:

• What it feels like when the unexpected takes something you finally let yourself want
• Holding gratitude and frustration at the same time without picking one
• Why I am not giving up my sense of adventure, even if the bike waits a while
• Taking things as they come when the plan is gone and your body sets the pace

More about Maura:

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Want to bring a more human side to your corporate career? Follow Maura on Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business and being a senior leader, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Interested in bringing Maura and her experiences to your team event or conference? Reach out to info@lillablu.com for booking information!

In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm sharing a major personal and professional life update: after nearly 12 years of running my own business, I've stepped into a full-time role as Senior Vice President of Marketing.

I'm getting honest about the fears, expectations, and internal tension that came with this decision. I expected to grieve the loss of my identity as a business owner and worried that returning to an organization would feel like giving up my freedom. Instead, I'm discovering that the resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial mindset I developed are still very much a part of who I am.

This episode is about allowing yourself to evolve without treating change as failure. If you're considering a career shift, stepping away from entrepreneurship, or moving into a new season of life, I hope this conversation reminds you that your past experiences come with you, and the next chapter may feel more expansive than you expect.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The decision to move from entrepreneurship into a full-time C-suite role
• Separating your identity from your job title or business
• How freedom and flexibility can look different in different seasons
• Bringing an entrepreneurial mindset back into an organization
• Why transitions often feel scarier before you take the leap
  

More about Maura:

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Want to bring a more human side to your corporate career? Follow Maura on Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business and being a senior leader, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Interested in bringing Maura and her experiences to your team event or conference? Reach out to info@lillablu.com for booking information!

In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm joined by my friend and fellow business owner, Ashleigh Howland, for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, overwhelm, and what it really looks like to find your way back to yourself.

Ashleigh shares her personal journey through high achievement, exhaustion, isolation, and the moment she realized something had to change. We talk about the pressure women carry, the stories we tell ourselves about success and failure, and why so many of us feel like we have to hold everything together all the time.

This conversation is real, vulnerable, validating, and full of reminders that you are not alone in what you're carrying. If you've been feeling exhausted, disconnected, or stuck in the messy middle, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What burnout actually looks and feels like beneath the surface
• The cycle of overworking, shame, isolation, and exhaustion many women experience
• Why "doing less" can be one of the hardest and most important steps
• The importance of untangling expectations, pressure, and perfectionism
• Why burnout recovery is messy, nonlinear, and still incredibly transformative

Connect with Ashleigh:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighhowland.lighthouse
Website: https://www.ashleighhowland.com

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2026!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what you're passionate about!

In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm taking you behind the scenes of a true trip of a lifetime and everything that came with it. From planning a two-week Olympic adventure years in advance to balancing reentry when returning from a recharge, this one is layered, real, and honest.

I'm sharing what it looked like to dream big and actually follow through, lessons from being surrounded by people from all over the world, and holding both gratitude and heaviness at the same time. We also get into the reality of stepping away from your business, what reentry really looks like, and why taking that time still matters.

This episode is part travel story, part mindset check, and part reminder that life isn't either or. It's everything, all at once.

In this episode, I share:

• What it really takes to plan and execute a "trip of a lifetime"

• The behind the scenes of stepping away from your business for two weeks

• Why reentry can feel messy and how to handle it with intention

• How small acts of kindness can create ripple effects you don't expect

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2026!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what you're passionate about!

In this short and sweet episode of Super Real Human, I'm sharing a real-life, totally unexpected encounter that perfectly illustrates the power of letting them… and also letting yourself show up.

I'm talking about parents' weekend, a college soccer game, my daughters keeping me in check, and a run-in with someone whose work has deeply impacted my life. A simple, human moment that reminded me why giving people space and trusting your instincts can both be true at the same time.

This episode is a little bit fangirl, but it's also a reminder that courage doesn't have to be loud, and connection doesn't have to be complicated.

In this episode, I share:

• A real-life example of the "Let Them" theory in action
• Why honoring boundaries doesn't mean silencing yourself
• A behind-the-scenes parents' weekend moment I'll never forget
• What it's like when someone you admire shows up exactly as they are
• Why small, brave moments often become the most meaningful ones

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2025 and into the new year!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what you're passionate about!

In this episode of Super Real Human, I'm digging into that moment every business owner knows: when things suddenly stop vibing with a client, even one you love working with.

I'm talking about the miscommunications, the weird shifts, the new team members who shake up the flow, and the uncomfortable moments that make you question everything. And more importantly, how to pull your power back in a grounded, healthy way.

This episode is all about clarity, ownership, and alignment. We're unpacking how to identify what's actually in your control, how to release what isn't, and how to reset the relationship without shrinking, spiraling, or walking away too quickly.

Whether you're a fractional leader, consultant, or solo business owner, you'll hear exactly how to navigate the messy middle and get back to a place that feels grounded and good.

In this episode, I share:

• The three questions to ask yourself when the client vibe is off
• Why transparency, structure, and agendas can completely shift the dynamic
• How to reset without retreating or over-reacting
• When it's time to lovingly release a client, and why that "space" always gets filled
• Why misalignment is actually an invitation, not a failure

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2025 and into the new year!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what you're passionate about!

In this final episode of my Shift Happens series, I'm getting super real about what stepping into my role as a fractional CMO has taught me and how it's actually made me a stronger coach.

I'm talking about the big-picture thinking that comes with leading a marketing team, how strategy and accountability can totally transform your results, and why I've (finally!) learned to love analytics even though numbers used to make me cringe.

This episode is all about balance: between data and intuition, leadership and empathy, structure and flow. Whether you're running a team or flying solo, I think you'll see how strategy and soul really do go hand in hand.

In this episode, I share:

• Why thinking big matters, no matter your business size
• How strategy + accountability = real growth
• The surprising reason I'm now geeking out over numbers
• What CMO-level lessons have taught me about coaching

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2025 and into the new year!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what your passion is.

In this episode of Super Real Human, this is the third part in our Shift Happens mini-series. I chat about what makes my dual role as a coach and a fractional CMO so unique and powerful. Bringing a coaching lens to leadership changes everything, from strategy to team culture.

I'm sharing how my coaching mindset supports team development, enhances strategy, and brings compassion and clarity into the CMO role. This episode is all about integrating empathy, mindset, and mentorship to shape how we lead and grow business.

In this episode, I get into:

• The value a coaching background brings to senior leadership roles
• How team development and growth drive strategic marketing outcomes
• Why mindset matters just as much as strategy and action
• Reframing leadership with compassion, clarity, and creativity
• What to look for when hiring fractional C-suite support

More about Maura:

Mini-sessions are booking now! Not ready for long-term marketing coaching and support, but know you need some direction, strategy, and clear, made-for-you action items to grow your business? Work with Maura to take your business (and life) to the next level! The support, guidance, and transformation inside this 90-minute session are unlike any other. It's time to invest 90 minutes to set yourself and your business up for success and joy for the rest of 2025!

Need more inspirational guidance on how to make your passion a reality? Follow Maura on Facebook and Instagram. Maura shares the real human side of building and marketing your business, including strategic analysis, creative development, implementation, growth, and management.

Maura wants to hear from you and why you are here! Send her an email and share who you are and what your passion is.