Ambition Without Compromise
Ambition Without Compromise is the space where powerhouse women of color — with a special heart for Black mothers and future mothers — come to redefine success on their own terms.
Hosted by Monique R. Shields, executive coach, entrepreneur, and mentor to women at the highest levels of leadership, this podcast dives into the real challenges women face when juggling bold professional pursuits with the responsibilities of being present partners, mothers, and whole, healthy individuals.
Through honest conversations and powerful stories, you’ll gain insights on:
- Balancing ambition and freedom without burnout
- Crafting sustainable work-life integration
- Protecting your mental and emotional well-being
- Building intentional communities and seeking mentorship for growth
Whether you're scaling your business, stepping into a higher leadership role, or simply seeking clarity about what success means now, this show offers the tools and stories to help you thrive without compromise.
Follow Monique wherever you listen to podcasts and step into a world where ambition and joy can coexist.
Ambition Without Compromise
54 | The Giver, The Grinder & The Pleaser: Rethinking Success
Text Monique directly! Share thoughts, feels or feedback!
Is the pursuit of success weighing you down? In this episode, Monique uncovers how ambition can sometimes come at the cost of our deepest dreams.
Listen in as she shares compelling stories of women balancing leadership, motherhood, and personal fulfillment. Through the lens of the 'Giver,' the 'Grinder,' and the 'Pleaser,' she reveals how these identities shape our paths—both fueling and restricting us.
Tune in to learn how to break free from outdated roles, redefine success on your terms, and step into a future of authentic fulfillment.
📢As a special note, Monique is opening her coaching waitlist for March 2025. You can sign up through her website to receive updates and secure a spot for transformative one-on-one coaching.
MENTIONED
53 | The Safety Shift: Trusting Yourself in Times of Transformation
52 | Making The Scary Identity Leap
26 | When Achievement Is No Longer The Goal
15 | Learning To Dream First (CEO Series)
GEMS DROPPED
"Everything that you are doing could be mission oriented. Everything that you are doing could be impact driven. And then the thing that is not getting done is the thing that you desire most deeply. So the thing that you wanted most is the thing that is also being put at risk."
"When you're in a perpetual state of grind over years and years and years and years, your whole identity begins to form around that. And it's really, really challenging to see how it's possible to set that down and to still succeed. How to be any other way even when you know what is at stake."
"We think that just because this is the version or form of winning that I've ever, always known that that is what winning is. That is what that looks like for me. That is what's possible for me. With the strengths that I have, with the weaknesses that I have, with the perspective that I have, the background that I have, that is how I must win. But, no, that is just how you happen to have won for this period of time. Winning can look different."
“The ways that we need to be must evolve if we want our successes to evolve, if we want to elevate ourselves. We constantly talk about elevating our voices and elevating, expanding our impact, those things don't elevate and expand, not truly, unless we do.”
STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.
CLAIMED is a 6-month group coaching experience for Black mother in senior leadership ready to stop performing and start becoming. This is for the woman who’s done everything “right” on paper—but knows a deeper version of success is calling. If you're craving real support, expert guidance, and a powerful circle of women who get it, you're in the right place.
Text me your name and email via the link in the show notes to get details and apply.