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
79 | You Can’t Create From Exhaustion
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If you’ve been telling yourself you’re “just not disciplined enough,” this episode is your permission slip to stop weaponizing that story.
Because the truth is you’re trying to create from a body that’s depleted.
In this episode, Monique names what so many high-achieving women experience: you can hold a crystal-clear creative vision for years… and still shut down the moment you finally have time to work on it. Not because you’re lazy. Not because you don’t want it badly enough. But because pressure and creativity don’t thrive in the same conditions.
Tune in as Monique breaks down why execution can happen under adrenaline, urgency, and cortisol, but creation requires something else and offers a grounded shift that changes everything.
LINKS
Apply for her upcoming Retreat March 1-4, 2026 in Palm Springs, CA
GEMS DROPPED
“You don't actually lack discipline. You're just trying to create from a body that is truly, completely depleted.”
“Rest is not a reward that you get after you create. It's the requirement before you do.”
“You can't solve for your dream from the same place you produce from for your job. That place is pressure. The kind of pressure that has depleted you.”
“There is a middle space between burnout, which we have to acknowledge. And what I think is in that middle space is restoration.“
STAY IN TOUCH
Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields or YouTube and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.