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
83 | The Courage to Charge After Leaving Corporate
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Starting a business is often sold as an exciting path to success. But for many women of color, the reality of entrepreneurship is usually a lot messier.
This week, Monique gets real about the unglamorous side of building a multi six-figure business and shares the personal experiences that helped her handle the hard parts of the journey. She also talks about the stuff that actually matters, like setting your prices, knowing what your work is worth, and how to deal with those feelings of being a "fraud" that show up when it is time to sell your services.
Tune in to learn how to get into the right headspace, feel good about your pricing, and build the confidence you need to actually grow your business.
LINKS
GEMS DROPPED
“To build a multi six figure business and to sell what it is that you do for five and six figures sustainably, it is not magic, it is about having the patience to learn what your value is. It is about finding peace with the discomfort in the process and it is about releasing your attachment to asking reasonable questions. This is not a science, it's a practice.”
“Just based on the research that shows as a woman, we deeply undersell ourselves or discount ourselves, I think you should just lean towards overcharging because that's probably what's going to just even get you within the band of what's reasonable.”
“Pricing and what people pay for things and buyer psychology is so subjective. The longer that I have been running a business or I guess the more confidence I've grown in believing that you can charge anything for anything.”
“I also just generally think that entrepreneurial skills are beautiful life skills to build. I think I feel so much more connected to myself as someone who works for myself because soup to nuts, like, I have to imagine a future that I just create out of my head and then I've got to figure out how to make it happen. I think that that is an incredible skill set to have.”
“I don't necessarily believe that we need to be doing free work all over the place. This is a capitalist society. And I think that if you're delivering value, even if you're new at doing a thing, value is value. So when there are opportunities for you to get paid, ask to be paid, and if somebody doesn't have the budget for it, then you can have that conversation.”
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.