Dr. Emily Jacobs shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Emily, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
One of the biggest struggles women carry quietly is the hidden cost of people-pleasing. On the outside, they appear to ‘do it all’….leading at work, showing up for their families, volunteering, saying yes to everything. But inside, it comes at an enormous cost.
So many women I work with are silently burning out because they’re constantly putting everyone else’s needs before their own. They don’t want to admit how exhausted they are, because they feel pressure to look strong, capable, and endlessly giving. It’s almost as if admitting they’re overwhelmed would mean they’re not good enough.
This kind of self-sacrifice is unsustainable. It drains their health, their joy, and ultimately their ability to lead effectively. Yet because people-pleasing gets praised in our culture….it looks like being a ‘team player,’ a ‘good mom,’ or a ‘dedicated leader’. And so, the silent struggle continues behind closed doors.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Dr. Emily Jacobs, a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach, but more importantly, I’m someone who knows firsthand what it feels like to be running on empty while trying to ‘do it all.’ For years, I fell into the trap of people-pleasing and self-sacrifice, believing that being everything to everyone was the definition of success. That journey, and the burnout that came with it, led me to create Empowered Moms, a movement and community based on one mission – that dreams don’t end at motherhood.
Today, Empowered Moms has grown into a thriving community of over 1,000 women, where I’ve had the privilege of coaching more than 250 ambitious leaders and delivering 200+ transformative talks and workshops across the country. I’ve partnered with organizations like Corewell Health to design programs that specifically support working mothers, and my book Live Your Life For You (Not Your Mom) is all about giving women the permission and tools to stop self-sacrificing and start leading with purpose.
What makes Empowered Moms unique is that it’s not just about leadership or career, it’s about building a life where women thrive without burning out. And right now, we’re seeing huge momentum. On October 5th, we’re hosting our 3rd annual Live Conference, which is all about equipping women to lead boldly, and we’ve just opened the doors to another round of our signature mentorship program, More Than Mom. Both are designed to create spaces where women feel supported, empowered, and inspired to rise without apology.
I’m deeply passionate about helping women step into their power, not just as leaders, but as whole humans….because when women thrive, families, workplaces, and communities thrive too.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the most defining moments for me goes back to my childhood, watching my mom repeat the phrase, ‘I gave up my life for my kids.’ At first, she said it with pride, but as the years went on, it started to sound heavy, even resentful. That really stuck with me. It shaped my belief that as women, we’re often conditioned to see self-sacrifice as the highest form of love or success. But even as a girl, I knew I wanted to write a different story for myself.
As I began coaching hundreds of women, I realized my mom’s story wasn’t unique and that so many of us carry the same unspoken burden of people-pleasing and burnout, quietly sacrificing ourselves to prove we can do it all. That’s why I wrote Live Your Life For You (Not Your Mom), to give women permission to redefine success on their own terms and thrive without self-sacrifice.
I don’t think it’s an accident that God gifted me not one, but two daughters. They are my daily reminder that the cycle ends with me. That moment with my mom was a turning point, and it’s why I’m so passionate about helping women break free from burnout and embrace a new definition of leadership, motherhood, and success, one where we can be incredible mothers, leaders, and change makers without losing ourselves in the process.”
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self: Everything is going to work out better then you ever imagined. Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. I spent so much of my younger years worrying….about being good enough, about what others thought, about whether I was on the ‘right’ path. Looking back, I realize all that worry didn’t protect me from anything, it only stole my peace. I’d remind her that God already had a plan, that she didn’t have to have it all figured out, and that the twists and turns would lead her exactly where she needed to be. I’d tell her to trust more, breathe deeper, and know that the best parts of her story were still unfolding.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to the belief that dreams don’t end at motherhood. Too often, women are told that once they become moms, their dreams have to be put aside…or worse, that pursuing them is selfish. I refuse to accept that. We are not on this earth to simply survive or suffer; we are here to live fully, boldly, and joyfully. I believe God plants big dreams in our hearts for a reason, and He wants us to pursue them. The enemy will try to weigh us down with worry, doubt, or anxiety, but that’s just a distraction from our purpose. For me, the lifelong project is helping women reclaim those dreams, reminding them that they can raise thriving families, lead with impact, and still say yes to the calling God has placed on their lives.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
The light I’ve dimmed the most has been my own dream of speaking on bigger stages to reach more women with this message. For too long, I told myself to ‘play it safe,’ to keep my voice smaller than the vision God placed in my heart. But the truth is, there’s an epidemic right now….a belief that motherhood has to feel sacrificial, that people-pleasing and burnout are some sort of badge of honor. And it’s quietly crushing women.
I know my calling is to shine a brighter light, to step onto bigger platforms, and to boldly share that we can lead, mother, and succeed without losing ourselves. By finally owning that light, I hope to give other women permission to stop dimming theirs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://empoweredmoms.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dremilyjacobs/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dremilyjacobs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/456500809816953
Image Credits
1127 Creative Co
