Navigating the Pause with Dr. Ann Marie Peters

This week’s theme: Navigating the Pause

Dr. Ann Marie Peters shares a powerful perspective on navigating the pause, encouraging women to see career breaks not as setbacks but as valuable chapters of personal and professional growth. Whether the pause was for caregiving, motherhood, health, or other life transitions, she explains that the leadership, problem-solving, communication, and resilience developed during that time are highly transferable skills. Rather than apologizing for employment gaps, women should recognize the strengths they have built and confidently reframe their experiences as assets that prepare them for future opportunities.

The conversation also explores the emotional side of navigating the pause, including identity loss, diminished confidence, and imposter syndrome. Dr. Peters emphasizes that rebuilding confidence starts with small, intentional steps, reflecting on past accomplishments, identifying existing strengths, and gradually re-engaging with professional networks. Through her book We’ll Be Right Back, she offers practical guidance to help women reclaim their confidence, articulate their value, and embrace the next chapter of their careers with purpose, reminding listeners that their story is far from over.

From Fear to Fire: Secrets to Overcome Fear, Embrace Your Gifts and Achieve Success

This is the place where real people share real challenges. Where you can find a common bond and uncommon wisdom through their stories. Use tips from the breakthroughs of others to jump-start your success. Speaker, author, adventurer, and host Heather Hansen O’Neill takes you on the journey from fear to fire. Today, we talk about navigating the pause by reframing career breaks as opportunities to build confidence, rediscover purpose, and recognize the valuable leadership skills gained through life’s transitions.

Dr. Ann Marie Peters

Dr. Ann Marie Peters is a research-backed author and leadership strategist focused on women’s career pauses, identity, and return-to-work transitions. Drawing on her PhD research in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and decades of leadership experience, Ann Marie explores the questions of identity, confidence, and purpose that women face after stepping away from paid work due to caregiving, motherhood, burnout, health challenges, or major life transitions. Her work helps women reframe career pauses not as gaps to apologize for, but as chapters that can build clarity, resilience, and renewed leadership.

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