Describe your family. Significant other? Children? Partner and two dogs. I've been with Mobeen for almost ten years. He is also a PhD student at CU Boulder. We have two dogs, Adi and Charlie.

Do you have a license or degree? If so, in what, from where? B.A. Biochemistry from Indiana University, M.S. Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

How did you discover your passion? I am a PhD student in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of Colorado-Boulder. After researching biochemical and cellular development of cancer, I began following an interest in the environmental fields. Before returning to academia, I worked at the interface of grassroots movements, climate resilience, and policy. From this experience, I gained a deep appreciation for nonhuman species and what they could tell us about ecosystem health, human impacts, and climate change. During my M.S. in environmental science and policy at Johns Hopkins University, I studied the relationships between environmental injustice and pollinator populations. My unique set of experiences now provides me with the foundation necessary to answer questions about the Southern Ocean. I am excited to apply my chemistry, conservation, and policy knowledge to Antarctic toothfish research. I am particularly interested in learning about physical oceanography and ecology of the Southern Ocean from this the keystone species.

What mark do you hope to leave on your industry? Over the next five years, my goal is to build bridges between cultures, disciplines, and communities to create a more inclusive scientific landscape within Antarctic research. I envision myself not only as a leading scientist but also as a storyteller—someone who asks, "Why do we do what we do?" "Why does it matter?" and “Who/what are we missing?” Storytelling has the power to connect with people, making complex scientific and cultural narratives accessible and impactful, while demonstrating that these often-siloed concepts are deeply intertwined. By translating science into stories, I aim to amplify messages that foster scientific diplomacy, demonstrating how Antarctica's story is deeply intertwined with our collective global future.

What are you most proud of in your life personally and/or professionally? I spent a lot of time and energy into becoming who I am today. I knew that if I wanted to attend college, I was going to have to work really hard, get good grades, have exceptional extracurriculars in order to get scholarships. It was a lot of pressure for a kid. But the hard work has paid off tenfold. I am now able to do things like teach a field course in Costa Rica and two weeks later attend a conference in Italy. I brought my mom along. We're the first in our familial line to go back to Italy since her grandpa came over. It feels like a dream to make these things happen for myself and those around me.

You just attended the Polar Marine Science conference in Italy. What was that experience like? It was a blast! I love talking about the Southern Ocean, Antarctica, and, of course, the Antarctic toothfish. It was wonderful connecting with other scientists working on climate sensitive areas. It gives me hope that a better future for ourselves and our planet is possible.

What advice would you give your younger self? Another woman on the path to finding her calling? It's going to make sense one day, and the things you thought were your weaknesses are actually your strengths. It may sound cheesy, but a positive attitude and an unwavering belief in yourself really will make all the difference.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? I love climbing, being with dogs, gardening, and maintaining my sourdough starter.

7. Be Honest About Who You’re Trying to Please

If you are struggling with making a decision, ask yourself:

• Am I doing this for me, or because I want approval from someone else?

• If no one was watching, what would I choose?

• Would I still be happy with this choice five years from now?

The right path should always be a reflection of who and where you want to be within the coming years of your life. 

8. Accept That Not Everyone Will Get It – That’s a Good Thing

When you are making the right choices for yourself, you run the risk of confusing those around you. That is normal and okay.

• If you are constantly trying to please everyone, you will never experience authentic happiness. 

• The people who genuinely support you will respect your decisions, even if they do not fully understand or agree with them.

• Your path does not have to make sense to anyone but you. You are the only person to walk in your shoes and follow your path.

9. Make Peace with Not Having All the Answers

You do not have to be 100% sure before making a move. Sometimes, you just have to pick a direction and trust yourself to adjust along the way. One thing I like to remind to my clients struggling with decision making is, “Everything is information.” A good question to ask: What’s the next right step, even if I do not have the whole plan?

Instead of overthinking, take small steps toward what feels right and see how it plays out.

• Try something new before making a huge commitment.

• Make a decision, then sit with how it feels—do you feel at peace or uneasy?

• Remember that no choice is permanent; you can always pivot.

Life isn’t about getting it right or being perfect. It is about making choices, learning, and growing. At the end of the day, your voice matters most in your own life. Growth comes from movement, not from waiting for the perfect answer.

10. Trust Yourself

You don’t need the internet, your parents, or your best friend to sign off on your life decisions. Advice is helpful, but at the end of the day, you are the only one who truly knows what is right for your. So take a deep breath, tune out the noise, and trust that you already have the answers you need.

Read more about Kaylyn here.

If you’re anything like me you’ve been happily enjoying your 40s doing what you’ve always done. Eating well, working out, getting sunshine, sleeping 7-9 hours a night, only moderately drinking… then… poof! Your body changes overnight. You have excess belly fat, your arms are jigglier and your clothes don’t fit. So frustrating!

Unfortunately, when perimenopause hits, we can’t continue doing what we’ve always done. Our dietary needs change as we lose muscle mass quickly. In order to fuel our bodies right we need to change what we’re eating.

Once we hit this stage in life, we should aim for 100g of protein a day and at least 25g of fiber. This will help build our muscles and keep our bellies feeling full. I’m here to share one of my favorite meals to help you. This recipe is part of my new Meno Menu for my meal prep clients. Each meal in the menu has at least 30 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. It’s quick, easy and so delicious!

Shrimp, Kale & Sweet Potato Bowl:

Adapted from Primavera Kitchen

Makes 4 bowls

• 16 oz defrosted, peeled & deveined shrimp

• 4 c bite-sized cubed sweet potato

• 4 c lacinato kale, chopped

• 1 red onion, bite sized cubed

• ½ c roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tsp garlic paste

• red pepper flakes to taste

• kosher salt and ground pepper to taste

Set your oven to 425°. Spread the sweet potatoes and onions into one layer on a large sheet pan. Drizzle with one tablespoon of the oil, one teaspoon of the garlic and sprinkle with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes if desired. Once the oven is to temperature roast for 20-25 mins, tossing once half way, until browned and a fork can easily go through a piece of sweet potato.

While those are roasting, heat a large skillet over med/high heat with the other tablespoon of olive oil. Add the shrimp when hot with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes if using. Toss for 1-2 minutes then add the kale and other teaspoon of garlic. Add a lid for about a minute to wilt the kale. Using tongs toss the shrimp and kale together until the shrimp is pink and opaque.

Split the sweet potato and onion mixture into four bowls. Top each bowl with the shrimp and kale mixture. Garnish with the pumpkin seeds and enjoy!

Each bowl has 32g protein and 9g fiber.

Find out more about Nicole here!

Imagine a young girl who loves to make people laugh. She is witty, animated, and knows exactly how to deliver a perfectly timed punchline. As she continues to grow, she realizes that this is a gift. When she can bring joy to people and get a good laugh out of them, she feels energized and unstoppable!

When she reaches her pre-teen years, she thinks to herself that she would love to be a comedian when she grows up. She tells her parents about her dream, but they don’t seem as excited as she is. They just wave it off, assuming she will likely change her mind many more times before then. She then tells her teacher about her dream, and he tells her that it’s really hard to be a comedian and she would need to be much funnier. He explains that the industry is cutthroat and that most people who chase that dream never actually make it.

This little girl knows what she is gifted at, she can feel it in her soul that this is something she is meant for, but at this very moment, the moment she is told that her dreams are too big and unrealistic, she gives up on them. She continues her life, settling for the safe path, and ends up sitting at her desk, looking at spreadsheets most days. She rarely has the opportunity to make people laugh. She feels lost and unfulfilled, but she has a steady paycheck, so she thinks, “I should be grateful, right?” Life feels routine, mundane, and those enchanting feelings she used to have as a little girl, delivering the perfect gut-splitting jokes, are a distant memory.

Where did things go wrong here? Those external factors, her parents’ lackluster reaction, her teacher telling her she wasn’t funny enough and that the path was too hard, are the thoughts that sank into her mind. The funny thing about thoughts is, the more we think them, the more we assign truth to them, and they slowly turn into beliefs. Those beliefs then become the lens through which we see life.

Years later, she’s in a social setting and makes ten people laugh so hard they can’t breathe. They all tell her how funny she is, but there’s one person who seems distracted, who doesn’t react similarly, and that signals the belief she created: she just isn’t funny enough. The brain looks for anything that seems consistent with our beliefs and shuts down anything that competes with them. I like to refer to these external factors, thoughts, and beliefs as dream-crushers.

In adulthood, these dream-crushers look like societal expectations, comparisons, and living a life that isn’t authentic because you are too concerned about the opinions of others. The dream-crushing is loud, it’s intense, and it’s very hard to ignore. That external noise turns into negative self-talk, self-doubt, self-sabotaging thoughts, and fear. Each of these stops you from achieving your highest potential and, most importantly, from living a life that makes you feel alive!

More than just crushing your dreams, they are crushing your everyday chances of taking steps closer to living a life that excites you, of exploring that feeling you get when you do something that lights you up and makes you feel like your best self is shining bright. Recognizing dream-crushing in real time, before those thoughts turn into beliefs, is where the magic happens. If you can master your mindset and how you react to these dream-crushers, you can become unstoppable.

I am privileged to work with women to help them get back to the core of who they are, what they are passionate about, and what brings them true fulfillment, not for the satisfaction or praise of others, but for themselves. That little girl who was so excited about the possibilities ahead of her and was met with dream-crushing remarks is still alive and well. She’s now a woman who has experienced so much in life, learned tough lessons, lived through hard times and the most beautifully joyous moments, yet she is not free from those dream-crushers.

They are all around us and within us! Nobody is going to understand your dreams the way you do. That passion and vision are yours and yours alone, and you will never feel the same excitement from others as you do from within. It’s not their dream, they aren’t meant to understand!

We all deserve to live a life that we love, that sets our soul on fire, and that our little girl selves would be proud of, proud that we didn’t hide parts of ourselves to make others feel comfortable, that we were brave and listened when our intuition spoke, and that when we were told our dreams were too big, too wild, too unrealistic, or that we just couldn’t do it, we simply said, “Watch me!”

Ready to be your best you? Call or text 219.281.2859 or visit sisterwehearyou.com and schedule a free consultation with Master Coach Lisa.

Find out more about Lisa here!