Meet Andrea Hecht

We recently connected with Andrea Hecht and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Purpose. It’s such a loaded word, isn’t it? For a long time, I thought purpose was a singular destination, something you landed on and then followed forever. But my journey taught me otherwise. Today, I define purpose as a feeling of alignment with who you are at your core, an evolving sense of what makes you feel alive and fulfilled. Purpose isn’t one static “thing”—it’s fluid, dynamic, and often shows up in the places you least expect.

For me, finding purpose has been a series of pivots, each one leading me closer to understanding who I am and what truly excites me. I’ve learned that no path needs to be permanent, and no risk is too great if it means taking a step toward joy and alignment.

Let’s rewind for a moment.

The Early Chapters
After the tragic events of September 11th, I left my corporate event planning job to become an elementary educator. It was a risk, but my gut told me I needed to do something more meaningful. A few years later, when my oldest child was born, I pivoted again, choosing to stay home with him, and extended that time when my daughter was born four years later.

From the outside, it probably looked like I had it all together—raising two kids, being fully present for their milestones—but inside, I felt lost. I yearned for something that was mine. My days revolved around drop-offs, pickups, and shuttling kids to activities, leaving little space to reflect on my needs.

It wasn’t until my youngest started preschool that I allowed myself to even consider what I wanted. But what would I do? I didn’t want to return to teaching full-time or take on event planning that kept me away from family on evenings and weekends. The desire to build something of my own burned within me, but I didn’t have the clarity to make it happen.

The Search for Clarity
For years, I tried different passion projects and part-time positions, searching for the thing that would reignite my spark. Each endeavor taught me something valuable, even when it didn’t work out. I realized I wasn’t looking for a job—I was searching for my identity.

What worked in my 20s, pre-kids, didn’t fit the woman I’d become in my 30s and 40s. It wasn’t until I hit my mid-40s that the pieces started to fall into place. I decided to listen to my gut, take a risk, and return to the classroom—not as a teacher but as a student.

Becoming a Certified Professional Life Coach at 45 was my greatest gift to myself. It wasn’t just about gaining new skills; it was about rediscovering me. This journey back to purpose was the start of something extraordinary: my Roadmap to J.O.Y. (Journey of You)—a framework I now use to help other women reconnect to their passions and rewrite their inner stories.

How I Found My Purpose
So how did I find my purpose? By realizing that purpose isn’t something you stumble upon; it’s something you create through curiosity, risk, and listening to your gut. I found my purpose by allowing myself to pivot, try new things, and trust that no path needs to be permanent.

It wasn’t about having all the answers. It was about asking the right questions: Who am I now? What excites me? What do I want to build for myself and my legacy?

Each chapter of my life—from my corporate days to motherhood, to launching my coaching business—taught me that purpose isn’t about a title or a job. It’s about feeling alive, aligned, and proud of the life you’re living, no matter what season you’re in.

In the end, my purpose became clear when I reconnected to me. That reconnection gave me the clarity and confidence to create a life that excites me every day. Today, I help other women do the same.

That’s how I found my purpose, and it’s what inspires me to help others find theirs.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Andrea Hecht, a Certified Professional Life Coach, Well-being Specialist, and the host of The Next ChaptHER podcast. My work is focused on empowering women in midlife—especially moms—who feel like they’ve lost themselves in the chaos of motherhood and daily life. I help them reconnect to their identity, rediscover their passions, and write their next ChaptHER with intention, joy, and authenticity.

At the heart of my work is my Roadmap to J.O.Y. (Journey of You) framework, which guides women through life’s transitions with clarity and confidence. This process is deeply personal to me because it reflects my own transformation. My journey was far from linear, filled with pivots and risks that ultimately brought me closer to who I truly am. That’s what makes my work special—I’ve been there, and I know firsthand the power of listening to your gut, trying new things, and embracing change as a gift, not a setback.

What’s New?
In early 2025, I’m thrilled to be launching The Next ChaptHER Circle, a supportive community for women ready to write their next ChaptHER with intention. The Circle will offer coaching, accountability, and the meaningful conversations and connections we so deeply crave. It will also feature expert guest speakers and inspiring HERstory Spotlights from women who’ve redefined their own lives. It’s designed to be a space where women feel supported, seen, and empowered to create their next chapter.

I also recently launched my free guide, “Hit Play on Joy: The No-BS Playlist to Rewrite Your Inner Music.” It’s designed to help women shift their mindset and rediscover what lights them up. The guide is part of my larger mission to make personal growth fun and approachable—because finding joy doesn’t have to feel like another chore on your to-do list!

On the podcast front, The Next ChaptHER has been a space for authentic conversations with incredible women who are redefining midlife. From intimacy experts to confidence coaches, each episode dives into the unique challenges and opportunities of this season of life.

Why It Matters
I’ve seen firsthand the power of the pivot—how even the smallest changes can lead to profound transformation. My mission is to help women embrace the pivots in their own lives, whether that means rediscovering a forgotten passion, launching a new career, or simply learning to listen to their inner voice. Midlife isn’t the end of your story; it’s the start of an exciting new chapter.

With everything I do—coaching, podcasting, writing, and soon The Next ChaptHER Circle—I aim to remind women that it’s never too late to write their next ChaptHER and live a life that feels authentically theirs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three Most Important Qualities, Skills, and Areas of Knowledge

Looking back, there are three key qualities and skills that have been most impactful in my journey: resilience, curiosity, and the ability to pivot. These weren’t things I always had figured out, but they became invaluable as I navigated life’s transitions and rediscovered my purpose.

1. Resilience: Learning to Bounce Back
Life is full of unexpected twists—career changes, parenting challenges, and personal growth all come with their share of setbacks. Resilience is the ability to keep going, even when things don’t go as planned. For me, resilience came into play when I walked away from my corporate event planning job, transitioned to teaching, and later stepped into entrepreneurship. Each time, I had to remind myself that setbacks were just part of the process, not the end of the road.

How to Develop It:

Focus on mindset: Shift your perspective to see challenges as opportunities to learn.
Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you.
Build small wins into your routine to remind yourself of your strength.
2. Curiosity: The Power of Asking ‘What If?’
Curiosity has been my compass. It’s what led me to try new paths when something didn’t feel right, from teaching to launching side hustles to becoming a life coach. Curiosity helped me explore what lit me up inside and gave me permission to experiment without fear of failure.

How to Develop It:

Ask questions—about yourself, your interests, and the possibilities around you.
Try new things, even if they’re outside your comfort zone.
See every experience, even the small ones, as a chance to learn.
3. The Ability to Pivot: Embracing Change
Life rarely goes as planned, and that’s okay. The ability to pivot is about recognizing when something no longer fits and having the courage to shift directions. I’ve pivoted countless times, whether it was leaving my corporate job, staying home with my kids, or stepping into life coaching at 45. Every pivot brought me closer to who I’m meant to be.

How to Develop It:

Listen to your gut—it’s usually right.
View pivots not as failures but as redirections toward something better.
Give yourself permission to let go of what no longer serves you.
Advice for Those Early in Their Journey
My advice is to start small. You don’t have to have everything figured out. Focus on building resilience by taking one step at a time. Stay curious about what excites you, and don’t be afraid to pivot when something doesn’t feel aligned. Remember, no path is permanent, and every experience—good or bad—is part of your story.

Finally, be kind to yourself. Transformation takes time, but every step forward gets you closer to living a life that feels authentically yours.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Collaboration is one of my favorite ways to create meaningful connections and expand the impact of my work. I’m always looking to partner with individuals and brands who share my mission of empowering women, especially in midlife, to rediscover their identity, passions, and purpose.

I’d love to connect with:

Life Coaches, Wellness Experts, or Therapists: If your work aligns with helping women through transitions, self-discovery, or personal growth, let’s team up to create resources, workshops, or events that inspire.

Brands or Small Businesses: I’m passionate about featuring products or services that align with a purposeful, joy-filled lifestyle in my content, including my Midlife Must-Haves guide, podcast, and coaching programs.

Podcast Guests or Speakers: If you have a unique story, expertise, or perspective that speaks to midlife women, I’d love to feature you on The Next ChaptHER podcast or bring your voice into my upcoming Next ChaptHER Circle community.

Event Organizers: I’d love to collaborate on speaking engagements, panels, or workshops where I can share insights on navigating transitions, finding purpose, and creating a life of joy and fulfillment.

If you’re reading this and feel like we’d make a great team, I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me via email at andrea@fullyinformedlife.com or connect with me on Instagram at @fullyinformedlifecoaching. Let’s create something impactful together!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Neil van Niekerk on the formal shots, the other ocean ones were not professional photos

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