Meet Dr. Emily Jacobs

We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Emily Jacobs recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Emily, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

For a long time, I thought imposter syndrome meant something was wrong with me… that I wasn’t ready or qualified enough. But what I’ve learned through my own journey, from nurse leader to founder of Empowered Moms, is that imposter syndrome is actually a sign of growth. It shows up right when we’re stepping into something bigger.

When that familiar voice of doubt whispers, “Who do you think you are?” I pause and remind myself, I’m someone who chose courage over comfort. I’ve done the work, I’ve lived the transformation, and I’m here because my story has purpose.

I also remind myself that imposter syndrome loses its power when we stop trying to outrun it and instead outshine it… through aligned action, community, and self-trust. That’s what Empowered Moms is all about: creating a safe space for women to rise together, to normalize fear and self-doubt as part of the process, not proof that we don’t belong.

Today, when imposter syndrome shows up, I say, “Thank you for reminding me that I’m growing.” Because every time I’ve heard that voice and chosen to move anyway … that’s when the magic has happened.

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 Dr. Emily Jacobs, a girl mom, author, speaker, and board-certified nurse turned executive leadership and empowerment coach. After spending over 20 years in healthcare, I realized far too many high-achieving women were quietly burning out …especially after becoming mothers. We were checking all the boxes, yet somewhere along the way, we lost ourselves in the process of taking care of everyone else.
That realization became the heartbeat of Empowered Moms, a community and coaching company I founded to help women stop playing small and start living a life of purpose … without guilt. Our mission is simple but powerful: to show moms that their dreams don’t end at motherhood!
What makes Empowered Moms special is that it’s not just a coaching business; it’s a movement. We believe in collaboration over competition, community over isolation, and authenticity over perfection. Whether through our live conferences, workshops, or our free online community, women come together to dream bigger, heal, grow, and lead both personally and professionally.

Right now, we’re excited to welcome new members into our free Empowered Moms community at https://empoweredmoms.co, where women can connect, learn, and be inspired. And for those ready to go deeper…. to stop second-guessing themselves and thrive in life and leadership, I currently have limited openings for exclusive 1:1 coaching clients. And if you need an impactful speaker at your next event or workshop? I would love to connect!
Every woman I work with has one thing in common … she knows she’s meant for more. And I’m here to help her claim it, unapologetically.

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?

When I look back on my journey, the three most impactful qualities that shaped everything were courage, self-trust, and emotional intelligence.
Courage was the foundation. Leaving a 20-year career in healthcare to start over wasn’t easy…it was terrifying. But I learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the decision to move anyway. Every bold change begins with one brave choice, and those choices compound into transformation.
Self-trust came next. For years, I looked outside myself for validation…checking boxes, people-pleasing, waiting for permission. The biggest shift happened when I realized no one else was coming to hand me the life I wanted. I had to give myself permission to live it. Building self-trust meant keeping promises to myself, listening to my intuition, and taking aligned action even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.
And finally, emotional intelligence….learning how to manage my energy, boundaries, and mindset. As women, especially moms, we’re conditioned to pour into everyone else first. Developing emotional intelligence helped me understand that protecting my energy and saying “no” isn’t selfish….it’s essential.
My advice for anyone early in their journey is this:
Start before you feel ready. Clarity comes from action, NOT overthinking.
Invest in your personal growth. The version of you that builds your dream will be different from the one that first envisioned it…embrace that evolution.
Find community. You were never meant to do this alone. Surround yourself with people who see your potential even when you can’t see it yourself.
Growth isn’t about becoming someone new, it’s about remembering who you’ve always been beneath the noise. That’s the heartbeat of Empowered Moms: guiding women back home to themselves, so they can lead from wholeness, not exhaustion.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

We are always looking to connect with mission-driven leaders, female founders, counseling centers, product-based companies, and brands who share our passion for empowering women, creating healthy cultures, and redefining success beyond burnout.
Whether it’s through live events, workshops, speaking engagements, corporate coaching partnerships, or community collaborations… if you believe in helping women thrive personally and professionally, I’d love to connect.
We’ve seen incredible results partnering with healthcare organizations, women’s leadership programs, and brands that want to invest in their people through empowerment and wellbeing. Together, we’re creating systemic change by helping women lead with authenticity, confidence, and purpose.
For anyone reading this who feels aligned with our mission, you can visit empoweredmoms.co or connect directly via email at [email protected] Let’s dream bigger together!

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