What does it mean to give to live—and how can we rewrite the rules to create a life on our own terms? In this inspiring and deeply human interview, Workplace Dynamics Strategist, Professional Speaker and Leadership Coach, Ana Welsh, shares how purposeful prioritization, community, and a mindset of abundance have shaped her approach to ambition, motherhood, and leadership. From letting go of guilt to building an authentic life rooted in love, impact, and presence, Ana offers a refreshing take on what it truly means to lead a life you love.
What does leading a life you love look like for you, and how do you balance ambition with personal fulfillment?
Leading a life I love means knowing I’m helping others. My life motto comes from a Dave Matthews Band song, “You Might Die Trying” – specifically the line “When you give, you begin to live. You get the world.” I’ve shortened this to “give to live.” To me, this means being generous without expecting anything in return. The life I love is one where I’m making an impact, inspiring others to live beyond what they thought possible or believed they could achieve.
The other part of my ideal life would be freezing time right now. My kids are five and eight—such a perfect age. My husband and I are healthy and still deeply in love after all these years. We have more opportunities now than when we first met, back when we were both working hard to make ends meet. I want to create so many core memories for my kids that they’ll look back and say “my parents were awesome.” For me, living well means being hyper-aware and thoughtful during all those little in-between moments, because that’s how you build real trust, respect and love.
I declared 2024 my “year of no” – and I’m carrying that mindset forward. There are things I simply have to decline. For example, in December 2023 I didn’t send out Christmas cards. Who exactly would call me out on this? No one’s keeping score. It didn’t negatively impact my life at all. I say no to early morning playdates or 9:30 AM soccer commitments for my daughter. Will she remember or care about these things when she’s 25? Absolutely not.
I call this approach “purposeful prioritization.” I once got some backlash for saying this (maybe because I said it on International Women’s Day), but sometimes I consciously think like a man might. When I feel guilty about charging my full worth, I ask myself: Would a man hesitate this way? Probably not. So I’ve learned to balance being selfless and selfish by putting myself and my family first. That’s what personal fulfillment means to me.
Ambition is always present, but it doesn’t need to dominate every moment. The key for me has been learning to say no without guilt. As women, we’re conditioned to be people-pleasers, but I’ve shed about 98% of that tendency. Of course I care what my clients think of me and about maintaining my integrity and business reputation. But if someone thinks I’m “too much” or too high-energy? That’s their issue, not mine. Freeing myself from the fear of judgment and unnecessary guilt has been incredibly liberating.
What role has the community played in your journey toward empowerment and leadership?
When we first moved here, I only knew my husband’s high school friends and their wives. While wonderful people, they all had older kids already involved in sports and activities. We’re in different life phases, so getting together was always challenging. I realized I needed to build my own community from scratch.
I jokingly call it “infiltrating the community.” When we first moved here I was pregnant, still working my corporate job, and commuting to New York City via Amtrak two or three times a week. I felt surprisingly lonely in the suburbs. When COVID hit, I was home with two small children. While I had family support, I still felt isolated from peers. Then in fall 2022, I started my business and finally regained my individual identity after being immersed in “mommy world.” That’s when I began truly connecting.
I actually met many people through Instagram. I’d see events posted and go by myself, meet one person there, who would introduce me to someone else, and suddenly I’d get invited to another gathering. I networked my heart out. Many of the business contacts I made became dear friends. These are the people who helped build my business. I know in my heart that my business wouldn’t have grown as quickly without this community. This wouldn’t have happened if I’d stayed in South Florida where I’m from.
Having moved nearly every year growing up, I never had that deep sense of belonging that many people take for granted. For the first time in my life, I feel truly rooted. The community aspect has been incredibly important both professionally and personally.
What’s your definition of success?
Success to me is having freedom over my time. When I review my kids’ school calendars and see their days off, I block those dates on my calendar without hesitation or guilt to spend extra time with them. Nothing is more important than time with my children, my family and my husband. Every year for our anniversary, we go away together—we just book the trip without worrying about other commitments. That’s success to me.
Equally important is health – mine, my kids’, and my husband’s. That’s truly the number one priority. Financial stability matters, but only as it supports these core values.
What habits allow you to reach your definition of success?
The number 11 is special to me—my birthday is October 11th, it was my soccer number, and I frequently notice 11:11 or 1:11 on clocks. Whenever I see these number patterns, I repeat the same affirmation that includes gratitude, my goals, and emotional belief. I thank the universe for these things as if I’ve already received them. I’ve gradually taught my kids and husband to do this too—now when I say “It’s 11:11, say your wish!” they join in. This ritual reinforces my deepest beliefs about my life and family at least once or twice daily. I truly feel I’m in conversation with the universe, and that this practice helps manifest what I want. When people call me “lucky,” I correct them—it’s not luck, it’s an active relationship with the universe where I clearly state my intentions.
Another crucial habit is maintaining friendships. I’m proud that I’ve kept close friends from middle school through to now at age 40. When I visit Florida, I make a point to see as many old friends as possible. People often remark on how many friends I have, but these aren’t superficial connections. Even if we don’t speak for a year, we pick up right where we left off. I intentionally nurture these relationships because they’re deeply important to me.
If you could rewrite the rules for women, what is a rule you would rewrite?
I’d eliminate the idea that there are any rules for women at all. This new “trad wife” trend? If that makes someone happy, great. Want to be a career-focused mom or a child-free working woman? Also great. Society shouldn’t judge these choices. We should each do what brings us peace and happiness, as long as we’re not harming others.
Some women make sourdough from scratch and wear aprons daily; I serve my kids Eggo waffles in the morning and feel zero guilt about it. Would I like to be more domestic? Maybe. But that would just be another rule I’m imposing on myself. Interestingly, when my daughter plays pretend, she doesn’t imitate cooking – she says “I’m like Mommy and I’m working!” That makes me proud.
The rewritten rule would simply be: Stop judging each other. Live authentically, find your own peace, and let others do the same.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a leader?
I want to be remembered as someone who was indispensable at work, undeniable in intent, and unforgettable to others. My leadership philosophy centers on setting ego aside for the greater good. Whether I’m speaking to high school students, middle school girls’ groups, my 38-year-old friends going through struggles, or senior executives, the message is consistent: The root of most conflict is people being stuck in their own perspectives. When we open our minds to others’ viewpoints, we create opportunities for peace and understanding.
My hope is that people remember me as someone who saw the bigger picture of life, and that this inspires them to adopt the same expansive perspective. The timeless challenge is getting people to truly understand each other – that’s the legacy I want to contribute to.
Ana Welsh is a workplace dynamics strategist, professional speaker and leadership coach dedicated to helping professionals elevate their impact and drive meaningful change in the workplace. A first-generation Brazilian immigrant and 2024 Main Line Today Power Woman, Ana specializes in building strong workplace cultures and empowering leaders to execute with excellence while lifting others along the way – in turn becoming indispensable. She actively mentors young women through Girls Spark and speaks at local schools and business communities across Philadelphia. In a world where she could be anything, Ana chooses to be a megaphone for those working hard, leading with purpose, and amplifying the voices of others.
