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Ambition Without Compromise

Ambition Without Compromise

Written by: Monique R. Shields
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Ambition Without Compromise is the space where powerhouse women of color — with a special heart for Black mothers and future mothers — come to redefine success on their own terms.

Hosted by Monique R. Shields, executive coach, entrepreneur, and mentor to women at the highest levels of leadership, this podcast dives into the real challenges women face when juggling bold professional pursuits with the responsibilities of being present partners, mothers, and whole, healthy individuals.

Through honest conversations and powerful stories, you’ll gain insights on:

  • Balancing ambition and freedom without burnout
  • Crafting sustainable work-life integration
  • Protecting your mental and emotional well-being
  • Building intentional communities and seeking mentorship for growth

Whether you're scaling your business, stepping into a higher leadership role, or simply seeking clarity about what success means now, this show offers the tools and stories to help you thrive without compromise.

Follow Monique wherever you listen to podcasts and step into a world where ambition and joy can coexist.


© 2025 Ambition Without Compromise
Careers Economics Personal Success
Episodes
  • 76 | A Hard Reset on Money, Consumption, and Self-Trust [Dashboard Diaries]
    Dec 31 2025

    In this introspective episode, Monique shares her self-discovery journey and what it’s taught her about shifting her relationship with money and consumption.

    You’ll hear how she’s approaching better money management through a low-buy challenge, plus the real lessons she’s carrying forward from past accountability efforts in other parts of her life.

    This conversation is a reminder that financial wellness isn’t meant to be done alone. When we name what’s true, share the messy parts, and ask for support, we create a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with money. Tune in now.

    GEMS DROPPED

    “​I ​think ​that ​our ​relationship ​with ​money ​and ​finances ​is ​just ​like ​any ​other ​relationship ​in ​life ​where ​it ​is ​a ​continuous ​growth process, ​a ​continuous ​learning ​curve with ​reevaluation ​and ​reinvestment ​and ​retesting ​and ​retrying.” ​

    “When ​we ​say ​we ​want ​something, ​then ​we ​don't ​do ​it, ​It's ​because ​you ​didn't ​commit. ​You ​didn't ​really ​want ​it. ​You ​wanted ​to ​want ​it, but your ​behaviors do ​not ​demonstrate ​that ​commitment.”

    “One ​thing ​I ​know ​about ​myself ​is ​that ​if ​I ​have ​an ​accountability ​partner, ​an ​accountability ​group ​that's ​also ​serious, ​I ​am ​​golden. ​I ​am ​golden. ​I ​work ​out ​so ​many ​things ​in ​my ​life ​through ​relationships. It's ​a ​tool, ​​it's ​a leveraging ​piece ​that ​I ​use ​to ​help ​me ​meet ​my ​goals.”

    STAY IN TOUCH

    Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • 75 | You Can’t Do Big Things in Shallow Waters [Dashboard Diaries]
    Dec 17 2025

    In today's fast-paced world, women often find themselves at a crossroads, grappling with their professional identities and the desire for personal growth.

    In this candid conversation, Monique discusses the societal pressures that often keep women tethered to outdated identities and the necessity of forging authentic connections that foster growth and transformation. Her message serves as a reminder that change is possible, and with the right support, women can achieve their dreams and redefine success on their own terms.

    Tune in to discover how to reclaim your worth, embrace your agency, and build meaningful relationships that support your growth.

    GEMS DROPPED

    “I ​do ​believe ​that ​we ​all ​should ​own ​something. ​​It ​does ​not ​matter ​if ​you ​work ​full ​time ​and ​you ​are ​a ​corporate ​baddie. ​You ​are ​busting ​down ​doors ​and ​climbing ​all ​the ​ladders… I ​do ​believe ​that ​we ​should ​all ​own ​something.”

    “You ​need ​to ​actually ​take ​the ​reins ​of ​your ​own ​story ​and be ​able ​to ​not ​only ​build ​it, ​​but ​speak ​about ​it ​and ​move ​in ​it. To ​actually ​exist ​in ​this ​new ​identity.”

    “Transformation ​is ​a ​choice, ​but ​it's ​also ​a ​result ​of ​relationships. ​You're ​not ​going ​to ​find ​transformation ​by ​reading ​a ​book. ​You're ​not. ​You ​might ​find ​a ​spark ​that ​leads ​you ​down ​a ​path ​towards ​​growth ​and ​development ​and ​transformation, but information ​is ​not ​transformation. ​Information ​in and ​of ​itself, ​does ​not ​mean ​that ​you ​have ​actually ​made ​meaning ​of ​it. ​And ​I ​know ​that ​as ​we ​endeavor ​to ​make ​big ​changes ​in ​our ​world ​and ​big ​changes ​in ​our ​life ​that ​if ​we ​continue ​to ​exist ​only ​in shallow ​spaces, ​then ​we ​are ​missing ​out on ​the ​transformation.”

    “I ​know ​when ​I ​feel ​like ​I'm ​down ​in ​the ​dumps ​about ​something ​and I'm ​doing ​that ​thing ​where ​it's ​like, ​well, ​I ​just ​need ​to ​do ​better. ​I'm ​just ​not ​enough. ​I'm ​not ​doing ​enough ​of ​the ​things. I ​gotta ​push ​harder. ​I ​just ​need ​to ​pull ​myself ​up ​by ​my ​bootstraps. ​All ​that ​bs. ​We ​self ​isolate ​as ​well. ​It ​puts ​you ​in ​this ​sort ​of ​self ​fulfilling ​cycle ​of ​the ​thing ​that ​you ​need ​most, ​which ​is ​the ​degree ​of ​support ​that ​you ​are ​not ​getting ​from ​the ​outside ​through ​an ​aligned ​community. ​When ​you ​don't ​do ​it, ​it ​just ​leads ​you ​to ​further ​and ​further ​self ​isolation ​and ​shame.”

    “Depth [in relationships] ​is ​about ​alignment ​and ​a ​mutual ​willingness ​to ​continuously ​reach ​for ​realignment ​and ​overlap ​and ​ways ​in ​which ​to ​know ​each ​other ​more ​and ​to ​create ​more ​and ​more ​permission ​to ​know ​each ​other.”

    "When you've ​got ​the ​passion, ​​the ​ideas, ​the ​access ​and ​the ​networks, ​but ​you ​still ​won't ​move. ​ ​That's ​your ​signal. ​It's ​not ​you. ​There's ​nothing ​else ​that ​you're ​lacking…​​Stop ​blaming ​yourself. … ​There ​is ​something ​about ​your ​environment, ​your ​community, ​the ​systems ​that ​exist ​around ​you, ​or ​don't ​exist ​around ​you. ​That ​is ​what ​is ​lacking. ​And ​so you ​have ​to ​solve ​for ​those ​things ​with ​the ​resources ​that you ​have.”

    “​’I’ve ​shouted ​from ​the ​rooftops ​that ​this ​is ​how ​we ​have ​to ​move ​in ​the ​society ​that ​exists ​around ​us. ​This ​is ​how ​we ​have ​to ​move. ​You ​cannot ​be ​passive ​with ​this. ​You ​cannot ​be ​wishing ​upon ​a ​star ​and ​hoping. ​This ​is ​not ​a ​time ​for ​just ​being ​hopeful. ​You ​gotta ​take ​action ​and ​use ​what ​you ​have ​to ​get ​what ​you ​want.”

    STAY IN TOUCH

    Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • 74 | [Rewind] The Right Time Is Not Coming
    Dec 3 2025

    This week on Ambition Without Compromise, we’re revisiting a pivotal episode that resonates deeply with our ongoing theme of embracing change.

    Join Monique as she tackles the elusive concept of the "right time" and how it often keeps us stuck in a cycle of waiting for the perfect moment to pursue our dreams. She dives straight into the heart of the matter, sharing powerful insights on how we often cling to familiar paths, fearing the unknown, and how this can lead to stagnation. She encourages us to challenge the narratives that keep us from embracing our true passions and desires.

    It's time to give ourselves permission to dream big and take action!

    GEMS DROPPED

    “This ​magical ​right ​time, ​​the ​time ​when ​you ​feel ​ready, ​when ​things ​are ​in ​place, ​when ​you ​have ​done ​enough, ​when ​you ​have ​prepared ​enough, ​and ​you ​know ​that ​this ​is ​up ​for ​you, ​that ​this ​is ​a ​challenge ​for ​you ​right ​now… ​The ​whole ​thing ​is ​a ​trick.”

    “When ​you ​keep ​saying ​stuff ​like, ​well, ​I ​just ​have ​to ​think ​about, ​or ​I ​just ​have ​to ​decide, ​or ​​I've ​got ​to ​give ​some ​more ​thought ​to … ​I ​need ​to ​do ​some ​preparation… ​I ​just. ​I ​just. ​I ​just. ​I ​just. y'all. ​This ​is ​all ​danger language. ​Danger, ​danger, ​danger, ​danger, ​language. ​We ​start ​backing ​ourselves ​into ​deep ​limitation ​​because ​we ​are ​fearful ​of ​giving ​ourselves ​permission ​to ​be ​specific ​about ​what ​it ​is ​that ​we ​truly ​want.”

    “Leading ​with ​our ​wants ​feels reckless ​when ​we ​have ​always ​led ​with ​what ​we ​think ​we ​need/​what ​is ​required, ​for ​so, ​so, ​so, ​so ​long.”

    “You ​can't ​cut ​something ​off ​from nourishment ​and ​expect ​it ​to ​survive.”

    “​I ​recognize ​that ​in ​order ​for ​this ​next ​part ​of ​me, ​this ​next ​phase ​to ​come ​to ​fruition, ​for ​that ​to ​happen, ​I'm ​gonna ​have ​to ​relinquish ​the ​reins. ​I'm ​gonna ​have ​to ​let ​this ​other ​part ​of ​me, ​this ​free ​and ​creative ​and ​open, ​this ​vulnerable ​part ​of ​me, come ​up ​to ​the ​driver's ​seat ​​and ​I ​might ​have ​to ​get ​in ​the ​back, ​I ​might ​have ​to ​get ​in ​the ​trunk ​at ​some ​point. ​That ​feels ​so ​risky. ​It ​feels ​so, ​so ​risky ​internally.”

    “We ​disconnect ​from ​that ​part ​of ​ourselves. ​We ​leave ​those, ​air ​quote, ‘​childish ​things’ ​behind ​and ​we ​get ​serious ​about ​life ​and ​we ​put ​on ​new ​coping ​skills ​and ​different ​things ​toughen ​us ​up ​and ​rough ​us ​up, ​and ​we ​forget ​that ​that ​wild ​and ​free ​little ​version ​of ​us, ​has ​so ​much ​power.”

    “​I ​hope ​that ​if ​you ​are ​sitting ​in ​stagnation ​and ​not ​realizing, ​I ​hope ​that ​if ​you ​are ​sitting ​in, ​‘I ​need ​to ​wait ​for ​the ​right ​time’, ​or ‘​I ​just ​need ​to ​think ​through. ​I ​just ​need ​to ​figure ​out,’ ​or ‘​I ​just ​need ​to, ​you ​know, ​shore ​up ​x, ​y ​and ​z,’ ​that ​you ​bust ​down ​those ​walls ​and ​get ​real ​with ​the ​truth ​of ​what's ​going ​on ​here, ​which ​is ​​knowing ​that ​you ​don't ​have ​to ​cling ​to ​what's ​familiar ​and ​that ​you're ​not ​going ​to ​find ​your ​freedom. ​Your ​salvation ​will ​not ​come ​from ​this ​place. ​You ​have ​everything ​you ​need ​to ​make ​the ​move ​if ​you ​give ​yourself ​permission ​to ​let ​that ​part ​of ​you ​actually dream ​it ​up ​and ​connect ​you ​to ​the ​urgency ​of ​it ​all.”

    STAY IN TOUCH

    Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com.

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
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