How do you redesign your life when the script you've been handed no longer fits?

In this episode of Unbounded: Beyond Limits, host Todd Simmons welcomes Valerie Rivera—a former Air Force linguist turned Stanford MBA, founder of Take Back Work, and now an expat building a new life in France. Valerie reveals the pivotal moments that led her to trade a secure military career for entrepreneurship, and eventually, to relocate her family and business overseas.

Valerie unpacks the philosophy behind her "small risks first" approach to major life changes and explains how helping others design better workplace cultures taught her to design a life she truly loves. She speaks candidly about navigating a 20-year age gap in marriage while aligning shared dreams, the art of saying "no" to a traditional retirement path, and why moving to Europe became a non-negotiable chapter in her family's story.

From discussing how appreciative inquiry transforms organizations to sharing why she now refuses to work on French holidays, Valerie offers a refreshing perspective on work-life integration, intentional living, and building a business that travels with you—not one that ties you down.

Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, dreaming of living abroad, or simply seeking more purpose in your daily routine, this conversation is a masterclass in courageous reinvention.

Find Valerie Rivera:

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriebrivera/

Take Back Work

https://takebackwork.com/

val@takebackwork.com

And find Todd Simmons here:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-simmons-mba-fbina-7971a5156/

Courageous Leadership Alliance:

https://www.courageouslead.com/