Betting on Yourself (and Building a Life You Love)

Some moments in life stop you in your tracks. They shake your sense of direction, challenge what you thought you wanted, and ask you the hardest question of all: what truly matters now?

For Shali Reed, that moment came in the middle of a successful corporate career. She had climbed the ladder in tech, leading customer success teams, hitting every metric, and doing all the “right” things—until a personal loss forced her to pause and reflect on whether “success” was really what she thought it was.

When Shali and her husband experienced the stillbirth of their third child, Raya, everything changed. “It really makes you reevaluate the things that you’re holding near and dear,” she shared. “I couldn’t keep giving my best hours to someone else when what I wanted to invest in was right in front of me.”

That realization became the catalyst for a complete life pivot. Together with her husband, Devin, she left corporate life and poured her time, talent, and energy into their own business, The Reeder. Her story is raw and beautiful—a reminder that grief can also be the birthplace of purpose.

Working with your partner (and not losing your mind)

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to run a business with your spouse, Shali gets it. “It’s not for everyone,” she laughed, “but we make it work because we’re intentional.”

They compartmentalize their conversations—work during work time, parenting during family time—and stay open to constant iteration. “Everything needs iteration,” she told me. “Your marriage, your business, your communication. You just keep working on it.”

I loved that line because it’s the heartbeat of Work in Progress. None of us are static. We’re all learning to adjust, communicate better, and evolve—with the people we love, and the work we’re building together.

Redefining success in motherhood

When we talked about motherhood, Shali’s honesty hit me. “I’m exhausted, overworked, overstimulated—over everything,” she said with a laugh. “But I’m intentional about how I set up my days. I want to give the best hours of my day to my kids.”

That meant designing her schedule on purpose. From 9:00 to 12:30, she’s focused on business. After that, it’s full-time mom mode. She works part-time by choice, not by default—because she and Devin agreed that being present with their girls while they’re little matters more than anything else.

That’s not easy. It takes boundaries, community, and a lot of grace. But as she put it: “Time is the most limited factor. I want to make sure the best of mine goes to what matters most.”

Rediscovering identity after “mother”

When I asked Shali about her identity beyond motherhood, she shared something her therapist once asked her: “What’s your identity after mother?”

She didn’t have an answer then.

Most of us don’t.

It’s so easy to lose ourselves in the role of caretaker, employee, or partner. But as Shali said, motherhood is a milestone—not the finish line. Therapy helped her reclaim her sense of purpose and voice, and today she’s passionate about helping others—especially women—do the same.

“I want people to feel bold enough to speak up,” she said. “To build the life they want. There’s more than enough for everyone.”

That line stayed with me long after our conversation. Because it’s true—when women support women, everyone rises.

A few fun things

Of course, we had to end on a lighter note. Her skincare secret? Korean beauty products and the quest for “glass skin.” Her guilty pleasure? “Good food. The kind that fills your soul.” Her favorite ’90s jam? Regulate by Warren G (and yes, I may have danced to that same song back in college).

Conversations like this one are why I started Work in Progress. They remind me that our greatest growth often comes from the hardest seasons—and that choosing yourself, your family, and your peace isn’t selfish. It’s brave.

Much love,

Gayle