From Corporate Burnout to Purposeful Entrepreneurship”I was living for the weekends, not for every day.”This powerful realization marked the beginning of Elyse Berendson’s journey from corporate employee to life and transformation business coach for women—particularly mothers seeking to align their businesses with their authentic selves.In our latest episode of Riding in Cars with Moms, Elyse shares the pivotal moment when she realized her corporate career was no longer serving her soul. Despite the security and prestige of her position, she found herself counting down to Friday and dreading Monday mornings.”When you’re pursuing passion over just a paycheck, everything changes,” Elyse explains. “Your energy shifts, your availability to your children improves, and you start modeling the kind of life you actually want them to see.”Her transition wasn’t without challenges, but the freedom to create a business aligned with her values and schedule that accommodated her role as a mother made every obstacle worthwhile.Human Design: The Missing Piece in Business and ParentingOne of the most fascinating aspects of our conversation centered around Elyse’s incorporation of human design principles into both her coaching practice and her parenting approach.”Understanding your human design is like receiving the user manual you never got,” she says. “Suddenly, behaviors and patterns that seemed random make perfect sense.”For mothers running businesses, human design offers invaluable insights:

Energy management: Learning when and how you work bestDecision-making: Understanding your natural authority for making aligned choicesCommunication: Recognizing how you best receive and process information

But perhaps even more transformative is applying these principles to parenting.”When I understood my son’s human design, I stopped taking his behaviors personally,” Elyse shares. “I realized he wasn’t being difficult—he was being true to his design, which processes information differently than mine.”This perspective shift allows mothers to parent with more compassion and less frustration, creating space for genuine connection rather than constant correction.The Myth of Perfect BalanceLike many conversations on Riding in Cars with Moms, our discussion inevitably touched on the elusive concept of “work-life balance.”Elyse prefers the term “integration” over “balance,” explaining that perfect equilibrium is rarely achievable or even desirable. Instead, she advocates for intentional boundaries that honour both professional ambitions and family needs.”Some days, the business needs more attention. Other days, your children do,” she explains. “The key is being present wherever you are, rather than physically being with your kids while mentally drafting emails.”For single mothers like Elyse, this integration becomes even more crucial. She emphasizes the importance of:

Creating clear work hours and family hoursBeing fully present during family timeBuilding a supportive community of fellow moms who understand last-minute cancellationsPracticing self-care as a non-negotiable rather than a luxury

Community as the Support SystemPerhaps the most heartwarming segment of our conversation focused on the importance of building relationships with other mothers who understand the unique challenges of entrepreneurship.”As you get older, you become less offended by cancellations,” Elyse laughs. “You need people in your life who get it when you say, ‘My kid is having a meltdown, I can’t make dinner.'”This reciprocity forms the foundation of a healthy support system—one where understanding flows both ways and judgment is left at the door.Living Aligned Every DayAs our conversation wound down with some rapid-fire questions, Elyse’s authentic personality shone through. Her emphasis on good manners, meaningful connections, and living with purpose reinforced the central theme of our discussion: alignment in all aspects of life.For mothers struggling to reconcile their business ambitions with their family commitments, Elyse offers this final wisdom:”You don’t have to choose between being successful and being present. When you align your business with your authentic self, you create success that enhances your life rather than depleting it.”Connect With ElyseIf you resonated with Elyse’s approach to aligned living, you can find her on Instagram @elyseberendson or visit her website at www.elyseberendson.com.