MEET HÉLÈNE
Maybe you’re feeling lost, stuck, anxious, or alone—and you’re wondering what the future holds for you.
I get it. I’ve been there.
Today, I wake up every morning knowing who I am and what I’m meant to do.
But this wasn’t always the case…
Fear was my driver.
I have lived most of my life unconsciously, without awareness or understanding of who I was—my deepest values, my natural gifts, or my reason for being. I made decisions driven mostly by fear. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of embarrassment, fear of rejection, fear of being alone.
I chose my college because I was scared of leaving home and my older brother went there too. I got an MBA and worked in Corporate America—not out of a love for business, but by letting one thing lead me to the next. I never sought to understand myself or what I really wanted in life. I was guided by people-pleasing and perceptions of what I “should” do.
I paid a heavy price.
I struggled with low self-esteem, eating disorders, anxiety, perfectionism, and impostor syndrome. After one failed marriage, I remarried at 31 and, after battling infertility and getting pregnant, was relieved to quit my marketing job. Raising our twin daughters was the first time I felt a sense of purpose in my life, a deep certainty that this was what I was meant to do.
When my twin daughters were in high school and I was nearing 50, I felt lost.
I was an educated woman who’d left corporate America to stay home with our girls, devoting myself to being a mother and a wife. I’d organized our family calendar, from nightly dinners to far-flung vacations. I’d raised my hand to volunteer in our schools and community. I’d shuttled our daughters from one activity to another and joined the requisite mom groups.
I had put myself last.
I fit me-time around the needs and schedules of my family and around my community commitments. Because if I wasn’t contributing, even self-sacrificing, I would be overcome with guilt—after all, what right did I have to complain with all the privilege I enjoyed? And while I did feel a keen sense of purpose as a “homemaker,” over the years, I also slowly lost touch with who I was, at my core, and separate from that role.
All this came into sharp relief when we left the Chicago suburbs and moved back into the city where our daughters would attend high school. I’d been growing restless and bored with my routine after 13 years in the same small village, so I was actually relieved—even excited—for the change. I longed for new energy and direction. I hoped a change of scenery would be the simple antidote to my increasing unease, my simmering discontent.
I needed to rebuild.
I soon found out that creating a new life in the city was not so easy. How do you find community without going through your work, activities, or kids? I had no job and no career prospects. I’d quit all my suburban volunteer boards. And my daughters had made it very clear they did NOT want me involved in their new school. My husband continued to work long hours and travel a fair amount for business, and we were pretty disconnected. I felt very alone and adrift.
What was I supposed to to do now?
Fast forward 10 years and here’s what I know for sure:

No more excuses.
Your priority now needs to be YOU. Because it’s YOUR TURN, and you only have one life to live.

No need to reinvent the wheel.
With guidance, you CAN take the SMALL STEPS that add up to BIG RESULTS, like renewed joy and fulfillment.

Don’t go it alone.
The journey is easier and more enjoyable with support.
I had to dive deep into some hard places to become the woman I am today. I got the support I needed and it changed my life. This is why I do what I do now—and why I have created THRIVE Personal Growth Courses for women 40+.
As someone who has experienced this challenging midlife transition firsthand, geeks out on all things psychology and human behavior, and is trained and certified as a life coach, I believe I am uniquely equipped to help women design their next chapter with more ease and confidence.
With THRIVE, I have curated the ideal one-stop space for supported growth, a resource I wish I’d had when I felt lost and alone.
Today, I am a life coach, speaker, writer, and community builder.
I’m a recovering marketing executive for Fortune 500 companies who’s turned my 20-year fascination with psychology and human behavior into my mission-led profession.
As the Midlife Mentor, I help introspective, curious, action-oriented women 40+ deepen their journeys of self-discovery and growth—and create their next chapter with courage and intention.
I do a lot of speaking, from radio to TV, podcasts to women’s retreats. I also love showcasing women who are pursuing their passion in midlife and beyond through my written and video interviews—more than 500 to date!
My Credentials
Certified Life Coach (CPC), trained through iPEC’s Accredited Coach Training Program.
Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP)
Member, International Coaching Federation
MBA, Washington University in St. Louis
BA, Duke University
Fun Facts
I jumped out of a plane at age 50.
I have a huge sweet tooth and indulge in chocolate daily.
My name, Hélène, is French for Helene (I’m an American raised in Paris). To pronounce it, you say the two letters L and N in a row: L-N, with the emphasis on the N.
I am an avid reader of nonfiction, particularly psychology and human behavior.
I was once mistaken for a “motivational dancer” at a friend’s 50th Birthday party—I do love to dance!
If you doubt the power of hugs, watch my favorite all-time video here, to one of my favorite songs too! I cry every time.