PRESS

I share with Forbes my advice for employees who truly need a mental health break but can’t afford one is to establish a system and routine where you make caring for your well-being a top priority.

What's one lie you've been told about what it takes to succeed?

As women, we forget how many lies we internalize about what it means to succeed at work and what it takes to be happy.

Sometimes, the lies are spoken. Other times, they're unspoken; they're instead told to us by how we see others operating.

Some of those lies are:

❌You can't "have it all" as a working parent.

❌You have to sacrifice your personal life for career acceleration and success.

❌You’ll be more successful if you emulate stereotypical male behaviors.

❌ If you speak up or advocate for yourself, it will be seen as self-promoting.

Have you bought into any of these? I definitely used to.

Believing these lies holds us back, so we need to learn the truth and internalize that truth instead.

To do that, check out Alexandra Frost's article highlighting women's perspectives -- including mine -- outlining the 7 Lies Women are Told at Work that Hold Them Back from Success and the Truth They Need to Know Instead. 🔥

Oprah Daily asked me to share my thoughts on what you should do if your boss is mistreating you – and this can range from a comment during a presentation that was rude to more egregious behavior.  In this article, I share practical steps you can take to address the situation.

What is one way we can navigate change and challenging times?

By becoming more adaptable. Adaptability is about staying intentional with your words and actions, and pivoting quickly in service of a critical mission or goal.

Because if you’re in a stressful and challenging situation, you can still choose how you process it and respond. It means you don’t get angry and lose your cool with colleagues or your team.

Much of your job as a leader is to steer the ship, calmly and steadily. When the waters get rough, that’s when those around you see the kind of leader you really are.

Are you impatient, reactive and rigid, or intentional and adaptable?

The best leaders I’ve worked with are intentional and adaptable — especially when things get stressful and the stakes are high.

According to the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, Latines (a gender-neutral term used to describe people of Latin-American descent) hold only 4% of executive positions in Fortune 500 companies. Given that it is Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), Forbes Contributor Julie Kratz interviewed Arivee Vargas, a first-generation Latina lawyer and former senior leader in career and development at a leading biotech company, who is a coach for high-achieving women executives and professionals.

Even if it’s been a while since you last connected with the person you met at a conference or alumni event, don’t let that stop you. “You have to move through the discomfort of reaching out to people you haven’t reached out to in a year or even a couple of years and simply do it,” says executive coach and author Arivee Vargas. “We often get stuck in our own heads and we ruminate over what the person will think of us, because we haven’t reached out in a long time.” 

Chances are, she says, these people will love that you made contact. “These are not new relationships, they just need to be rejuvenated.”

While social media trends like “October Theory” suggest increased motivation during this period, experts warn against relying on last-minute pushes and advocate for more sustainable approaches.

“Burnout is chronic stress for a prolonged period of time accompanied by disinterestedness and severe fatigue and exhaustion,” said Arivee Vargas, an executive coach and author. “If your employees reach burnout at the end of Q4, they are unlikely to be able to perform at their best and hit the ground running in January.”

The challenge is particularly evident in the disconnect between leadership and staff perspectives. 

When I talk to women who work in and outside the home and they say they’re stressed, tired, and have no time to care for themselves, it’s so hard to hear.

It makes me really sad for us. We understand the systemic and structural reasons we can feel like we’re just surviving - workplaces and school schedules weren’t created with women and mothers in mind (and weren’t created for parents who want to be present with their kids).

But while we work to change that, we need to reclaim our lives and our time. Our health, happiness and our lives are at stake.

How do I know? It’s what ambitious high-achieving women I meet tell me. It’s what I saw throughout my career. And it’s how I used to feel. It’s one of the reasons I coach. I don’t want us to continue like this.

I recently did an interview with Authority Magazine published on Medium about the 5 Things You Should Do if You’re Experiencing Work Burnout.

I share more of my personal story and share actionable strategies for what companies and you can do to prevent and address burnout.

For women who identify as overachievers, high performers and model students – particularly those who are women of color – there can be a double edged sword to the mentors and colleagues rooting for you along the way. Support and accomplishment can come with a price when all eyes are on you with great expectations for your future – and then you change your mind. It’s a phenomenon called weaponized gratitude, and it can heavily impact the choices women make about their own lives and careers. 

BizWomen asked me to share my personal story - an identity crisis after the birth of my first child that led to the realization I wanted to leave my high-flying career as a litigator to pursue Human Resources – while also discussing how the feeling of manipulated gratitude initially held me back from making this change early on.

Becoming a mother was the game changer, but not for reasons you might think. I didn’t ever want to stay home and not work when I had my kids. It’s just not how I’m wired or what I wanted. Here’s an excerpt from the story I wrote about how my post-partum identity crisis made me rethink my dream career and my life.

“After giving birth to my first child and experiencing a postpartum identity crisis, I realized my professional identity, while significant, wasn't how I wanted to define myself anymore. I didn't want my self-worth to rely on work and external validation, as this created a never-ending cycle of needing more and more to feel good about myself. The birth of my son gave me the space to reflect on what I truly wanted and who I was.

Coming to that realization didn’t make me feel lighter though. It felt heavy, like another burden to carry. I felt guilty and foolish. The thought in my head running on repeat was: You should just be grateful to be where you are. That thought would kick off a spiraling of other thoughts that went something like this: Look at you. You’re so ungrateful. Other people would give anything to be in your position and you’re going to throw it all away? What are your mentors and people who’ve invested their energy and time into you going to think?”

Want to read the full story?

Through all my life transitions and career pivots, one of the mindset traps I had to navigate was the “you should be so grateful” gratitude trap.

When I left the law firm life behind, I was so grateful for every single opportunity I was given (yes I worked hard AND I recognize people also opened doors that a first-gen Latina like me historically had no access to).

I was grateful AND where I was wasn’t aligned with who I was anymore. It wasn’t aligned with what I most wanted for myself.

Maybe you’ve felt pulled towards something different or something more, and then said to yourself, “but you should be so grateful. Others would do anything to have what you have and be where you are.”

If you can relate to that inner battle, check out the article I wrote for FIERCE by mitú.

I share part of my story and ways to stop weaponizing gratitude against ourselves (especially in the moments we’re on the edge of growth and expansion) and honor yourself and your journey when it doesn’t look like you thought it would years before.

The law firm grind was never as hard as having a baby. When you spend your life defining who you are & your worth by your achievements, titles (and the prestige they bring), and your profession, it gets dicey.

Over nine years ago (as of this writing) when I had my son, I experienced an identity crisis postpartum amidst the baby blues. I didn’t understand why I was feeling sad, lost, confused, and frustrated.

What saved me was slowly (and I mean very slowly) exploring what was happening. I started asking myself questions like:

Who am I really without my job, my titles and all the things I had done?

Why do I need to always be achieving more?

What am I after?

What legacy do I really want to leave behind?

Because when I was home from maternity leave (and I was privileged my firm had a leave policy), I was with an infant. He needed to be fed, changed, held and just loved. None of that professional stuff mattered at home.

My primary source for validation (produce, perform, be excellent and get praised for it) was gone when I was on leave. But that time in my life was the turning point for everything. It changed the entire trajectory of my life and career. It’s what led me to get serious about deep-self care and it’s what I credit for every single shift in my career.

Read my story that was recently published in the Mother Chapter — a publication exclusively for moms. I share my post-partum identity crisis and why it was the greatest blessing of all.

Nelly Alba interviewed Arivee on the Back to HER podcast. In this empowering episode, they dive deep into the transformative journey of self-care. As Arivee unravels the essence of deep self-care, Arivee sheds light on the significance of nurturing one's soul amidst the chaos of busy and ambitious motherhood.

Through candid conversation, Arivee addresses the common pushback faced by women in prioritizing their well-being and offers practical strategies to overcome these obstacles.  Tune in as we discover how listening to our inner selves and embracing authentic self-care practices can lead to profound transformations, allowing us to reclaim our inner power and thrive in every aspect of life.

Listen to the episode wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

I was recently interviewed by the incredible Martine Williams on the Mompreneur Life Remixed Podcast. Here’s what Martine said about the episode. If it resonates, be sure to give it a listen!

Are you feeling the nudge for a career transition? You will love my next guest’s inspiring journey of self-discovery and alignment with her true calling as she shares her story of transitioning from a litigator to a high-performance coach.

Also in this episode:

🔥 Learn the concept of deep self-care, which goes beyond surface-level practices and involves tending to yourself like you would tend to a garden

🔥 The value of experimentation, prioritizing self-care, and embracing change with courage, confidence, and intention

🔥 The importance of taking time to slow down, journal, and explore new possibilities, even when it feels uncomfortable.

I was truly inspired by Arivee's journey and her commitment to creating a life that aligns with her values and priorities. If you're looking for motivation and insights on navigating career transitions, self-care, and personal growth, I highly recommend listening to this episode.

In this episode, Rachel Brooks sits down with Arivee Vargas, a lawyer, executive coach, host of The Humble Rising Podcast, and author of Your Time to Rise. Together, they dive into a powerful conversation about reclaiming your power, stepping into your purpose & navigating the complexities of career, motherhood & personal growth. Arivee shares her journey from high-achiever burnout to finding alignment with her deeper purpose & passion—perfect for ambitious, faith-fueled women seeking to live authentically & confidently.

Key Topics Covered:

• Arivee’s journey from lawyer to executive coach.

• The struggles of balancing a high-achieving career with motherhood & personal well-being.

• Letting go of the "shoulds" & embracing what truly matters.

• The importance of reconnecting with your inner purpose.

• Faith and surrender in navigating career changes & personal transformation.

• Practical tips on setting boundaries, embracing imperfection & leading with authenticity.

• How to reclaim your personal power & walk in confidence.

In this episode, we sat down with a first-generation Latina lawyer turned women’s life and high-performance coach, whose journey exemplifies the courage to follow your true calling.

After a successful career in corporate law and HR leadership, she felt a deep pull to serve women in a more meaningful way. Despite loving her work, she couldn’t ignore the growing realization that she wasn’t in full alignment with her purpose.

This calling grew louder, pushing her to transition into full-time entrepreneurship, where she now empowers women of color and first-generation professionals to find clarity, confidence, and courage in their own journeys.

Her transition wasn’t immediate but came in small leaps, from law to coaching and eventually leaving her corporate role. As she reflected on the limits of her corporate work, she envisioned how her team would continue without her, giving her the peace to move forward.

Now, as a coach and speaker, she helps women define success on their own terms while staying true to their personal and professional growth. Listen to her podcast, The Humble Rising, for more on her inspiring journey and insights into leadership and empowerment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to recognize when it’s time for a major life or career shift
The power of trusting your calling, even when it’s scary
How Arivee turned her passion for coaching into a full-time business
Why staying aligned with your purpose is crucial for long-term happiness

If you’ve ever felt that inner nudge telling you it’s time to make a change, this episode is for you.

Tune in to hear how Arivee navigated this major life shift, and why alignment with your purpose is key to sustained success and joy.