Have you ever felt like something in your life no longer fits even though it's not necessarily bad?

In this episode, Emily Paulsen sits down with Meghan Houle, founder and CEO of CONCÈ, a new hiring platform built on authenticity and purpose. After decades building a successful career in luxury retail recruitment, Meghan decided to start over to build something that felt more aligned, more alive, and more her. Together, they explore what happens when you trust the pull to pivot even when everything looks perfect on paper.

Emily and Meghan discuss the courage it takes to separate your identity from your career, why getting into new rooms accelerates growth, and how to know when it's time to make a change. Meghan shares her philosophy of flow not force, why gratitude practices can shift your entire mindset, and what it's like to become a tech founder solving problems you've experienced firsthand. They also talk about releasing shame around resume gaps, why jealousy can be a powerful indicator of what you want, and how to give yourself permission to try something new.

This episode is a reminder that you don't have to stay stuck just because you've invested time in something, and that sometimes the simplest shifts create the biggest transformations.

Key Takeaways:

• Identity gets tied to career, but you can separate: Spending years in one role can make it feel like that's who you are. Making a proactive choice to pivot helps you mature and rediscover yourself.

• Get into rooms with people who've done what you want to do: Investing in yourself and getting into proximity with people ahead of you is game-changing, even when imposter syndrome shows up.

• Flow, not force: Chasing titles and forcing moves creates frenzy. Taking time for clarity and intentional action leads to better outcomes.

• Gratitude practice shifts everything: Starting each day with gratitude journaling, even just one thing, resets your mindset and helps you ask for more from a place of abundance.

• Jealousy is a powerful indicator: Instead of seeing it as negative, ask why you're envious of someone. It reveals what you want and where you might need to evolve.

Want more from this conversation? Meghan and Emily continue their discussion on Substack, where Meghan shares her childfree journey, her powerful conversation with Gloria Steinem, and why she never felt maternal after spending her childhood as a caretaker. Join the Curious Life Club for free at curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.substack.com to access this bonus content.

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We're bringing the podcast into the real world with our first ever in-person event! An evening of curiosity and conversation hosted in downtown Chicago, February 19th, 2026. Picture an intimate dinner party stacked with speakers, all guests from some of your favorite episodes, and space to make new childfree friends. Seats are limited so you can read all the details and get your ticket by visiting curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com/2026-event.

Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily's power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are.

Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com

Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman

Join the Curious Life Club on Substack @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman

Guest Meghan Houle is the founder and CEO of CONCÈ, a hiring platform built on authenticity and purpose. With over two decades of experience in luxury retail recruitment, Meghan has staffed some of the most iconic brands on Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive, and beyond. She believes in flow not force, investing in yourself, and creating meaningful connections that transform lives and businesses.

Connect with Meghan and learn more about CONCÈ at: www.meghanhoule.com

Follow Meghan on Instagram: @allthingsmeghoule