Miara Shaw is a dynamic leadership and work-life integration strategist who blends boldness with warmth, clarity with compassion, and leadership with lifestyle. She doesn’t just support leaders to move forward — she invites them to rise. Miara’s journey transformed after a pivotal moment that forever changed the trajectory of her life and ignited her mission to help others Lead Well. Live Well. Today, “Maven” Miara brings strategic insight and nurturing energy to empower high-performing women leaders to cultivate confidence, prioritize well-being, and step fully into their purpose. Let’s meet her.
Where were you born/raised and where are you based now?
I was born and raised in Brazoria County, a small-town area in Texas, but I’ve been a proud Houstonian for over 30 years now. These days, my husband and I are navigating this empty nester season and discovering what life looks like when it’s just the two of us again.
Tell our readers about yourself, how you got started in your current field.
After 27 years in the oil and gas industry—including 15 years as one of the nation’s few Black female energy traders—I found myself facing a layoff. The irony? I was a top performer. I had nine months’ notice, which meant nine months of cycling through every emotion you can imagine: anger, grief, uncertainty, and finally, faith.
But here’s the thing—about four years before that layoff, something in me had already started shifting. I began hosting happy hour networking events for women. Those gatherings grew into mini-workshops, then full-day conferences. Women started reaching out for strategy development and career advice, and I realized I had knowledge worth sharing beyond the trading floor.
So I invested in myself. I hired a business coach and a public speaking coach to learn how to turn my expertise into a business. And when that layoff notice was final, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. Shifting into my next season.
I chose to believe that God didn’t bring me to that fork in the road to leave me stranded. After a short break to catch my breath and clarify my vision, I launched my leadership development practice. Now, I work with high-performing women executives, leaders, and founders who are ready to identify and navigate their own transitions—whether that’s a career pivot, a life change, or simply stepping into the next season with intention and confidence.
I’ve been exactly where they are. And I have insight into what it takes to gain clarity on the way forward.
What are you most known for and have you let that control the reigns of your trajectory or do you still feel like you are being your authentic self?
I’m most known for helping high-performing women avoid burnout while maintaining excellence—what I call the
“Lead Well. Live Well.” philosophy. For years, I was a “tasker”—I felt my power and value were in my doing. The more I accomplished, the more I proved my worth. On Wall Street, I learned to navigate rooms where I was often the only woman and definitely the only Black woman. I became excellent at code-switching, at making others comfortable, at proving I belonged through performance and results.
But here’s what I’ve learned: being known for something and being controlled by it are two very different things. Early in my entrepreneurship journey, I absolutely let what I thought people wanted from me dictate my moves. I’d show up how I thought a “leadership expert” should show up—polished, perfectly professional, never too sassy, never too much.
Then I got tired. Tired of performing. Tired of tying my value to my output.
So I made a choice: I had to completely unlearn that behavior and make a shift from doing to being. I decided that my brand voice would be “sassy and warm” with “supportive but direct” communication—because that’s actually who I am. I talk about faith openly. I call out toxic workplace dynamics. I tell women it’s okay to rest, to pivot, to say no, to choose themselves. Some people love it. Some people probably think I should be more “professional.” But the women who need what I offer? They find me. And they stay.
I’m not being controlled by my reputation—I’m building it intentionally, on my own terms. And I’m teaching other women to do the same: to find their value in who they are, not just what they accomplish.
Have you ever failed at anything? How did you recover?
Oh, plenty. Being an entrepreneur automatically includes failing at some things—it’s part of the natural journey. The growth is in learning how to handle those failures without letting them define you.
I’ve launched programs and products that gained zero sales. I mean zero. Not a single one. I’ve hosted events that didn’t hit the numbers needed to break into the profit zone. Some of those failures felt like they knocked the wind out of me, and I genuinely wondered if I’d ever catch my breath again.
But here’s what I’ve learned: faith and rest are essential tools in my recovery toolbox. When something doesn’t work, I give myself permission to step back, breathe, and grieve the loss—because it is a loss, even if it’s just a program or an event. Then I get quiet enough to regain clarity, which usually includes making some adjustments to my strategy or approach.
And then? I move forward with confidence, because I know I’m purposed to do this work. Failure doesn’t mean I’m on the wrong path—it just means I’m figuring out the right way to walk it.
The women I work with need to see that. They need to know that even “successful” people have launches that flop and ideas that don’t land. What matters is that you don’t stay down. You dust yourself off, learn the lesson, and keep going.
If you could go back and share one thing with yourself as a 16-22 year old what would it be and why?
Growing up in a small town, I learned early how to make myself smaller to fit in, to be liked, to not stand out too much. So if I could go back and sit with my 16-to-22-year-old self, I’d tell her this:
The gifts and grace assigned to you don’t require an apology. Stop shrinking. Stop dimming your light so others feel comfortable. Your brilliance isn’t something to manage or hide—it’s something to steward and share.
I spent too many years trying to fit into spaces that were never designed for me, apologizing for being smart, for being ambitious, for being “too much.” I wish I’d known sooner that the right people—the right rooms, the right opportunities—don’t require you to make yourself smaller. They invite you to show up fully and unapologetically.
That’s the message I carry into my work now. I tell the women I strategize with: You don’t need permission to be excellent. You don’t need to apologize for your gifts. The world needs what you have, so stop hiding it.
Who are you at your core and in life what matters the most to you?
At my core, I’m a woman of faith who believes that purpose and peace aren’t luxuries—they’re birthrights. I’m a confidence cultivator, a truth-teller, and someone who refuses to let high-performing women burn out in silence while the world applauds their productivity.
What matters most to me? Living fully, not just productively. For too long, I equated my worth with my output. Now, I’m committed to helping women unlearn that same toxic pattern. I want women to know they can lead well and live well, that rest isn’t laziness, that boundaries aren’t selfish, and that choosing yourself isn’t failure.
My faith grounds me. My marriage sustains me. My work fuels me. But beyond all of that, what matters most is legacy—not the kind measured in accolades or income, but the kind measured in transformation. Did I help a woman see her worth beyond her productivity? Did I give her permission to rest without guilt? Did I show her that she can pivot without shame?
That’s what gets me up in the morning. That’s what I’m building toward. A world where women don’t have to choose between success and sanity, between ambition and peace. Where “Lead Well. Live Well.” isn’t just a tagline, it’s a lived reality.
What sets you apart?
What sets me apart is that I’ve lived both sides of the story. I spent 27 years in corporate America—15 of those as one of the nation’s few Black female energy traders on Wall Street. I know what it’s like to be the only woman in the room, the only Black face at the table, navigating code-switching and proving my worth through performance. I understand the pressure, the isolation, and the exhaustion that come with being a high-performer in spaces that weren’t built for you.
But I also know what it’s like to walk away from all of that and rebuild from scratch. To go from six figures and corporate security to entrepreneurship and uncertainty. To have to unlearn the very behaviors that made me successful in one season so I could thrive in the next.
That dual perspective—corporate insider and entrepreneur, high-achiever and recovering tasker—gives me a unique lens. I don’t just teach leadership theory. I teach the messy, real-life navigation of transitions, identity shifts, and redefining success on your own terms.
Add to that my faith foundation, my commitment to helping women shift from doing to being, and my refusal to sugarcoat the hard parts? That’s what sets me apart. I’m not here to give you a five-step formula or motivational platitudes. I’m here to walk alongside you in the transformation—because I’ve walked it myself. And I’m still walking it.
When life gets crazy, how do you decompress and recover you?
Solitude.
I need to get still, get quiet, and listen to what God is sharing with me and asking of me. That’s non-negotiable for my mental and spiritual health.
When I can, I gravitate toward water–fabulous pools, gorgeous beaches, luxury spa appointments. Those are my zen zones, the places where I can exhale fully and let my nervous system catch up to my life. There’s something about water that reminds me to flow instead of force, to release instead of control.
But on the regular Tuesday when life is lifing and a beach vacation won’t fit on the calendar, I have a huge fuchsia-colored bean bag in my office that I snuggle into with a good book. It’s my little sanctuary—a spot where I can pause, reset, and remember that rest is productive too.
Whether it’s a weekend getaway or 20 minutes in my bean bag, I’ve learned that decompressing isn’t optional. It’s how I stay connected to myself, to God, and to the work I’m called to do. I refuse to run on fumes just to prove I’m “dedicated.”
Is being intentional important to you? Why or why not?
Very much so. I actually have what I call a Maven quote: “Don’t just be busy, be intentional.”
I have to keep this top of mind because the old tasker in me can easily slip back into doing mode instead of being mode. It’s like muscle memory—I see a task, I want to complete it. I see a need, I want to fill it. But that’s how I ended up exhausted and disconnected from my purpose in the first place.
So now, I’m constantly asking myself: What’s the desired outcome of this? And is it in alignment with what I actually need to do—or is it just noise?
That simple filter has changed everything. It helps me say no without guilt. It helps me protect my energy and my time. And it keeps me from falling into the trap of equating busyness with productivity or worth.
Being intentional means I’m moving with purpose, not just motion. It means every yes is deliberate, every boundary is honored, and every season is stewarded well. That’s how I lead well and live well—and that’s what I’m teaching the women I work with to do too.
Tell us about any point in your life’s journey that you felt changed you for the better?
The nine months between being notified of my layoff and my last day changed me in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. At first, I was angry. I was a top performer—how could they lay me off? Then came the grief. I mourned the identity I’d built over 27 years, the security I’d worked so hard for, the version of myself I thought I’d always be.
But somewhere in those nine months, something shifted. I stopped fighting what was happening and started asking different questions: What if this isn’t an ending? What if this is God redirecting me toward something I was too comfortable to pursue on my own?
That season forced me to confront how much of my worth I’d tied to my title, my paycheck, and my performance. It stripped away the facade and left me with the raw truth: I had gifts that went beyond that trading floor. I had a calling that was bigger than that corner office. And I had a choice—I could either shrink in fear or step into faith.
Choosing faith over fear in that season changed everything. It taught me that transitions aren’t punishments—they’re invitations. That letting go of what was can make room for what’s meant to be. That sometimes God has to close a door you keep trying to pry open because He’s got something better waiting on the other side.
That experience didn’t just change my career trajectory—it changed how I see myself, how I define success, and how I help other women navigate their own transitions. I wouldn’t be doing this work without that season. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
How do you connect or maintain connection-with business colleagues, family or friends?
Family connection is sacred to me. My husband and I stay connected with our young adult children and their families by celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays together—and let’s be real, we also have a “catch-all” family group text that stays on fire with family updates, memes, and the occasional debate about whose turn it is to host Thanksgiving–which is always my husband and I.
When it comes to friendship, I’m intentional about quality over quantity. My intimate friend circle is deep but not wide. I love well with my friends, so I keep that number manageable and enjoyable. I have a small group of amazing girlfriends who are absolutely my people—the ones who know me, challenge me, celebrate me, and hold space for me when life gets heavy. Those relationships are protected and prioritized.
On the business side, I stay connected through community. I’m a member of The Us Space, a coworking and flex space organization in downtown Houston, which has become my professional home base. It’s not just a workspace—it’s a connection hub where I can collaborate with other business owners, host events, and meet new people doing incredible work in this city.
I’ve learned that connection doesn’t happen by accident, especially as an entrepreneur and empty nester. You have to create rhythms and show up in spaces—both physical and relational—that keep you rooted. Whether it’s a family text thread, a soul sister lunch date, or a coworking community, I prioritize being present and engaged. Because at the end of the day, we’re not meant to do life or business alone.
Has there been a time where adapting to a major change was life altering for you?
Yes. In 2014, when my mother passed away, my life changed in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. Grief has a way of doing that—it cracks you open and rearranges everything you thought you knew about yourself and your purpose.
It’s as if when she passed, she left me with an energy and a focus to move into my next season. I didn’t know what that season would look like yet, but I could feel something shifting inside me. Looking back now, I realize she was preparing me for what was coming—the layoff that would arrive a few years later and completely alter the trajectory of my life.
Losing her taught me that change, even painful change, can carry gifts if you’re willing to receive them. It taught me that transitions are rarely about one thing ending—they’re about something new beginning, even when you can’t see it yet. And it taught me that sometimes the people we love most leave us with exactly what we need to step into our calling, even after they’re gone.
My mother’s passing didn’t just change my life—it gave me the courage to rebuild it. And that’s a gift I carry into every conversation I have with women navigating their own transitions. Loss can be a doorway if you’re brave enough to walk through it.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
When I’m not working, you’ll find me doing one of three things: recharging in solitude, connecting with the people I love, or indulging in something that feeds my soul.
I’m an avid reader, so that fuchsia bean bag in my office gets a lot of use. I love getting lost in a good book—whether it’s personal development, faith-based inspiration, or a novel that lets me escape into someone else’s story for a while.
I’m also intentional about spending quality time with my husband now that we’re empty nesters. We’re rediscovering what it means to just be us again—whether that’s trying a new restaurant, taking a spontaneous day trip, or simply sitting together without an agenda.
And when I really need to reset? I’m by the water. Give me a luxurious spa day, a beautiful pool, or a beach somewhere, and I’m fully recharged. There’s something about water that helps me release stress and reconnect with peace.
I’ve learned that rest isn’t just the absence of work—it’s the presence of joy, connection, and stillness. So I protect my off-time fiercely, because that’s where I refuel so I can show up fully for the work and the women God has called me to serve.
Of all your roles, which are you most proud of and if different, which one has been the most fulfilling?
Being a mom of a blended family. Hands down. It’s the role I’m most proud of and the one that’s been most fulfilling—they’re not even separate for me.
Watching our children grow into the young adults they are today fills me with a pride I can’t fully put into words. They’re still figuring their way on some things, as we all are, but I’m confident that what my husband and I instilled in them has given them the tools they need to create meaningful, caring, and fulfilled lives.
I look back on those busy high school years—four active student athletes with games, practices, tournaments, school events—and I honestly don’t remember how we got them to all the places they needed to be. But we did. My husband and I tag-teamed, sacrificed, showed up, and supported every activity, every dream, every moment. And it was worth every bit of the work.
Now, as empty nesters, I get to see the fruit of that season. I get to watch them navigate their own lives, make their own choices, and become people I genuinely admire. That’s the ultimate fulfillment—not that they’re perfect, but that they’re whole. They know they’re loved. They know their worth. And they know how to show up for themselves and others.
That’s a legacy I’m proud of. Everything else I’ve accomplished pales in comparison.
Complete this sentence, “If it had not been for my faith,_________________.”
If it had not been for my faith, I would have stayed stuck in that anger and grief after my layoff instead of stepping into the purpose God had waiting for me. My faith didn’t remove the pain or the uncertainty—it gave me the courage to walk through it. It reminded me that God doesn’t waste seasons, even the hard ones. It anchored me when everything else felt unstable. Without my faith, I would have defined myself by what I lost instead of discovering who I was always meant to become.
What is family life like for you?
My blended family life is beautifully imperfect and intentionally nurtured. My husband and I both brought children into our marriage, so we’ve had to navigate the complexities of merging families, honoring different parenting styles, and creating space for everyone to feel seen and valued.
It hasn’t always been easy. Blended families come with their own set of challenges—different histories, different rhythms, different expectations. But we’ve been intentional about building connection, respecting boundaries, and showing up for all of our children equally, whether they’re biologically ours or not.
What I’ve learned is that love in a blended family isn’t automatic—it’s cultivated. It requires patience, grace, and a willingness to do the work even when it’s uncomfortable. We’ve had hard conversations. We’ve adjusted. We’ve learned to celebrate the unique dynamic we’ve created rather than trying to force a “traditional” family model that doesn’t fit us.
Now, as empty nesters with young adult children and their families, I’m grateful for the foundation we built. Our blended family has taught me that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about showing up, honoring each person’s story, and choosing to love well even when it’s messy.
That experience has also shaped how I work with women navigating their own transitions and complex family dynamics. I understand what it’s like to rebuild, to blend, and to create something meaningful out of what once felt broken.
What is one thing that you’re not good at that you wish you had a better grasp of?
Understanding the thoughts and actions of true creatives. They honestly think differently. They process in ways that aren’t often rushed, and as an executor who wants to get to the solution now, that can be challenging for me.
I’m wired to move quickly—identify the problem, create the plan, execute, done. But creatives? They meander. They explore. They sit with ideas and let them marinate. And while I deeply respect that process, I’ll admit it can drive my tasker brain a little crazy.
I think if I had a better grasp of how to slow down and honor that creative rhythm—both in others and in myself—I’d enjoy the journey more instead of always racing toward the destination. There’s beauty in the exploration, in the “what ifs” and the detours. I’m learning that not everything needs to be solved immediately, and sometimes the best solutions come from giving ideas room to breathe.
It’s a work in progress for me. But I’m committed to getting better at it, because I know some of the most meaningful work happens in that creative space I’m often too impatient to fully inhabit.
How do you support, empower or uplift other women?
I support, empower, and uplift other women by creating spaces where they can exhale, be honest, and rediscover their worth beyond their productivity. Too many high-performing women are drowning in doing—saying yes to everything, proving their value through output, and slowly losing themselves in the process. I’ve been there. So I make it my mission to interrupt that cycle.
Through my executive coaching, I walk alongside women who are navigating major life and career transitions. I help them get clear on who they are beyond their titles, their roles, and their to-do lists. I give them permission to rest, to pivot, to say no, and to redefine success on their own terms.
Through my Leadership Wellness Circle gatherings, I create intimate, intentional spaces where women can connect deeply, share authentically, and receive the care and reflection they rarely allow themselves. These aren’t networking events—they’re refuges where women can show up fully and leave recharged.
Through my speaking and content, I tell the truth. I call out toxic productivity culture. I talk openly about faith, burnout, boundaries, and the shift from doing to being. I refuse to sugarcoat the hard parts, because women deserve honesty, not platitudes.
But beyond all of that, I support women by seeing them. I see the exhaustion behind the accomplishments. I see the doubt beneath the confidence. I see the woman who’s wondering if she’s enough—and I remind her that she already is. That’s the work. That’s the calling. And that’s how I show up for the women God has placed in my path.
What is a female-authored only book outside of your own, that you would recommend to another woman?
Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale, PhD.
This book brilliantly tackles the double bind high-performing women face: needing to be both competent and warm to be taken seriously. Fragale gives us a research-backed roadmap for navigating that tension without shrinking or apologizing.
It’s a must-read for any woman who’s ever been called “intimidating” or “too much” for doing exactly what her male colleagues do without consequence. If you’re tired of playing small to make others comfortable, this book will give you the tools—and the permission—to own your power unapologetically.
When you look back at your experiences in totality, can you share an experience that has defined the way you move and handle life today?
The nine months between my layoff notice and my last day at work fundamentally changed how I move through life. During that time, I cycled through anger, grief, fear, and eventually, surrender. I had to confront the hard truth that I’d tied my entire identity to my title, my paycheck, and my performance. When that was stripped away, I had to ask myself: Who am I when I’m not doing? Who am I when I’m not performing? Who am I when no one’s watching?
That season taught me that control is an illusion. No matter how hard you work, how loyal you are, or how much you achieve, life will still disrupt your plans. The only thing you can control is how you respond.
So now, I move differently. I hold things more loosely. I define success by alignment, not achievement. I prioritize being over doing. I protect my peace fiercely. And when life throws me a curveball—because it will—I don’t spiral into panic or cling to what’s ending. I pause, I pray, and I trust that redirection is often protection.
That experience didn’t just change my career—it changed my entire approach to living. And it’s the lens through which I help other women navigate their own transitions. Because once you realize that your worth isn’t tied to your productivity, everything shifts.
What is up next for you? Do you have any projects, events or products to promote?
I’m so excited about what’s ahead! This year, I’m shifting my Leadership Wellness Circle from a membership model to four quarterly in-person gatherings with the theme “Shifting From Doing to Being.” Each event is curated to create space for high-performing women to slow down, connect deeply, and rediscover who they are beyond their productivity.
The first gathering, “The Awakening,” is happening on February 27th at The Us Space in Houston. I’m bringing in guest facilitator Juanita Rasmus, and we’re creating a space where women can exhale, get honest about where they are, and begin to envision what shifting from doing to being could look like in their own lives. Register for any event at leadershipwellnesscircle.com
Our next live experience will be in May 2026, a soul supper, which will be an elevated dinner experience.
How can our readers connect with you for more information? miarashaw.com
https://www.instagram.com/mavenmiara/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/miarashaw/
https://www.youtube.com/@MavenMiara
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-wellness-circle-lead-well-live-well/id1662022931
