We’re told to “have it all.”
But what if you didn’t have to?
What if thriving didn’t mean doing everything—but doing what truly matters, one brave decision at a time?
In this week’s episode of WanderWomen: The Podcast, I speak with Bancy Gakuru, a senior HR leader whose career has taken her across Africa, Asia, and Europe—and back again.
She shares the real story behind some of her biggest moves:
✅ Moving countries solo with her four-year-old
✅ Taking the “same role” abroad, instead of pushing for a promotion
✅ Leaving her daughter in her partner’s care to focus on career growth (a rare move, especially in her culture)
None of it was “conventional.”
All of it was deeply intentional.
And the advice that anchored it all?
“You don’t have to do it all at once. Bite slowly, make it manageable.”
🎧 In this episode, we unpack:
Letting go of pressure to upgrade your role and your life at the same time
Hosting as hospitality, and hospitality as cultural power
What belonging feels like when it shows up unexpectedly
Parenting, partnership & leadership on your own terms
And asking for help—then letting people show up for you
“There’s a lot of support out there. But we have to ask.”
Watch Full Episode
You Don’t Have to Do It All: On Balance, Belonging & Big Moves
With Bancy Gakuru
✍🏽 Your WanderWomen Reflection:
Where am I still trying to prove I can “do it all”?
What would it look like to scale back—not because I’m failing, but because I’m focused?
What support do I need that I haven’t asked for yet?
This episode is a permission slip to do things differently.
📚 Pre-order the book that started it all:
WanderWomen: How High-Skilled Immigrant Women Thrive is out June 2025
👉 shivangiwalke.com/wanderwomen
With love and truth,
Shivangi
Share this post