EP. 12 | Mel Strong on Why Motherhood Has Never Been One-Size-Fits-All

About this episode

Mel Strong shares her journey from corporate executive to fund manager, discussing the challenges and insights gained along the way.

What does it take to walk away from 17 years of corporate security — stock options, healthcare, a VP title at Nike — and bet on yourself? In this episode, Alexis sits down with Mel Strong, co-founder of Next Ventures, a health and wellness-focused venture fund. Mel's path has been anything but linear: first-grade teacher, journalist, marketing executive, interim CMO of Oura Ring, and now fund manager — and she's candid about every messy step it took to get there. In this conversation: Why women at the same income level as men weren't investing the same way — and what Mel did about it The athlete mindset and using fear as a compass instead of a stop sign Growing up as a caregiver to a sister with disabilities — and becoming a "mom" in 4th grade What it was really like when her husband became unemployed and she became the Breadwinner Her early investment in Oura Ring and what she saw before anyone else did Why women are the chief medical officers of their families — and what that means for the future of health tech The loneliness epidemic, human connection, and why community is the truest form of technology Mel's story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and building…

People in this episode

Guest: Mel Strong

Topics covered

• motherhood
• investment
• health and wellness
• career transition
• community

Keywords

• reinvention
• resilience
• wealth building
• women in investment
• health tech

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Oura Ring

More episodes of The Breadwinners Podcast

• Saved Seats - Replaying Libby Leffler on Protecting Your Future Self: Your Marriage and Money · June 9, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Jeni Britton | Founder of Jeni's and Floura, on the Cost of Being a Woman with Ambition | The Breadwinners Podcast · June 2, 2026 · 1h 19m
• You Can't Productivity Your Way Out of Burnout | Dr. Pooja Lakshmin on Why Real Self-Care Is Infrastructure · May 26, 2026 · 1h 21m
• School Is Closed 46% of the Year. Molly Morse Finally Built the Solution. · May 19, 2026 · 55 min
• 'I Am Enough': Iskra Lawrence on Breaking the Industry, Building Saltair, and Choosing Presence Over Performance · May 12, 2026 · 1h 18m
• The Aesthetics Episode: Anatomy, Honesty, and What You Actually Need · April 27, 2026 · 1h 27m