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 technologyMel's story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and building wealth on your own terms.🎙️ The Breadwinners Podcast — where ambitious mothers don't just earn a living, they're pioneering a new era.📩 Join the Breadwinner community: wearethebreadwinners.substack.com 🌐 Next Ventures: nextventures.com | Substack: https://nextventures.substack.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices