Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Blazuk.
Hi Juliana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m 44, a single mother by choice, and I’ve spent my career in advertising sales. My fertility journey is a newer chapter, one I kept quiet for a long time. That changed when I started sharing pieces of it on TikTok in 2023. I was honestly shocked by how quickly my story resonated with other single moms, women trying to conceive later in life and with women experiencing infertility. That response taught me that there was a huge gap in the conversation that lived outside the clinical world. Real strength (even for me!) was coming from person-to-person sharing, from community and from women simply supporting each other.
My path to having my son, Tripp, took four years and included six egg retrievals, three IUIs, two failed transfers, two polyp removal surgeries and was made even more complicated by the fact that I moved three times during that stretch, which meant working with three different doctors in three different cities. In the end, I made a seemingly unconventional decision to have my son using both a sperm and an egg donor. That whole experience is what led me to start building Clock Talk, a platform that sparks the fertility conversations women are not having at the OB-GYN & TendAI, a co-pilot that helps women understand their fertility biomarkers before ever needing to step foot in a fertility clinic. Both are a big work in progress.
My belief is that things may not go as planned, but you still have choice. And, my goal is to help women build a deep belief in themselves, so they can see the value in having a choice, even when those choices can seem almost impossible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
SO bumpy. My road started with a breakup at 40. My partner and I weren’t on the same page about having a family. He had two teenage kids and didn’t want to go backwards (his words). The idea of not just being single, but pursuing motherhood solo, was daunting. Truthfully, I debated staying in a meh relationship because who wants to start over at 40!? The hill of unknowns that I was about to climb was so steep. But, I have never skirted a challenge, and I kept silently encouraging myself to ‘choose me’.
There was also a real struggle in accepting a more non-traditional path to motherhood. I had to give myself permission to let go of the picture I had in my head about becoming a mom and really embrace that there are many ways to become a mom (and they are all perfect).
Throughout the journey itself, I had to learn real patience which, as a Capricorn, does not come naturally (ha!). My path took four years, and within those four years there were the highest highs and the lowest lows. There was a huge financial tax (even with some benefits which I was and still am grateful for), an emotional tax and a physical tax …and doing all of it while still trying to be a high functioning friend, leader and human in general, added a whole other layer of weight.
The road was not smooth, but it was my road. I wasn’t supposed to be anyone else’s mom except Tripp’s, and I am so grateful the bumps led me to him.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
During the week, I lead a global advertising function at a fintech company. That’s a fancy way of saying my team and I use Ads to drive demand and value for our merchant partners.
On the weekends, I work on turning my side hustle ideas, Clock Talk and TendAI, into real solutions. And, of course, continuing to share an honest glimpse into what single motherhood looks like via TikTok and Substack.
What I have been noticing is that people, both in my real day-to-day and on TikTok, come to me to share their fertility stories and ask for advice based on my experience. I’ve been trying to tune into that lately. I enjoy both being a resource and bringing more attention to the topic.
So, I think what sets me apart is how energized I am by work. It might sound nerdy, but I feel a real charge from working with people way smarter than me, solving problems, learning new things and helping people. I’m so grateful my corporate experience and fertility work check all of these boxes.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Yes! A few pieces of advice:
Networking is about building a relationship; it’s not a transactional experience. I always advise showing up with curiosity and a willingness to serve, not just to walk out of a conversation with a job or a lead.
And, related – everyone brings something valuable to a networking conversation. Even if you’re early in your career, you’re an expert in a lived experience, unique skill and/or knowledge on a topic. While it can be daunting, if you approach networking from a place of building a relationship and “serving,” it can really work hard for you.
Contact Info:
- Substack: https://substack.com/@clocktalk
- TikTok: _iamjulianab
