062: The Gifts My Mother Gave Me

In this heartfelt Mother's Day episode, Elena Armijo is joined by a very special guest - her mother, Sky Armijo. For the first time on the podcast, Elena invites a family member to share a deeply personal and moving conversation about motherhood, leadership, resilience, legacy, and the strength passed down through generations.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena opens by reflecting on the five most meaningful gifts she received from her mother: resilience, the belief that everyone belongs, the courage to fly, the value of working through hard things, and the enduring power of love.

Sky shares her remarkable journey from aspiring veterinarian to decades of service in nursing, including labor and delivery, school nursing, and disaster relief. Her story reveals the deep well of compassion and strength required to show up for others, even in the most challenging circumstances. Together, they explore how maternal wisdom shows up in quiet moments - through service, healing, and the unseen labor of care.

They reflect on the evolving relationship between mothers and daughters, the magic and messiness of raising bold-hearted children, and the importance of allowing them to chart their own path. Sky shares her dream of building community programs that support intergenerational healing and speaks to the vital role grandparents can play in fostering resilience in younger generations.

This episode is a tender celebration of the women who shape us - reminding us that leadership often begins not with a title, but with the simple act of being there. Whether you’re honoring your own lineage, raising the next generation, or finding your way back to family, this conversation offers warmth, wisdom, and hope.

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This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney , Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin , Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram )

Jo van Eeden , Project Manager

Elena Armijo

Executive & Leadership Coach, PCC
Sky Armijo Profile Photo

Sky Armijo

Woman/Wife/Mother/Grandmother

I grew up in a military family, living in a wide variety of places until settling in Las Cruces, NM.

Married young at 21, I raised three children, three grandchildren, four bonus grandchildren, and numerous assorted pets!

My first degree was in Animal Science, with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. But life changes prompted another degree, and I have enjoyed a 40-yr career as a registered nurse in our hometown. Primarily specializing in labor & delivery and school nursing, I have also worked in med/surg, dialysis, gyno/urological, ob/gyn, psychiatric, and community/disaster fields.