Meet Jackie MacDougall of Santa Clarita

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie MacDougall.

Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I spent more than two decades working behind the scenes in television at pretty much every major network, including NBC, Disney, Warner Bros., and FOX, promoting daytime shows through on-air campaigns and digital content. That work led me to launch a parenting site for Warner Bros., where I really saw the power of digital storytelling. From there, I became an award-winning blogger and an early adopter of podcasting, co-hosting my first show back in 2011, when I spent half my time explaining what a podcast even was.

As I moved into my mid-forties, I noticed that the women around me (including myself) were dealing with some major life shifts. We were juggling family, navigating health changes, rethinking careers (see: aging out), and trying to keep our homes and lives running. And we were all expected to handle it perfectly, without much support or real guidance.

So I created what I couldn’t find.

Today I run The Grown Ass Woman’s Guide, where I share practical tools, digital guides, and honest conversations on the audio and video podcast that help women feel more capable, confident, and prepared in their everyday lives. At the core, it’s about giving women the space to turn down the outside noise, tune into themselves, and actually trust their grown-ass instincts.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. My career has taken me through layoffs, massive industry shifts, raising a family, and the constant pressure of staying relevant in an ever-changing digital space.

Recently, I took a full hiatus from all of it so I could get clear with myself about who I am at this point of my life and career, what I actually wanted to build, and who I wanted to serve. Stepping back was the best thing I could have done. I’m back recharged, recommitted, and more aligned with my mission than ever.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work at The Grown Ass Woman’s Guide centers around helping women get the practical support they need to run their lives with more ease. I create digital guides, checklists, organizational tools, and host conversations that break things down in a way that feels doable instead of overwhelming. And I try to do it with honesty, compassion, and a sense of humor.

One of the things I’m known for is being pretty resourceful. If there’s a smarter, simpler way to do something, I will find it. And if I don’t know the answer, I’ll connect you with someone who does. I love being the person who points women to the right tools, the right experts, and the right next step.

I also tend to call things like I see them. I’m not interested in sugarcoating or adding to the give-everything-to-everyone-all-the-time martyr BS we’ve been raised with. I’m here to make things clearer, lighter, and as accessible as possible.

What I’m most proud of is the real impact this work has on women’s lives. When someone tells me that a checklist helped them feel prepared, or a guide made something finally click, or a conversation helped them feel less alone, that is absolutely everything to me.

What sets me apart is that I genuinely believe in the collective and individual personal power of women, even in the moments when they doubt themselves – especially in the moments when they doubt themselves. My goal is never to tell anyone how to live. My purpose is to offer support, tools, and clarity so they can trust themselves and move through life feeling capable and grounded in their own grown-ass magic.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising is that most of what I create for The Grown Ass Woman’s Guide started as tools to help me. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my thirties. (I misplace my purse regularly, forget what I’m talking about mid-sentence, and need systems to stay on track.) True story: It took me eighteen years to create a will & trust to protect my kids in an emergency, and then it took another six months after that to actually tell the mortgage company about it. Doh.

That’s why I’ve had to build shortcuts, structures, and little grown-ass hacks to keep myself organized. And when I figure something out that actually works, I love sharing it. That’s really the heart of my work, turning the things I’ve learned the hard way into practical support for other women navigating their own chaos.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://grownasswoman.guide
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/grownasswoman.guide
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grownasswoman.guide
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiemorgan/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grownass/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@grownasswoman.guide

Image Credits
Professional photos: Renee Bowen Photography