We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Avalon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kelly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I started Avalon Professional Services with the goal of supporting women who were like me—ambitious, passionate, and trying to build something meaningful while also raising kids and running a household. These were women with drive and vision, but not always a lot of time or support. I loved the work I was doing through APS, but over time, I realized something was missing—not in the business itself, but in the sense of community. I kept thinking, Where are the honest conversations? Where’s the space for women like me to feel seen and understood?

That’s when You Handled That Perfectly was born. My childhood best friend—who’s also a talented graphic designer and fellow mompreneur—and I came together to create what we were looking for and hadn’t yet found: a real, relatable space for women in the thick of it. A community of moms—particularly those balancing careers or business ownership—who are navigating motherhood, identity, burnout, joy, and everything in between. Our mission is to remind women that it’s not easy, and it’s not supposed to be, but if you’re showing up and doing your best, you are handling it perfectly.

It’s meaningful to us because this is the world we live in. We’re not speaking from the outside—we’re in it, too. And we believe that by creating honest connection, we help women feel less alone and more empowered, one episode, conversation, or shared moment at a time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Kelly Avalon, a San Diego native, wife, mom of two, and multi-passionate entrepreneur. I co-host the podcast You Handled That Perfectly and run Avalon Professional Services, both of which are rooted in my personal journey through motherhood, business, and the messy in-between.

My background is in Economics and Accounting from the University of San Diego, and my early career took me through the music industry, corporate event planning, and Healthcare IT. Each experience sharpened my organizational and strategic skills—but it wasn’t until I became a mom that I realized I wanted something more aligned with the life I was building.

After freelancing on and off, I decided to create Avalon Professional Services with a specific mission: to support other moms in business—mompreneurs—who are trying to balance it all without burning out. APS blends strategy, systems, and heart. I partner with clients to streamline operations, manage high-level projects, and implement growth strategies so they can stay in their zone of genius and focus on what truly matters: their business, their families, and themselves.

But as much as I loved the work, I still found myself craving deeper connection—a space where I could be honest about the realities of it all: the invisible load, the exhaustion, and the little moments of triumph we rarely give ourselves credit for. That’s where You Handled That Perfectly began.

My childhood best friend and I launched the podcast after countless conversations where we reminded each other that we were doing enough—even when it didn’t feel like it. What started as a passion project quickly became something more: a place where women could feel seen, supported, and reminded that perfection isn’t the goal—showing up is.

I’m incredibly proud of the community we’re building and how deeply people resonate with the message behind You Handled That Perfectly. One of the most fulfilling moments has been seeing our merch spark connection—like when a tween boy complimented my daughter’s hat or when a young woman lit up at the words on my tote bag. It’s a powerful reminder that giving ourselves (and each other) grace is something we all need, at every age.

What sets both of my businesses apart is that they’re built on real-life experience and real connection. Whether I’m helping a client get organized and grow sustainably through APS or creating a safe space for honest conversation through YHTP, I’m always focused on supporting women in ways that feel genuine, personal, and empowering.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is that being agreeable and putting everyone else first is the right—or only—way to be. For most of my life, I operated under the belief that keeping the peace, avoiding conflict, and constantly accommodating others was just part of being a “good” person, especially as a woman, a mom, and a service-based professional.

But in my 30s, something shifted. I started to recognize how often I over-apologized, how frequently I silenced my own needs, and how burned out I was from constantly pouring from an empty cup. I was doing everything for everyone, but I was exhausted and disconnected from myself.

That decade became a turning point. I slowly began standing up for myself—setting boundaries, saying no without guilt, and learning that advocating for my own needs wasn’t selfish, it was essential. By the time I turned 40, I had stepped into a version of myself that felt more grounded and more me than ever before. I started living life as the most authentic version of myself, and ironically, that’s what allowed me to show up for others in a deeper and more sustainable way—whether that’s my kids, my husband, my friends, or my clients.

Unlearning the need to always be agreeable has been liberating. It taught me that self-prioritization isn’t neglecting others—it’s the foundation for meaningful, healthy relationships, and for building a life and business that actually feels good from the inside out.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life came when I became a mom. I was well-established in a stable industry, but everything changed after having my daughter. It quickly became clear that what she needed—and what I needed—was for me to be fully present. So I stepped away from the workforce and became a stay-at-home mom.

It was a huge shift, both practically and personally. I went from managing projects and teams to managing nap schedules and snack requests. And while it was a privilege to be home with her during those early years, it also came with a loss of identity that I didn’t fully anticipate.

The next major pivot came a few years later. Instead of returning to a traditional job once my youngest was nearing kindergarten, I chose to start my own business. I knew I wanted flexibility and autonomy, but more than that, I wanted to build something that aligned with the season of life I was in—and to support other women who were trying to do the same.

That’s how Avalon Professional Services was born. And eventually, it led to co-creating You Handled That Perfectly, a podcast and community that speaks directly to the women navigating these same kinds of transitions. Each pivot came with fear and uncertainty, but also with clarity and purpose. Looking back, every step away from the conventional path brought me closer to the life and work I was truly meant for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.avalonproservices.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youhandledthatperfectly
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyavalon/
• Other: https://www.youhandledthatperfectly.com/

Image Credits

Marcy Browe Photography
Amy Reams