Female Disruptors: Tay Daniels of Breadwinner Energy Co On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Dina Aletras

“Don’t wait to change the game.” — This bold advice pushed me to stop waiting for external validation or for the ‘right’ moment to make a move or the “perfect” time to start.. When I started my business and ventured into coaching, I didn’t wait for a perfect plan or a green light from anyone. In fact, I had zero proof that starting a business was the right decision. Instead, I took action, broke the rules, and created my own path despite the circumstances of my life. If something is on your mind & heart — that is the sign to do it.

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tay Daniels.

Tay Daniels is a multi-six-figure certified life & business coach and founder of Breadwinner Energy™, dedicated to helping women create financial freedom and redesign their lives regardless of their circumstances. After leaving her 9–5 in 2016 with less than $100 to her name, wrecked credit, & being 7 months pregnant, Tay overcame adversity, including leaving an abusive marriage, and built a fully-booked Virtual Assistant agency before transitioning into business coaching in 2020. Today, she has coached hundreds of women & mothers to build thriving coaching businesses, empowering them to break free from societal norms & expectations, step into their power, and create a life they not only love but deserve.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

In 2016, when I left my 9–5 at 7 months pregnant I desperately wanted to just be at home with my daughter, I couldn’t afford daycare but I also could not imagine working all day just to afford daycare either. I wanted freedom to be a present mom while also having an income for myself. After being a full time Virtual Assistant & OBM and then Agency Owner for 3.5 years, I was asked to be a speaker for hundreds of women to help them grow their business. Leaving that speaking event women reached out asking for coaching, guidance, & mentorship and from there I fell in love with coaching women to change their lives, from sharing my story to showing women what was possible I knew this was my purpose.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

The work I’m doing is disruptive because it challenges the traditional narrative around women & mothers, wealth, and power. I’m empowering women to live out their passions & purpose outside of the title “mother” or “wife” to step into the role of breadwinner, breaking free from outdated expectations that often limit their potential. By helping women leverage their voice, story, and truth, I show them that they don’t need to rely on anyone else to create wealth — they can use their own experiences to build thriving businesses. This shift from dependency to financial leadership not only transforms their lives but also sets the foundation for generational wealth, creating lasting change for their families. It’s about rewriting the rules and showing women & mothers that they are their greatest asset just as they are, and they can use it to make money, build freedom, and lead their families to financial independence.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I first started my business, I thought I had to be polished and put together all the time — perfect hair, perfect outfits, and a flawless business persona. I remember one call where I was trying so hard to look professional that I spent 30 minutes preparing my background, making sure my kids wouldn’t interrupt, and wearing a “boss babe” blazer — full makeup & glam.. Minutes into the call, my daughter ran in, hair wild, screaming for a snack. I was mortified at the time, thinking I’d blown it, nobody will take me seriously now.

But the clients just laughed, shared a story about their own kids, and that’s when I realized: trying to be someone I’m not wasn’t helping me. The more I let my real life — including motherhood — shine through, the more people related to me. Once I ditched the idea of looking perfect and started showing up as the real me, my business exploded. I embraced my quirks, my mom life, and my unique energy, and it connected me with the right clients. The lesson? People don’t want perfection — they want authenticity. The more I embraced who I am, the more money I made and the more freedom I created.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors, but the first and most important one has always been my mom. She’s the true definition of Breadwinner Energy™ — a powerful, independent woman who raised me as a single mom, working three jobs to make ends meet. Watching her juggle it all and she always instilled in me the value of hard work, resilience, and the belief that women can do anything. Her strength shaped me into the person I am today, showing me that I could in fact be rich, wealthy, & successful while being an amazing mother to my two girls.

Professionally, my favorite mentor has been Kelsey, who was by far the BEST coach I’ve ever had. She was hands-on, genuinely caring, and always showed up for me in ways I didn’t expect. Kelsey taught me that coaching is more than strategy — it’s about showing up for people with heart and intention. She helped me see my own potential, pushed me to think bigger, and taught me how to lead with empathy while still being a powerhouse in business. I still praise her as the coach who changed my life, and I try to embody her mix of care and expertise in the way I mentor women today.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

Disruption can be for good, but it’s not always positive. It depends on the intention behind it. In my work, disrupting the norms of life, business, and motherhood is about standing up for women and empowering them to create lives on their own terms. I believe in disrupting the outdated beliefs that women should play small, stay silent, or rely on others for financial security. For me, it’s about helping women step into their power, use their voice, and create a life of freedom and choice. When disruption comes from a place of intention, purpose, and a desire to create real change, it’s transformative.

On the other hand, disruption driven by power, money, or greed often causes harm. It’s the kind of disruption that overlooks people and values for the sake of profit. In business, I’ve seen people disrupt systems only to create chaos, to get rich quick without truly caring for clients, without considering the long-term impact or the people affected. I believe disruption should uplift, not tear down. When we disrupt from a place of care, integrity, and a desire to support others — especially women — it leads to meaningful, lasting change.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

1. “You don’t need permission to be powerful.” — Early in my journey, I constantly felt like I needed validation or approval to step into my power. One of my mentors told me that I didn’t need anyone’s permission to show up as a leader or to share my true story.. It changed everything for me. When I finally embraced this advice, I stopped playing small. I started sharing my story unapologetically, and that’s when I saw my business and impact take off. The more I showed up in my full power, the more women I attracted who needed to hear my message.
2. “Those who like you will love you, and those who don’t, don’t matter.” — This advice set me free from worrying about being liked by everyone. When I first started showing up authentically — bold, blunt, and unapologetically myself — there was a part of me that worried what people, family, friends would think or say. But I realized that the right people will always resonate with your true self, & sharing my story & truth ultimately led me to truly help women, which was my goal. and those who don’t simply aren’t your audience.
3. “Don’t wait to change the game.” — This bold advice pushed me to stop waiting for external validation or for the ‘right’ moment to make a move or the “perfect” time to start.. When I started my business and ventured into coaching, I didn’t wait for a perfect plan or a green light from anyone. In fact, I had zero proof that starting a business was the right decision. Instead, I took action, broke the rules, and created my own path despite the circumstances of my life. If something is on your mind & heart — that is the sign to do it.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

Next, I’m ready to turn things up a notch and I’m toying with the idea of writing a book that pulls back the curtain on life, motherhood, marriage, & business as a breadwinning woman. This book will be about my life story & journey from growing up in a trailer dreaming of being a millionaire, to abusive relationships, & being a single mother before 25 to building a multi 6 figure business from the ground up. It’s going to be raw, real, and full of the unapologetic truths that women need to hear.

But that’s just the beginning. I’m also cooking up some in person workshops and live events that’ll leave the traditional coaching world in the dust. My goal is to get as many women & mothers to break the social norms & rules with me. Stay tuned!

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

Women disruptors face a unique set of challenges that their male counterparts don’t always deal with. For starters, there’s the relentless battle against outdated gender roles — which I could talk about all day. While men are often praised for making a lot of money, working late or hard, women are often told they aren’t good mothers or wives.. It’s like we have to prove ourselves twice as much, and let’s be real — that’s a load of crap.

It’s not just about making money; it’s about making it while challenging the status quo and juggling motherhood. Yes, we’re out here smashing ceilings while managing nap times and school pick-ups, and now more than ever women are taking on more from the mental load, work & finances, to the work at home and no matter what you do or how much you do it’s never “enough”. Someone will criticize it.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

Absolutely! You are a Badass at Making Money is & forever will be my favorite book of all time. The Author, Jen Sincero, is not only my spirit animal but also someone I look up to. I have read this book many many times in all seasons of life and it keeps changing my perspectives. It’s a MUST read!

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

My movement would hands down be The Breadwinner Energy™ Movement, helping women create a life she loves — a life she deserves. A life where she gets the say, to make all the decisions, and have choices and ultimate freedom but she is a breadwinner from the way she thinks, the way she shows up to her life, to the money she makes. Every woman deserves this life & it’s possible for her.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite life lesson quote is, “You don’t need to be a perfect human to change other humans’ lives. In fact, the more life experience you have, the more you have to offer.” This truth has gotten me through the worst days. I used to think I needed to be a perfect human before I could make a difference. But I’ve learned that it’s my truth, imperfections, and struggles that have made me relatable and powerful. Embracing my messy, imperfect journey has allowed me to connect deeply with other women. So, forget about being perfect — your real power lies in your beautifully flawed story.

How can our readers follow you online?

The readers can tune into my Podcast, the Breadwinner Energy™ Podcast, find my on Instagram @itstaydaniels_llc & checkout my website https://breadwinnerenergy.co/

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

About the Interviewer: Dina Aletras boasts over 20 years of expertise in the corporate media industry. She possesses an in-depth understanding of growth, strategy, and leadership, having held significant roles at some of the UK’s largest media organizations. At Reach PLC, the UK’s largest tabloid publisher, she served in various director capacities. Additionally, she held leadership roles at The Independent Magazine Group and DMGT. Her extensive knowledge spans editorial, digital, revenue, sales, and advertising.

Upon relocating to Switzerland, Dina took on the responsibility of managing and promoting the international section of Corriere del Ticino — CdT.ch pioneering the English page “onthespot.” She also was the Co-Editor of Southern Switzerland’s first official Italian and English bilingual magazine.