Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Hecht.
Hi Andrea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is not about one defining moment, but about paying attention and responding honestly as life unfolded. I began my career in corporate event planning in New York City, a fast-paced and creative role. After witnessing the events of September 11th firsthand, my perspective shifted. I wanted to work more closely with people and see the impact of my work day to day, which led me to become an elementary school educator.
When I became a mother, I decided to take a childcare leave from teaching and be home with my children. That experience continues to shape how I listen, support, and show up for others.
As my children grew more independent, I began exploring part-time roles and creative projects, paying closer attention to what energized me and what no longer fit. Through that process, it became clear I was not looking for another job but for a way to bring my experiences, values, and instincts together more intentionally.
At 45, I returned to school and earned my certification as a Professional Life Coach and Well-being Specialist. That decision allowed me to bring together everything I had lived through professionally and personally. Founding Fully Informed Life and creating The Next ChaptHER was not about starting over, but about making sense of the journey I was already on.
Most recently, navigating breast cancer added a new layer of depth to my work. It did not define me, but it sharpened everything I believe about listening to your body, sitting with uncertainty, and redefining strength when you are forced to slow down. That lived experience now informs how I support others who are navigating their own messy middle, whether their transition is visible or quiet.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, and it certainly hasn’t been predictable.
The biggest challenges were internal. Letting go of identities that no longer fit, trusting myself through periods of uncertainty, and allowing my path to change took time. There were moments when I didn’t know what was next, only that I couldn’t keep moving forward on autopilot.
Health challenges added another layer of perspective. They required me to slow down, listen more closely, and reconsider how I define strength and success. Those experiences didn’t derail my work. They deepened it and continue to shape how I support others who are navigating change.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fully Informed Life/The Next ChaptHER?
Business / Practice / Firm
Business Name: Fully Informed Life
Podcast: The Next ChaptHER
Fully Informed Life exists for women navigating what I call the messy middle. That space where life looks full on the outside, but something inside is asking for attention. It might be a career shift, a health experience, a change in identity after years of caregiving, or a quiet sense that the life you built no longer fits the person you are becoming.
My work is rooted in lived experience. Every pivot I have made, from corporate to education, motherhood, reinvention in midlife, and navigating breast cancer, informs how I support others. I help women slow down enough to listen to themselves again, make sense of what they are feeling, and move forward without pressure to reinvent everything at once.
Through private coaching, group experiences, live conversations, and The Next ChaptHER podcast, I create spaces for honest reflection and grounded action. I am known for asking thoughtful questions, cutting through the noise, and helping women trust themselves rather than seeking external permission.
What I am most proud of is not a program or offering, but the community that has grown around this work. Women who feel seen, not fixed. Supported, not rushed. And reminded that the messy middle is not something to escape, but something to move through with intention.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Growing up in Michigan, Saturdays at the University of Michigan football games were a defining family tradition.
Game day was filled with rituals, tailgates, and time together. When I was little, I wore a mini cheerleading outfit and spent the games watching the cheerleaders on the field. As I got older, my focus shifted to the student section, imagining myself there one day. Eventually, that dream came true.
That tradition has stayed with me. Even now, it’s something I share with my own children, whether we’re watching from home or returning to Michigan together to watch the Wolverines play in the Big House.
Looking back, it feels symbolic. I was always observing, imagining, and picturing who I might become next. That sense of curiosity and possibility still shapes how I live and work today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching
- Facebook: Podcast: The Next ChaptHER available on all podcast channels
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreahecht331/
- Other: Substack: https://thenextchapther.substack.com/
