Award-winning singer and actress Kelly Rowland has offered candid advice to women navigating the pressure of building successful careers while still hoping for marriage and family life.
She is urging career-driven women not to internalize limiting expectations from others.
Speaking on the “Mama, I Made It!” talk show hosted by Samantha Chatman, Rowland addressed a question many professional women face: whether personal fulfillment must be sacrificed for career success.
“Number one, be careful who you receive advice from,” Rowland said, noting that even well-meaning loved ones or respected elders may project their own unrealized experiences onto others. “They might have felt like they couldn’t do that, but that ain’t got nothing to do with you.”
Her message resonated widely online, particularly among women who feel boxed into an either-or narrative when it comes to ambition and relationships.
Rowland stressed the importance of choosing a partner who is not threatened by success but actively supports it.
“Get you a partner who wants to celebrate that part,” she said, describing the value of mutual planning and shared commitment. “Someone who can look you in the eye and say, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s figure it out together.’”
Drawing from her own marriage, Rowland credited intentional decision-making and personal growth for shaping a healthy relationship. She reflected on how unaddressed trauma can often lead people to choose emotionally unavailable or unhealthy partners.
“I chose up because I thought more of myself,” she said. “So I chose a really good man. And I’m really proud of myself for that.”
Rowland’s remarks add to an ongoing global conversation about redefining success for women—one that rejects outdated assumptions that professional achievement and family life are mutually exclusive.
The full episode of “Mama, I Made It!” is available on YouTube, where Chatman continues to spotlight stories and conversations centered on women, motherhood, ambition, and self-worth.
