Finding Balance While Building Something Big with Keziah Wonstolen
What happens when the business you built to create more freedom slowly becomes the thing consuming your life?
In this episode of the Small Business Growth Made Simple podcast, I sat down with Keziah Wonstolen, founder and CEO of Vannon Chief of Staff, to talk about the realities of entrepreneurship that rarely make it into the highlight reel.
Keziah left corporate leadership at Accenture because she wanted more control over her time, more flexibility for her family, and more margin in her life. What she didn’t expect was to build a company that would eventually grow to 25 employees, complete more than 300 client placements, and ultimately be acquired by the Chief of Staff Association.
And yet, one of the most refreshing parts of this conversation was her honesty about the fact that “balance” isn’t something she has fully figured out.
Six years into entrepreneurship, she’s still actively recalibrating.
Instead of chasing the fantasy of perfect work-life balance, Keziah shared the practical guardrails she’s created to protect her life and energy, like intentionally blocking off certain months from travel and continually reassessing whether the business she’s building still aligns with the life she actually wants.
We also talked about:
The ways success can pull you away from your original vision
Why loving your work can become both a gift and a challenge
The role ego can quietly play in scaling
What it really looked like to niche down and commit to one offer early on
Why entrepreneurship often feels messy before it feels clear
This conversation felt especially important because so many women start businesses to create more life… only to wake up one day realizing the business has started consuming the very freedom they were trying to build.
Keziah’s story is a powerful reminder to keep coming back to the question:
Is this business still working for my life?
Listen to the Episode
About Keziah Wonstolen
Keziah Wonstolen is the founder and CEO of Vannon Chief of Staff, a leading chief of staff talent and advisory firm that has completed more than 300 placements and built a network of nearly 30,000 professionals. The company was acquired by the Chief of Staff Association in 2025, where Keziah continues to serve as CEO. She is passionate about leadership, organizational growth, and building businesses that create meaningful impact.
Connect with Keziah:
