When Kaitlyn Rios first stepped into the professional world as a freshly minted Doctor of Physical Therapy, she had no idea that a few years later, she’d be building a nonprofit to help women survive—and thrive—after experiencing toxicity in the workplace. On the latest episode of Hello Moxie, Kaitlyn joined host Nicole to share the vulnerable, powerful story behind her organization, Faced With Grace, and how she’s turning personal pain into collective healing.

“I realized that it can’t just be happening to me,” Kaitlyn shared. “The struggles I went through, I went through relatively alone, and I hit some pretty low points. I didn’t want other women to go through that.”

Recognizing the Signs: When Work Becomes Harmful

Early in her career, Kaitlyn found herself stuck in an environment that slowly eroded her well-being. As she described, the warning signs were subtle at first—anxiety on her commute, unexplained weight loss, holding her breath through the day.

“I remember one day, I literally felt the urge to let go of the wheel and let my car go off the overpass,” she revealed. “I looked up in the rearview mirror and saw my daughter. That moment… it saved my life. I named the nonprofit ‘Faced With Grace’ because I felt like God was in my backseat that day.”

Her story is a sobering reminder that toxicity doesn’t always announce itself loudly—it creeps in, moment by moment, microaggression by microaggression. Kaitlyn emphasized how difficult it can be to even articulate the harm you’re experiencing.

“It’s so much microaggression that to call out any one moment feels ridiculous,” she said. “It’s this collection that builds and builds… until one day, it breaks you.”

From Surviving to Leading

Rather than let that breaking point define her, Kaitlyn used it as fuel to create change. She founded Faced With Grace, a nonprofit dedicated to providing motivational mentorship, coaching, and community for women dealing with workplace toxicity. It also proactively educates young women about healthy leadership and the warning signs of unhealthy work cultures—tools Kaitlyn wishes she had earlier in life.

“If I could help women navigate toxicity all day long but do nothing to prevent it, what are we even doing?” she said. “We have to break the chains before they begin.”

Kaitlyn also recently became a published author, contributing a chapter titled Pivoting for Power, Peace, and Purpose to the book Shattering Stereotypes: Fiercely Forging Forward. The book gathers voices of women—and one man—who have broken through societal expectations in powerful ways.

Romanticizing the Mundane & Reclaiming Joy

A large part of Kaitlyn’s personal healing has come from learning to “romanticize the mundane.” Whether it’s enjoying a latte in a ceramic mug, soaking up sunshine on her patio, or sitting with a good book in a coffee shop, Kaitlyn has reconnected with small joys that restore her peace.

“If you can find the joy in those tiny moments, it just makes life magical,” she said. “Otherwise, you’re just floating through without intention, without paying attention.”

This philosophy helped her become more grounded, more present, and more attuned to her inner voice—something she believes every woman needs to practice.

“We have to craft our inner voice to be one of self-love,” she explained. “If that voice is constantly saying, ‘you’re not tough enough,’ then we’re just reinforcing the same toxicity we’re trying to escape.”

Tips for Grounding & Reconnecting

Kaitlyn offered a few of her favorite practices for grounding herself and staying in alignment with her values:

• Create with your hands: Kaitlyn set up a mini ceramics space in her home. “Doing something with my hands has been so therapeutic,” she said. “Creating gives me peace.”

• Spend real “me time”: Not just socializing or errands, but quiet moments of reflection and rest.

• Be mindful of media: From music to social feeds, Kaitlyn’s become intentional about what she consumes. “When I was in the toxic job, I listened to angry music. Now, I choose things that are peaceful.”

Continuing the Mission

Kaitlyn now uses her voice and her story to light a path for others. Through Faced With Grace, she hosts free monthly round tables, offers mentorship, and invites women everywhere to reclaim their power.

“We’re not stuck. We can always choose a different way. You don’t have to stay in the room where you’re disrespected—you can create your own room.” – Kaitlyn Rios

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