Enjoy this episode & transcript below where Kimberly Spencer, Master NLP Mindset & Communications Coach and CEO of Communication Queens, interviews Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Litigator, Anna Krolikowska.

What if your business breakup could be as conscious and collaborative as your dream marriage? In this episode, divorce attorney & mediator Anna Krolikowska joins Kimberly Spencer to spill the secrets of handling business partnerships, contracts, and even divorces with grace, clarity, and collaboration. From reframing communication to protecting your story legally, this is the clarity shift you’ve been waiting for.

FYI Transcripts may contain a few typos. With many episodes lasting 30-minutes, it can be difficult to catch minor errors. Enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Castbox, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Pandora, Youtube, or on your favorite podcast platform.

From Business Divorce to Collaborative Healing: A Conversation with Anna Krolikowska

Introduction (00:00)

Welcome to the Communication Queens podcast, where storytelling isn’t just strategy—it’s the heartbeat of influence and income. In this episode, host Kimberly Spencer sits down with Anna Krolikowska, divorce attorney, mediator, and bestselling author, to explore how collaborative divorce lessons apply far beyond marriages and into the world of business partnerships.

What happens when a business breakup feels more painful than a personal one? And how can communication turn conflict into collaboration? That’s what this conversation is all about.

Starting the Conversation: Business Partnerships as Marriages (00:02)

Kimberly Spencer: Anna, welcome to the Communication Queens podcast. You help people navigate divorces, but you’ve also gone through what you call a “business divorce.” That’s a powerful parallel—because starting a business partnership really is like a marriage.

Anna Krolikowska: Absolutely. Business relationships are very similar to lifelong partnerships. You’re going to spend so much time with this person, so clarity matters from the start. What do you want from this business? Who brings capital, who brings ideas, who brings sweat equity? These conversations must be had early—and documented.

The Business Divorce Experience (00:05)

Anna Krolikowska: I went through an amicable business divorce after twelve years as a founding partner and managing partner of my law firm. After COVID, my partner and I realized our futures were heading in different directions. But we wanted to remain friends.

Instead of years of litigation, we chose collaboration. We respected the relationship we’d built and made the conscious decision not to spend years in court fighting over what we had created. That’s the foundation of collaborative divorce—in business or marriage.

Listening to Understand, Not Just to Respond (00:09)

Kimberly Spencer: I’ve seen it in customer disputes too—people just want to be heard.

Anna Krolikowska: That’s exactly it. One of the most powerful lessons from mediation and collaborative divorce is listening to understand, not to respond.

Reframing what someone says back to them validates their perspective. It helps calm emotions so real solutions can emerge. That practice applies everywhere—from marriage to business meetings to handling upset clients.

When Emotions Hijack Communication (00:13)

Kimberly Spencer: Emotions are everything in conflict. Fear, anger, or identity issues can hijack communication.

Anna Krolikowska: Right. When emotions run high, the amygdala in your brain takes over, and logic goes offline. That’s why in collaborative divorce, we bring in mental health professionals and financial neutrals to help process those emotions. If you don’t acknowledge them, they come back to sabotage agreements later.

This is true in business disputes too. A business partner doesn’t just want a solution—they want to feel heard, validated, and respected.

Contracts as Containers for Clarity (00:16)

Anna Krolikowska: Transparency is everything. Whether in marriage or business, contracts aren’t just legal paperwork—they’re freedom documents. They protect your partnership by clearly defining roles, expectations, finances, and what happens if someone wants out.

Kimberly Spencer: That’s the part so many entrepreneurs skip. But contracts are really about security and clarity, not control.

Sharing Your Story Without Legal Backlash (00:20)

Kimberly Spencer: Many people want to share their divorce or business breakup story, but how do you do that safely?

Anna Krolikowska: First, understand your legal documents. Know what you signed—your divorce decree, prenup, postnup, or partnership agreement. Some clauses restrict disclosure.

When telling your story:

• Stick to facts.

• Share your personal impact.

• Focus on growth and transformation.

• Avoid impugning the other person’s character.

That way, you own your story without opening yourself to legal risk.

Domestic Violence, Safety, and Storytelling (00:25)

Anna Krolikowska: If your story involves domestic violence, safety comes first. Many survivors don’t have clear documentation, and speaking publicly can create legal complications.

That’s why I urge people to reach out to advocates and nonprofits who specialize in supporting survivors. You don’t have to navigate it alone.

Kimberly Spencer: And to anyone listening—your safety is the top priority. Storytelling matters, but only when it doesn’t put you in danger.

Plot Twist: From Divorce Attorney to Children’s Book Author (00:29)

Kimberly Spencer: Here’s the fun part—you’re also writing a children’s book series!

Anna Krolikowska: Yes! Inspired by my work with clients and my own child, I wanted to create tools to help kids understand divorce. The books will launch in early 2025. They’re designed to make tough conversations easier for parents and empowering for children.

Final Takeaways: Endings as Empowered Beginnings (00:32)

Anna Krolikowska: Whether it’s a marriage or a business, read your contracts. Know what you’re signing. And remember: endings don’t have to mean destruction. With collaborative divorce in business or in life, endings can create empowered new beginnings.

Kimberly Spencer: Absolutely. To our listeners—your story has the power to save lives, businesses, and futures. Don’t be afraid to share it, but do it with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Ranked No.55 in the United States by Apple Podcasts for Marketing, within just one week of launching, and over 33,000 downloads in the first 5 months, the Communication Queen Podcast with Kimberly Spencer is on the fasttrack to becoming an industry GAMECHANGER, in supporting listeners to tell better stories, enhance their communication skills, and learn how to leverage getting booked on podcasts to grow their business.

From interviews with Top 100 Podcasters, to providing real-life storytelling coaching, and communication #quickies of bite-sized communication tips that you can start leveraging right away, to increase your authority and influence in your niche, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to level up their storytelling skills to serve + sell more in their business. To listen to any of our past episodes for free, check out this page.