NAME: Lori Bower
TITLE: President
COMPANY: BowerComm
WHY WE PICKED HER: Her agency’s campaign list says it all. To name a few topics: breastfeeding, trust-building for public education, loan-free private college education, gaining support for solving the rural childcare crisis, branding an early childhood center, promoting rural internet development and more. She also helped her school district pass a $20 million bond issue for facility improvements. Fun fact: Her husband, dad and brother run a 3,500-acre crop farm. During harvest time, she shares chuckwagon duty with her mom by making dinner each night for the crew.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

LB: Childcare logistics are a huge hassle and energy drain. On one hand, we lack affordable, quality options. On the other hand, childcare workers are extremely underpaid. We should use our collective voice to advocate to solve this issue so that moms can put more of that energy into work/family time.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

LB: First, never underestimate how many times you have to tell someone something before they do what you want them to do. Second, create circumstances that “nudge” people to action. At home, that means shutting off the lights and locking down devices to prompt my kids to go to bed. Finally, like Mary Poppins says, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. Just find the fun, and snap, the job’s a game.”

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

LB: Incentives are an enormous part of parenting. I regularly walk my children through the “customer journey” with highly-personalized offers.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

LB: “Don’t forget snacks.”

NAME: Lynne Capozzi
TITLE: CMO
COMPANY: Acquia
WHY WE PICKED HER: After leaving the agency for a brief stint to found a nonprofit dedicated to her daughter’s memory for Boston Children’s Hospital, she returned to Acquia and spearheaded the acquisition of four companies and built and scaled the marketing team through the company’s acquisition by Vista Equity Partners at a valuation of close to $1 billion. She’s also a trust board member at Boston Children’s Hospital, an advisory board member at Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, chair of the board of directors at West Parish Garden Cemetery and a community volunteer at Bellesini Academy.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

LC: Even more awareness of the challenges that all parents face is important. Today more than ever, we need leaders to be supportive of remote work schedules and understand that today's employees may require more flexible schedules that support daycare routines and after-school activities.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

LC: Probably most important is not to always be the "solver.” Providing coaching and direction and being available as a both a parent and manager is important, but so is letting people become problem solvers on their own, and not "helicoptering" in.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

LC: Being open to other points of view and ideas. My ideas as the manager, or the parent, aren't always the only viewpoint. Seeking out other views and ways to look at a problem, or look at the world, is really important. Being open minded and inquisitive at home with my children and embracing their viewpoints and creativity is crucial in helping to develop the next generation of leaders.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

LC: Stop singing in the car!

NAME: Brielle Caruso
TITLE: CMO
COMPANY: SelvaRey Rum
WHY WE PICKED HER: This trailblazer is the first female Asian-American CMO in the U.S. wine and spirits industry. Ambitious, a life-long networker and full of guts, she’s not afraid of the grind and committing to the hustle. As the chief marketer for the Bruno Mars-owned SelvaRey Rum, she launched a packaging and visual rebrand—in a pandemic, no less—shortly after she was hired.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

BC: Companies should empower mothers to embrace the changes that come with having children. Could you imagine if all managers had conversations with expecting mothers and said, "It might be hard when you come back, but we're here for you”? That's not the end-all solution, but it's a good start bringing reassurance to an expecting mother going through a complex amount of emotion and uncertainty.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

BC: Motherhood has taught me to be more accepting and not judge so much. Children do not see flaws; they see potential for something special. This has taught me to be more tolerant and to open my eyes to new ideas and approaches.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

BC: I am a firm believer that the way to inspire people is not to show them your superpowers, but to guide and empower them to reveal theirs. This translated into parenting for me. It's about teaching my son, Gabriel, to believe in himself and build the confidence, passion and resilience it will take to live a happy and fulfilling life.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

BC: No one has a longer "to do" list than Gabriel before he goes to bed. He just wants to stay up! It reminds me every night that when you're really determined to do something, you'll find a way to make it happen.

NAME: Mia Choi
TITLE: Co-Founder, CCO
COMPANY: MAS
WHY WE PICKED HER: Founded in 2008 by two women of color, MAS grew into the powerhouse experiential agency that it is today within Mia’s own apartment, surrounded by her children—and she believes that her children being there is what helped set and flourish the tone of the work environment that exists at the agency today. When creating the inclusive culture at MAS, she made it flexible, allowing for family time and also creating a working environment that aligned with her own values—one of which is hiring diverse talent.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

MC: There are the obvious ones, like flexible schedules, more reasonable maternity leave (and paternity, as we need the help). But maybe less obvious is a better understanding of what being a mother can bring to the organizations you work for. It’s a proven fact that working mothers are more productive. We might start a meeting with less personal banter, but we have our eye on doing the best work possible while still juggling family needs. In my opinion, we show up better, stronger and a lot more together when we become parents.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

MC: That you can’t control everything. Parenthood is humbling, and something that for the most part we can’t control. We have to be flexible and nimble throughout. In running a business, these are valuable lessons to learn.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

MC: That you have to show up. Your word is golden. If you say you are going to do something, you are responsible to your team/family, and I hold my children accountable. Parenting, like running a business, is a group effort. We need to work together to accomplish our goals—even if it’s just eating your vegetables before everyone can have dessert.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

MC: They constantly tell me what’s happening in pop culture. My son has educated me on the best YouTubers (before a pitch) and why they are so important to our culture (yes, he was 10 at the time). And my daughter is constantly telling me where I’m missing the mark on fashion or this season’s true color of the year.

NAME: Michele Cuthbert
TITLE: Founder & Creative Director
COMPANY: Baker Creative
WHY WE PICKED HER: At her award-winning agency, she created a Solutions Studio dedicated to helping brands grow. A few accolades: a recipient of the Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 award and recognized as one of the leading female CEOs by Columbus CEO magazine. Established both Hispanic and Black Advisory Boards within her firm and served on several national boards of directors to help feed hungry children and hurricane victims. Plus, she created "The Office Mommy" blog that salutes the balancing act that hardworking mothers juggle every day, which serves as a forum for moms to network with each other.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

MC: By being open to the needs moms have beyond the business. I worked for corporate marketing departments where it was rigid. It was “all or nothing” and I saw great employees who were moms walk out the door. No mom is ever going to pick a job over their kid. Some companies miss the boat by being so rigid.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

MC: Meet people where they’re at and frame it in language they understand. When you’re talking to a kid, you bend down to meet them at their level. Speak the way they speak. Clients may not understand the term “branding.” So, then say “business.” It is important to know what they mean and you need to understand where they’re coming from to have a good working relationship.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

MC: I provide structure, clear expectations and next steps on projects, whether that is making her bed or brushing her teeth. I offer transitions between activities so she knows what’s expected.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

MC: She said, “All I want to do is go upstairs, dance and have some fun.” You can never go wrong with spontaneous dance parties and a “let’s just have fun” request.

NAME: Nicole Dorrler
TITLE: SVP, Marketing and Media Investment,
COMPANY: Truth Initiative
WHY WE PICKED HER: For her work behind the “Truth Campaign,” which encourages kids to stop smoking and vaping. Not only has it been named a Campaign of the Decade, but its latest iterations continue to show results. In fact, 2021 was its most successful year. The organization enrolled more than 400,000 young people in a text-to-quit-vape program.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

ND: In 2004, after the birth of my first child, I was only given one week of paid time off for each week I worked at the advertising agency. Today, companies recognize and value the skills a working mother brings. When I had my second child, I was working for Truth Initiative. They supported me in my paid time off by allowing me the time I needed to connect with my child without worrying about the financial burden.

One organization out of Chicago, The Mom Project, is committed to helping women remain active in the workforce in every stage of their career. These types of organizations are needed to build skills for those who temporarily left the workforce while fostering diversity and inclusion. 

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

ND: I have learned to be a better leader. Prerequisite skills for being a mom include patience, time management, innovation, creative problem solving and flexibility, as well as being a thoughtful and confident decision maker while remaining calm. Moms today need to be constantly evolving alongside their children as they grow. This is an always-on generation with a DIY spirit who will school you in the details of any feedback you provide or guidance you supply.  

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

ND: When I’m an active listener at home, as I am at work, and I recognize the hard work and struggle my child has put into a task, the communication gets stronger and the relationship is better. It is also important to allow employees to try to solve their own problems first before you provide any thoughts or advice. This builds independent, problem-solving skills. Even at the youngest age, I’ve treated my children as independent thinkers. Finally, I believe in taking ownership of mistakes. At home it needs to be the same.  

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

ND: “Mom, you should stop working because there will just be more tomorrow and you can do it then.”

NAME: Brenda Febbo
TITLE: CMO
COMPANY: Lightbridge Academy
WHY WE PICKED HER: After being introduced to Lightbridge Academy as a working mom seeking educational childcare, she took the reigns as CMO, rebranded the company and established its brand position in the childcare sector as “The Solution for Working Parents.” She grew the organization from just eight centers to 60, generated systemwide revenue of $137 million, and plans to triple its size over the next three years.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

BF: Well, this is a simple (and perhaps an obvious answer for me): provide a high-quality childcare solution like Lightbridge Academy so working mothers can have the peace of mind they need to focus on giving employers their very best.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

BF: One of the greatest skills would be team-building. While most mothers are super women trying to do it all, the most successful women build and engage the power of a strong team. This has never been truer than with the pandemic. The “pods” that were formed, consisting of caregivers, grandparents, girlfriends and family members, were the lifelines we called on for support, encouragement and even the relief take a much-needed break.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

BF: Negotiating and problem solving would be the top two skills. At work and as a mother of two teenagers, I use these two skills on a daily basis. When it comes to negotiating, see past the emotion and listen for what the person really needs and work to find a win-win for both parties. The best problem solvers don’t just try to solve the problem at hand, but also get to the root cause to avoid experiencing the same issues over and over. Being a mother gives me plenty of practice at this. I’ll spin the problem around to view it from different angles until I figure out how to solve it once and for all.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

BF: If your day is going bad, hang upside down. Things always look better.

NAME: Tori Hanna
TITLE: Chief Marketing Officer
COMPANY: Super Coffee
WHY WE PICKED HER: This mom of three is CMO of an up-and-coming challenger brand within the beverage industry, which, via the pub BEVNET, awarded the company “Best Brand of the Year” in 2021. She’s led buzzworthy campaigns, like Super Coffee’s partnership with Poo-Pourri for #NationalCoffeeDay, and formed a marketing organization during the pandemic to help support the growing brand's retail presence nationally with Walmart, Target and Costco.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

TH: I wrestle with what companies can do to support working moms. I do feel like a lot of progress has been made, depending on the culture of the company you are working in. The biggest struggle for working moms is the pressure we put on ourselves to be amazing at our jobs and also be there for our kids and spouses.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

TH: Not everything is going to be perfectly buttoned up the way I would like it—and that’s okay. Focus your attention on what matters most in that moment.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

TH: I have three kids that all want equal attention, at the same time, always. Remote learning and working from home has been the biggest sanity test of my life. I have a very involved husband, so we were splitting remote learning needs with our own jobs. Communicating, patience and the ability to multitask was what got us through.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

TH: I was working late one night and my daughter came down and innocently said, “Mom, can you go to bed right now so you can be your best self tomorrow?”

NAME: Erin Levzow
TITLE: VP, Marketing Technology
COMPANY: Del Taco
WHY WE PICKED HER: For rolling out an award-winning rewards program and app for Del Taco that won the B2C App of the Year by IMA global and Loyalty360 Award for best loyalty strategy. Not to mention her own accolades: She was named a Top 25 Woman to Watch by AdWeek and in 2020 was named CMO of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal—all before turning 40. She gives back, too—as a board member of the American Heart Association and Milwaukee Children's Choir, and she helps bring in homeless youth through the Safe Families Organization.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

EL: Not just for moms, but being aware of everyone's home life, their structure and their needs is important. Being flexible. I will give 150 percent as long as I have the flexibility to eat dinner and spend time with the kids.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

EL: So many. Patience, situational leadership. Each kid is different, each employee is different. How we speak, lead and help them is different. Their needs are not the same. Multitasking. Although some say this can't be done, ask any mother—I beg to differ. I spend time with the kids and get a workout in; I can respond to emails while the kids are getting ready and still be able to take them wherever they need to go. Taking a walk in the stroller while having a conference call. Brainstorming marketing ideas with my 11-year-old.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

EL: Similarly, having the situational leadership and being able to talk to my kids and setting clear expectations. I set them for employees and in meetings, but the same goes for the kids. I can't be mad at them for cleaning something wrong or not doing what I told them if I wasn't clear in the directions, expected outcome and timeframe.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?  

EL: I don't know about the best advice, but my 11-year-old likes to give me honest feedback. Nothing will keep you humble more than a kid’s opinion. I walked out of the room dressed for the day the other day and she said to me, "Ohhh...is that what you are going to wear?" Clearly, she did not like my wardrobe choice.

NAME: Tiffanie McKinnon
TITLE: Manager, PR & Communications
COMPANY: Merit
WHY WE PICKED HER: She’s won multiple awards for her work in public relations, poetry, young women entrepreneurship and—get this—was even the first runner up in the Miss Black USA New Jersey pageant. What’s more, she uses her PR and communications talents for good to support the Haitian immigration and border crisis by arranging clothing and supply drives for Haitian immigrants seeking asylum at the U.S. border.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

TM: Companies can best support moms by being just as flexible by offering flex time for those unforeseen caregiver moments we must respond to. And the industry still has much work to do when it comes to ensuring working moms are receiving equal pay in comparison to their male counterparts. Most people miss that “The March on Washington” where Martin Luther King rendered his iconic speech included labor rights as part of civil rights.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

TM: Empathy, grace, courage, resolve, selflessness and self-awareness have been the most important lessons I’ve learned as mom. They help me to relate better to colleagues and engage people more genuinely while self-reflecting often to ensure I’m growing into the best version of myself.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

TM: Active listening and being open to multiple perspectives. I’ve learned in my career as a publicist to not only listen to what clients, colleagues or media are saying but also what they are communicating with body language, intonation and other non-verbal cues. I use this to have a keen sense of emotional intelligence when it comes to the needs of my nine-year-old son so that he always feels safe in communicating with me no matter what it is.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

TM: A few memorable moments come to mind:

“I’m your biggest cheerleader, too, but I’m not using pompoms or wearing a skirt, and that’s final!”

“Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.”

“You got this mom! And I got you.”

NAME: Gabriela Neves
TITLE: Founder
COMPANY: Factory360
WHY WE PICKED HER: Despite the challenges of the pandemic, her agency won 14 new accounts since Q1 of 2021, spanning across the United States and Europe. Not to mention, her creative team has grown by 60 percent since then. With Gaby at the helm, Factory360 has embraced a new artist-focused experience approach, such as a pair of David Bowie pop-up retail shops celebrating the artist’s 75^th birthday in both New York and London.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

GN: One of the issues I always had was finding places to pump breastmilk. I even found myself once having to pump on a restroom floor. I travel a lot for work, so Mamava pods became a godsend. Having these pods at large convention centers would be an incredible benefit, and so would providing on-site shipment with partners such as Milk Stork to ship home breastmilk.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

GN: I hired a meditation coach after I had my daughter because I wanted to do a better job of staying in the moment and stepping away from my phone. I have been able to apply this to my work, putting my phone down during meetings and also taking the time to appreciate and acknowledge the incredible moments we share at work.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

GN: The ability to not be able to control everything. I learned from owning a business that one can do their 110 percent, and after that it is out of our control. This is the same thing with parenting. At some point, we have to realize that they are their own person.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

GN: Always get room service!

NAME: Umi Patel
TITLE: VP, Insights & Analytics
COMPANY: PepsiCo Beverages North America
WHY WE PICKED HER: Her work during the pandemic, for one. While recently CMO of North Division, PepsiCo Beverages North America, she oversaw a campaign benefitting New York City bodegas, recognizing them as “unsung heroes,” during the pandemic. And to address the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, she supported bubly sparkling water’s #DragForAllFlavors campaign, which included a $25,000 donation to SAGE, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people. She’s also a member of the PepsiCo Asian Network employee resource group and volunteers with New York Cares, working with youth and communities across NYC.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

UP: Recognize the need for flexibility at various life stages, provide opportunities that meet those needs and continue to allow career advancement. 

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

UP: Do not be afraid to ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness. Chances are, someone else has faced the same challenge and may be able to provide some much-needed advice/support.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

UP: Recognizing and appreciating my team for their hard work and contributions is part of being a leader. I try to remember to do the same for my husband and kids—it’s easy to forget to do the same at home.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

UP: Mama, take a break and play, it’s fun.

NAME: Erica Schultz
TITLE: CMO
COMPANY: RAIN Group
WHY WE PICKED HER: She helped Boston-based RAIN Group expand to eight countries, significantly increase website traffic and inbound leads, and rake in multiple content marketing and email marketing awards. From a personal perspective, when her son Ari was diagnosed in-utero with a complex congenital heart defect—the year she and her husband started the company—she persevered. Since then, she has given back to parents facing similar situations by chairing “Ari’s Tournament” Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds for parents, starting a grant in her son’s memory to raise $20K, and wrote a best-selling book about Ari’s story.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

ES: Greater flexibility and understanding. As CMOs, we take great responsibility for all we do in both work and parenting. Having the flexibility to work “off hours” enables us to attend children’s extracurricular activities and get involved in the community. I’m often working late at night, early in the morning and on weekends, or taking calls from the car when on carpool pick-up duty. My team understands that, and we all support each other to better integrate work and family life.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

ES: Delegation and time management. As leaders in our businesses, we cannot do it all ourselves. Before children, I had all the time in the world to work, run errands, take care of myself, etc. Once I had children, time was at a premium. I had to learn to better delegate at work (and at home) and manage my time to spend it on the most important things. Otherwise, I would run out of hours in the day.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

ES: Goal setting and prioritization. I’ve always been one to set aggressive goals and work ferociously to achieve them. Applying this mindset to my parenting and getting specific about the goals I want for our family and then aligning my behaviors and time to them has allowed me to show up in the way I want for my family.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

ES: My oldest child, Ari, died when he was five years old from a congenital heart defect. I remember sitting with him in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit when it was announced that Tom Brady was going to be on the cover of Madden NFL ‘18. As a Boston native, the Patriots are our team. Ari’s reaction to the news: “Well, what about Jimmy Garoppolo?” 

I said, “Oh, no you have to be in the Super Bowl to make the cover of Madden.”

Ari’s response: “You never know, there’s always next year.”

I carry that sentiment with me. Even against all odds, you just never know and there’s always next year.

NAME: Lisa Stockmon
TITLE: CMO
COMPANY: Banfield Pet Hospital
WHY WE PICKED HER: In light of the 23 million new households with pets out there, the chief marketer for the largest, privately-owned veterinary practice in the U.S. has had her paws full during the “pet pandemic.” She’s focused on connecting with Gen Z and millennial pet owners—which make up the majority of first-time pet owners—with a cheeky video series featuring pet influencers. Plus, she’s the founder of MY ATTA GRRRL (a.k.a. MAG), a digital platform for women as primary breadwinners that offers content, community and commerce.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

LS: It’s imperative that leaders recognize the value that mothers bring to the work environment and make strides to create conditions that allow them to thrive. With 86 percent of Banfield’s workface being women, Banfield is uniquely invested in supporting and empowering women and moms. Leaders must provide equal development opportunities and center women’s and mothers’ voices. This includes recognizing and valuing the many different types of working mothers out there. As a single mom myself, I understand the unique situations each mom faces and that they’re looking to their employer for support. With nearly 1.8 million women dropping out of the labor force amid the pandemic, industry leaders must listen and act now.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

LS: My children have taught me so much: open mindedness, patience and the ability to influence with authority. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from motherhood is truly respecting other people’s viewpoints and valuing new and different ways of thinking. It’s how I lead my teams and something I think all leaders should implement. 

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

LS: In a similar vein, my teams have reinforced the importance of listening to and valuing different voices, which I think are foundational to the relationships I’ve built with my children. As mothers, it can be easy for us to stress or get caught up in the minute details, but my work has taught me to think bigger picture and enjoy every moment. I feel incredibly lucky to work for a values-based organization like Banfield and, at the end of the day, that meaning and purpose carries over into motherhood.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

LS: Any and everything we could possibly need can be done from our smartphones! At Banfield, my team is always working to create innovative solutions and experiences for pet owners, and I have to give some credit to my children for instilling the importance of technology in me years ago.

NAME: Melissa Wildermuth
TITLE: Global Creative Director
COMPANY: General Mills
WHY WE PICKED HER: The first female Global Creative Director for the company (we’re talking a purview of more than 100 brands), this mom of three teenagers was responsible for a 2021 Clio Grand Winner, which honored a Marvel Studios collaboration with Lucky Charms dubbed “Loki Charms.” She also worked with the Box Tops for Education team to address inequalities in education through the Schools in Need program, which offers people the chance to donate Box Tops funds to title-one schools.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

MW: The industry has come a long way, and by continuing to listen to working mothers and support their ideas, I'm confident we will create more supportive environments that foster inclusivity and flexibility. Show your appreciation for working mothers. This can be as simple as saying (and meaning), “I appreciate you,” and a working mom will feel empowered to over-deliver time and time again.

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you've applied to the business world?

MW: I've always described myself as a learner. And, being a mother requires a lot of continuous learning. One of the most important lessons is patience and the ability not to sweat the small stuff. Sometimes, you just understand that the day won't always go as planned in motherhood and business.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

MW: Having the opportunity to lead a globally diverse team, I've held onto a sense of curiosity and a constant inclination to ask questions. I'd like to think that curiosity translates across to each of my children in their own unique ways. And along the way, I hope I've become a better listener and have developed a greater understanding that each of us brings different ideas and solutions to solving problems.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

MW: Every day, I try to learn from my kids. But one lesson that sticks is, “Be you and you will do great.” And in this remote world, whatever you do, don't stand up in that Zoom call because everyone will see those leggings!

NAME: Danielle Wiley
TITLE: CEO & Founder
COMPANY: Sway Group
WHY WE PICKED HER: Originally launched as a roster of “mommy bloggers,” Sway Group now offers digital marketing strategies through a partnership-based approach. As founder, she designed it from the ground up to be a place where working mothers could thrive—from self-care to D&I training to flexible work hours. The agency has always offered remote work to support women returning to work while raising children. Plus, in 2020 she hired a Director of Equity, Inclusion, & Learning, set up ongoing charitable donations to social justice causes, and launched training to support commitment to continually eliminate bias and inequity from Sway’s campaigns.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

DW: I think the biggest need that working moms have is time. Better support comes from companies that provide flex time, provide more time and give moms the freedom to care for their family while still getting their work done. 

CM: What skills have you learned from being a mom that you’ve applied to the business world?

DW: Triage! Since having kids, I'm definitely better at sorting through everything demanding my attention and deciding which crises to tackle in what order.

CM: What skills from work have you applied to parenting?

DW: Negotiation. I definitely have to negotiate a lot at work, but no one will ever compete with my kids when it comes to asking for more.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your child(ren)?

DW: My college-aged daughter is way more fashionable than I am and gives me the very best advice when it comes to clothing and makeup.