NAME: Nimia Amaya
TITLE: Demand Generation Director, North America
COMPANY: Younium
WHY WE PICKED HER: As Demand Generation Director, she built Younium’s go-to-market strategy for North America, increasing lead generation by 75 percent and website traffic by 103 percent. Having moved to the United States from Mexico with her family as a child, Amaya is a daughter of farmworkers, a first-generation college student and a proud single parent. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she volunteers with at-risk minority high school students and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients in the Dallas area, where she proudly shares her humble beginnings and hopes to inspire other women, immigrants, first-generation college students and single parents to pursue careers in the fintech industry. Her greatest achievement thus far, however, is being a mom. Her daughter recently chose her as an example of inspiring leadership for a school project—a recognition that, in Amaya’s view, is her greatest accomplishment to date.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

NA: I have to say it, but maternity leave must improve in our country. This is important not just in my industry but in all industries. I still remember leaving my eight-week-old baby at daycare and crying my eyes out on my way to work that day. I survived, but it shouldn’t be that way. Mothers deserve to spend more time with their babies; we’re so behind on this notion. Luckily, there are companies that are implementing their own rules and providing generous parental leave to both mothers and fathers, so we’re making some strides.

Another way to support working moms is by providing them with flexibility and the opportunity to have a healthy work-life balance. As a working mother, I look for companies with great leadership, and I strive to be a great leader as well. My current company, Younium, is fantastic when it comes to providing me and others with the support and flexibility needed to fully perform as both a mother and employee.

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

NA: Emotional intelligence and having the ability to adapt quickly. As a single mom with a full-time job (that I love!), being emotionally connected to my daughter is super important to me. I’ve always been a very empathetic person, but motherhood really enhanced it. As a leader, it’s important to understand and share the feelings of others. It allows me to connect with my team, build strong relationships and create a positive environment. As a mother, I’ve built a close relationship with my daughter that is both healthy and full of trust.

Being able to adapt quickly is super important. Motherhood is full of challenges, and it can soon become overwhelming. Adapting to the challenges quickly can help you overcome them. Taking everything one step at a time and seeing challenges from different perspectives can help you overcome challenges in both business and motherhood.

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

NA: Two things for sure: project management and celebrating all the wins, big and small. Project management is an essential skill when you’re a marketing leader. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a marketing campaign, and managing all those steps requires serious project management skills. Motherhood can be similar; every day there are a lot of moving pieces, especially when you’re a working mom. You must be super organized to make it work, from waking up early to get kids to school or daycare, to making lunches and getting them out the door right on time—all this before your workday even begins. Luckily, I have a strong support system both in my personal life and my work life.

It’s not perfect. There are days when things fall through the cracks, and that’s ok. It’s important to have grace for yourself. I love teaching my daughter to celebrate all her wins, whether that means acing a test, keeping her room clean or simply having a fun school day with friends. It all matters.

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

NA: My ten-year-old daughter Ely’s favorite word is “slay,” which, according to Urban Dictionary, means to “succeed in something amazing.” She’s so full of confidence and tells me to “slay everyday.” This is the best motivation and advice I could ever get. I go to work every day with the mentality of succeeding at everything I do, and when my confidence is feeling flaky, I ask myself “what would Ely do?” She would slay, of course.

NAME: Obele Brown-West
TITLE: Chief Solutions Officer
COMPANY: Tinuiti
WHY WE PICKED HER: Recently promoted to her new role, Brown-West and her team of 700 experts deliver Tinuiti's client-facing solutions, including all media, creative and analytics. That amounts to managing more than $3 billion in media spend for clients such as Unilever, PacSun, Equifax, Poppi, Ancestry, Etsy, Revlon and the NFL. Tinuiti has landed a plethora of honors in the past 12 months under her leadership, including Microsoft Advertising’s Global Agency of the Year, membership as an Amazon Advertising Agency Partner Network, a Google Premier Partner and International Growth Partner, and the first independent agency in the U.S. to receive TikTok Marketing accreditation and be named an official Reddit Partner. A fierce DEI leader, Brown-West represents the tiny portion of Black women in the C-Suite—just 5 percent, according to a recent McKinsey study—and as such, ensures that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are a primary focus of future plans.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

OBW: Aside from doing its part to ensure the Equal Rights Amendment gets added to the Constitution, the industry needs to check its bias and create spaces for real conversations about working motherhood. Bias (both conscious and unconscious) against working moms is rampant in the marketing world—especially for moms higher up in the ranks.

In some cases, the bias is that being a working mom means you are sacrificing OR are willing to sacrifice your duties as a mother. Even worse is the bias that being a working mother means you are somehow immune to the realities of motherhood (i.e. eating boxes of Tums in the second trimester or showing up for 9 a.m. meetings after sleeping on your son’s bedroom floor while he vomited all night, which happened last week.) The industry must first recognize these biases.

Next, do the actual work to prevent them from seeping into corporate culture and operations. And last, build a truly supportive environment in which every mother can bring her whole self to work.

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

OBW: Being a mother has taught me the importance of being humble and maintaining your composure—even in the most stressful of times. After getting pooped on multiple times and having toys thrown at your head, these two skills have been honed to almost mastery levels.

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

OBW: Sometimes—especially in marketing—there is no playbook. As a parent, it often feels the same. You can read all the books and follow all the processes, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut to make magic (and sanity) happen.

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

OBW: Just dream about hearts and dancing with Ava Max and Lady Gaga. Also, make sure you wash your hands between your fingers and under your nails.

NAME: Ekta Chopra
TITLE: Chief Digital Officer
COMPANY: e.l.f. Beauty
WHY WE PICKED HER: We’re impressed with her ability to keep up with the rapid pace of product innovation, which verges on breakneck speed over at e.l.f. Beauty. Innovative initiatives that set the company apart from the rest include a partnership with the second-most followed female gamer, Lufu, to learn about the community and support that segment of consumers; a collab with Chipotle to create a massively popular eyeshadow palette inspired by the colors of its salad bar; being the first beauty brand to launch on the app BeReal; and leveraging valuable first-party data via its three-million-member loyalty program, the Beauty Squad. Her secret sauce just might be her daughter, though, who, after taking a summer class in Robox development for beginners, is better known in the family as “Chief Development officer for Roblox.” Gathering insights on how generation alpha navigates the creator economy has helped fuel and inform Chopra's passion for consumer behavior.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

EC: Champion diversity. A working mom can provide insights on how to lead with compassion, how to wear many hats and how to know juggle—knowing what the glass balls are that need to stay in the air and the rubber ones that you can let bounce.

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

EC: I always practice empathy with my daughter and encourage her to do the same. This has carried over into my work in many aspects. I think it is essential to be empathetic as a Chief Digital Officer. I constantly have to put myself in other people’s shoes, and only when I do that do I truly understand how to solve an issue.

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

EC: Sometimes in the business world, you fail. You will never be perfect, much like there is no such thing as a perfect parent. I always remind myself that as a parent, there will be times when I feel like I don’t know what I am doing, but that the important thing is I keep trying for my daughter. I even tell my daughter about the importance of accepting failure. I think it is essential for her to believe in herself and never give up even when the odds are against her.

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

EC: My daughter always tells me Roblox has all the answers. "If you want to level up fast, you gotta take care of your avatar and make sure they get enough sleep and exercise. Just like in real life, mom!" I guess even in the virtual world, self-care is key to success.

NAME: Patricia Corsi
TITLE: Global Chief Marketing and IT Officer
COMPANY: Bayer Consumer Health
WHY WE PICKED HER: Two decades of experience working for and transforming multimillion dollar global brands, including Sony, Kraft/Mondelez, Unilever and Heineken, are behind Corsi’s expertise in connecting with and communicating to the consumer through authentic marketing messages. Her career spans multiple countries and continents, including Brazil, the UK, Holland, Mexico and now Switzerland. Her dual goals are to deliver shareholder value and have a positive impact in the world. The list of accolades she’s amassed is wildly impressive, from Effies to Cannes Lions to being named a Top 30 CMO and Top 10 Brand Innovator by AdWeek. She’s a passionate supporter of women in myriad ways, including her role as juror for the “Future Is Female” awards, which sponsors entrepreneur women in areas of risk through micro-finance.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

PC: By removing the invisible barrier that makes the conversation of pregnancy plans, struggles and the journey of motherhood uncomfortable. It’s the one topic I have consistently seen in different countries and cultures, even if the boss is a parent. Consequently, without this conversation, there is a lack of empathy, understanding and connection, which is even more problematic for topics like miscarriage and fertility issues.

Nowadays, with the different options available to build families, it’s essential for all leaders to be informed, for companies to create inclusive support, and for all to contribute to creating an environment that benefits the business and parents (and parents-to-be) on their choices, challenges and options. Considering some taboos around this topic, HR also has a critical role in communicating companies’ policies proactively.

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

PC: The most important skill is prioritization. With family and at the office, we get used to spinning multiple plates. Having clarity on the ones that, if broken, would be irreparable, is a valuable lesson. The most fun skill I learned as a mom is resourcefulness—being adaptable and able to pivot and change direction with little or no warning. Being able to do a lot with little and to find solutions to new problems always leaves me with a sense of wonder and that all is possible.

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

PC: Reserve time to plan for the things you can control so that when the ones you cannot control happen, there is a higher chance of managing and succeeding. My holiday and birthday party planning skills could win awards if there were ever one for them. Another one is that as an expat family, living in countries where we did not have family and known neighbors, the power of collaboration and building connections have always served me well during our moves and transfers to five different countries.

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

PC: Ice cream and staying in bed a bit longer during the weekend are never that bad. The latter idea our dog highly disagrees with.

On a serious note: We have a partnership on never giving up and always putting in the effort, so when I am trying to learn something new and my son sees me frustrated, he reminds me of our promise.

NAME: Asmirh Davis
TITLE: Founding Partner and Chief Strategy Officer
COMPANY: Majority
WHY WE PICKED HER: Davis joined agency veteran Omid Farhang and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal in 2021 to co-found the Atlanta-based creative and branding agency Majority, built upon a diversity-led talent model and the belief that amplifying diverse voices is the ultimate competitive differentiator when it comes to cultural ideas that stick. In just two years, she’s helped the shop land high-profile clients like the NBA G League, Sprite, Fanta, GM and Kids Foot Locker. Some recent killer campaigns: for BLK (Match Group), Majority turned the hip hop classic “Back That Thang Up” into a COVID-19 vaccine anthem with the viral PSA, “Vax That Thang Up.” And for General Motors, the agency created “Neighbor Hoods,” a branded content series and live art experience in collaboration with the iconic art collective Secret Walls. Davis is a board member for the BLAC internship program, founded by a coalition of small agencies and backed by Procter & Gamble, that’s committed to bringing more young Black people into advertising. In its first year, 25 Black interns completed the eight-week program at reputable shops around the country.  

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

AD: Remote and flexible work arrangements to accommodate all parents regardless of the life stage of their children, whether that be job share, freelance, part-time or work from anywhere. Also, an asynchronous working culture that allows individuals to engage when they can be most productive based on lifestyles, not on visibility or the illusion of productivity, only because it’s happening from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

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

AD: Emotional intelligence to manage tough business conversations and negotiations and mastering diplomacy, so that everyone feels heard. And the importance of good leadership through example.

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

AD: Thoughtful reductionism in communication to provide clarity and not muddy the message with too many details. (Children's vocabulary is significantly smaller, which means they have just enough words to get to the point and just enough comprehension to understand clear and direct communication.) Prioritizing tasks, so you can focus when you're overwhelmed, and having a triage process to help manage responsibilities in times of crisis, especially when you have two working parents and unexpected things like illness or injury come up. You have to be nimble and adjust on the fly.

CM: What’s the best advice you’ve received from your children?

AD: To keep it simple. When my son was in preschool, he had a stuffed dog named Puppy, a stuffed bear named Teddy and a stuffed rabbit named Bunny. When I asked him why those names, he said because that’s what they are and it would be silly to call them something else. What I took from that: Don't add layers or complexity when the simplest solution is right in front of you and does the job just fine.

NAME: Christine Franklin
TITLE: Executive Vice President
COMPANY: Octagon
WHY WE PICKED HER: As the global lead account for Mastercard at Octagon, Franklin activates the brand’s sports and entertainment sponsorships, which include more than 150 partners and ambassadors worldwide—all while managing a team of 150 people across 12 countries on four continents. In 2022 alone, she’s activated more than 2,000 experiences for cardholders and other guests at sporting events. Highlights include creating the world’s first sonic trophy, which captured live audio, commentary and fan reactions from each match of the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand; hosting a record number of guests at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland; and launching the first-ever original TV series focusing on the National Women’s Soccer League and league players. As a reflection of her commitment to advancing women’s sports, she was named to Sports Business Journal’s “Power Players in Women’s Sports” in 2022. She even finds time to volunteer as a coach for youth soccer, baseball, softball and field hockey.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

CF: Moms and parents in general are so valuable to organizations in our industry. They have a depth of knowledge that influences creativity, team development and their perspectives are critical to leadership. In our society, the roles that moms play can differ just like the individuals that they are. We can shine a light on how well they solve problems through the lens of parenthood, or simply celebrate their wins. Period.

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

CF: Prioritization, patience, persistence… As a mom, I have learned to prioritize the items that are critically important and those that can wait. I’ve learned that patience is needed to help my children and my team learn how to do things themselves. Persistence is a skill that gets a lot of practice at home and at work. In the same way that I remind my kids that I love them every single day, I try to ensure my team members know that I have their back. 

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

CF: Leading a diverse group of people from different geographies and backgrounds has helped me bring a sense of culture into my home. My kids enjoy getting to know my friends from work, and they are curious about the countries I visit. They are becoming global citizens who want to know about the world.

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

CF: The best advice they give me, which is pretty often, is get off the phone and come play outside.

NAME: Shachar Gillat Scott
TITLE: Vice President of Marketing
COMPANY: Meta Reality Labs
WHY WE PICKED HER: Helping to build and scale global brands, including Meta Reality Labs, Bumble, Snap and Apple, is her game, with roles across brand marketing, product marketing, partnerships and community activism. She joined Meta’s Reality Labs team as Senior Director of Global Marcom about a year ago to lead the Centers of Excellence team, which touches international marketing, creative, media, digital, production and operations, and was recently promoted to VP of Marketing. She has supported the launch of dozens of marketing and creative campaigns, including Ray Ban Stories, Meta Quest and Summer Block Party in Horizon Worlds. She’s also dedicated to helping other women in tech through mentorship and networking, including involvement with ASPIRE, a development program at Meta geared to supporting women in tech, and is an executive sponsor for Meta’s Stuttering ERG, a safe space for people to connect and share experiences.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

SGS: Put women in leadership roles and create a culture of equity in the workplace.

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

SGS: Being a parent has given me a new perspective on what is truly important, and what's not worth getting upset or frustrated over. I practice resilience and patience daily. It has also given me the capacity to not get flustered by the small stuff, while being really present for the big moments.

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

SGS: Teamwork and operational excellence. I run a tight ship both in and out of the home. I like to plan ahead and have trips organized months in advance, just like product and marketing launches. I've learned to manage my team with compassion, empathy and efficiency at work and bring that same approach home. I also know that you need a team (or a village) to achieve goals and exceed expectations for the business. I couldn't have imagined reaching half of my success if it weren't for the support of my husband and my team at home. The same principles apply in both environments.

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

SGS: Squishmallows (and chocolate) make everything better!

NAME: Katy Jones
TITLE: Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer
COMPANY: FoodLogiQ
WHY WE PICKED HER: FoodLogiQ, which provides supply chain management software used by restaurants, food retail and grocery chains, F&B manufacturers and distributors, has benefitted from Jones’ insight and thought leadership in the food industry since 2015. Under her marketing leadership, the brand closed a Series B round of funding in 2019 and successfully merged with ESHA Research, a leader in nutrition analysis and software, in 2022. Among her myriad accomplishments: scaling the marketing function to expand into sales enablement, product marketing, go-to-market strategy and partnerships; and implementing an ROI-fueled value-based pricing strategy for the FoodLogiQ platform. Accolades include clinching a CMO Rising Star Award and being named a 2019 “Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine. She’s established a Women's Mentoring Group at the company where she leads monthly sessions to support conversations surrounding equity and diversity for women in tech. A frequent discussion topic during these sessions: issues facing mothers in the workplace and advocacy for benefits and policies to support working mothers.     

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

KJ: The key factor for working moms, or really for all caregivers, is flexibility. Companies need to support flexible work environments and schedules for working moms so that they can juggle the various demands on their schedule.

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

KJ: Definitely my organizational skills. Becoming a mother requires you to take planning to an entirely new level, and I became much more efficient and productive in my day-to-day after becoming a mom.

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

KJ: As a leader, especially within a startup, I have learned the importance of failure and how it helps you grow. I have applied that same view with my boys and talk to them about the importance of failure and having a growth mindset.

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

KJ: Always go with Diddy Kong when playing Super Smash Bros!

NAME: Courtney Larson
TITLE: Head of Brand Marketing
COMPANY: Doritos
WHY WE PICKED HER: Larson’s charisma shines brightly through her work at PepsiCo, most recently as Head of Brand Marketing at Ruffles. A noteworthy example was her buzzworthy NBA All-Star Weekend sponsorship activation with Mtn Dew, an enormous hub spanning a full city block that blended hoops culture with community tie-ins, art, fashion, music and gaming. This year she took on the role of Head of Brand Marketing at Doritos and has hit the ground running, integrating the snack food into culture using innovative tactics. Like its new mega brand campaign, Try Another Angle, which launched in a Super Bowl commercial in the metaverse. And its partnership with designer Christian Cowan during New York Fashion Week that resulted in a capsule collection inspired by the chip’s triangle shape.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

CL: It all comes down to flexibility. I told my manager after I had my first daughter that she would still get my best work, but it would look very different than it did before I was a mom. The standard “business hours” of a consistent “8 a.m.-5 p.m.” work day just don’t work all the time as a mom. Generally, I think the COVID pandemic accelerated this “culture of flexibility” as now most of the marketing industry is working from locations besides the office at least a couple days a week. My challenge for the industry—and all managers of working parents—is to protect these flexibility strides we have made for working moms over the last few years and continue piloting new ways of working with four-day work weeks and other new ideas.

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

CL: Honestly, so many. And I truly believe I am 100 percent a better leader, marketer, manager and colleague at work since becoming a mom. A few of my necessities:

Sleep matters. Sounds like common sense, right? We all know how those parenting days where the kids were up too late or skipped a nap are brutal. The same is true for work days, and none of us do our best work when we don’t prioritize self-care. So I always tell my teams—now more than ever—to set clear boundaries and let me help with prioritization or air coverage.

Protect your energy. Parenting (and being a businesswoman) is a marathon and not a sprint, every single day, month and year. Some activities are energy drainers, and others are energy givers. Know which ones fall into each category and plan your time accordingly. For example, flights with small kids are drainers, so always think of something fun as soon as you hit the ground to energize. (And the same might apply to challenging, regular meetings.)

Celebrate the big and little wins more. I had an “ah-ha” moment one time when I yelled, clapped, and smiled in the biggest way after my youngest daughter got a gymnastic move she had been practicing for a while. One of my direct reports had been working really hard on public speaking skills and it made me think about how I should go bigger in the quantity and quality of how I celebrate my teams at work.

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

CL: At some point I am sure my girls are going to catch on to my “work phrases” and call me out. But for now, I am going to keep sneakily weaving them into our lives:

Radical candor is one of my favorites. When you care a lot, you are always honest—even if it’s tough feedback. With my team and my kids, this generally goes along the lines of, “I know this isn’t your best work, so let’s work together to make it your best work.”

Servant leadership. Be there to support your teams, always. We all dislike being micro-managed, so I try not to do it to my kids. Instead, I push them to own their activities and homework, but I am always there to help in any way, or just work together. Because sometimes that’s just more fun.

Differences that make a difference. Or said another way, pick your battles. Does the messy desk matter at this moment if they did just pick up all the clothes off the floor? Does the slide design really matter to tell the project story? Life is busy and chaotic enough, so focus on the difference makers.

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

CL: “Mommy, don’t forget the snacks!” Because snacks do make EVERYTHING better at home, and especially at work with my career.

NAME: Elizabeth Malafa
TITLE: Senior Director, Experiential Marketing, Global Events and Entertainment
COMPANY: Under Armour
WHY WE PICKED HER: Malafa’s career in sports marketing spans more than 15 years, from working with professional football teams to collegiate athletics to consulting on large-scale activations such as the Super Bowl and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. At her present role at Under Armour, she’s led events, brand partnerships and sponsorships for more than a decade. But she’s equally as passionate about raising her two daughters, and often integrates the two aspects of her life through highlighting the ways she’s helping the family through work. Her love for empowering others landed her the role of Co-Chair for Under Armour’s Women's Team Resource Group, where she helps find solutions to real-life issues her teammates face worldwide, from a lack of female representation to issues women are facing at home to safety concerns experienced by some of her female colleagues based in Latin American countries.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

EM: By listening. Often there are preconceived notions about working moms. If people were open to take the time to truly listen, I think many situations could be improved and the industry would realize the value of the working mom.

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

EM: Being able to see the world through [my children’s] eyes. Their creativity and imagination has been really fun to bring to experiential. In my world, creating new and innovative experiences is crucial. They have allowed me to further develop this muscle and try things from a new approach. I’ve learned to not sweat the small stuff and to give others—and myself—grace when working through challenges and opportunities.

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

EM: Negotiation has come in handy when dealing with the wants of a five- and three-year-old. On the flip side, my daughters have now started to practice some good negotiation techniques of their own.

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

EM: “YOU CAN DO IT.” We say this mantra every morning when walking my kindergartner to school. Sometimes I forget my own advice, and if I am having a tough day or trying to get through some challenging situation, they put their arms in the air and scream,“YOU CAN DO IT, MOM!” It always makes me smile hearing it come from them with such enthusiasm and conviction, and it keeps me going.

NAME: Monique Pintarelli
TITLE: President, North America
COMPANY: Teads
WHY WE PICKED HER: Just this year, Pintarelli was elevated to North America President to lead Teads’ U.S. business. Before that, she served as Chief Revenue Officer for the global media platform, overseeing the company’s U.S. teams, including sales, creative strategy, customer experience, insights and marketing. There she reorganized and scaled Teads’ U.S. commercial operations, which led to the fastest revenue growth for the U.S. market in recent Teads’ history. Past roles included a stint at Viant Technology and Turner Broadcasting, where she spent 15 years in various positions across TV, digital and performance marketing. Pintarelli is dedicated to helping women progress in the marketing industry. After participating in and being inspired by the Pathbuilders Mentorship Program early on, she has championed similar initiatives at Teads, Viant and Turner, and participates in the ThinkLA Mentorship Program each year.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

MP: The two most immediate policy-based things that our industry can do to help support working moms would be to provide adequate parental leave for mothers, as well as emergency childcare programs, or at least provide flexibility for when an emergency childcare situation arises.

A lack of both of these things is what leads to the moments where you find yourself questioning whether you should even continue working, and if they are not addressed the industry will lose quality talent. Working mothers need support through these storms, especially when their children are young.

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

MP: Parenthood has taught me many valuable skills, but one of the most important ones I have acquired is how to embrace differences. I realized the significance of this skill as my children got older and began to grow into themselves. I realized that even though my kids were siblings, they were incredibly different from each other. However, this did not diminish my love for them. Instead, I sought to identify their individual strengths and help them develop and flourish in their own unique ways.

By recognizing and supporting these differences, I was able to create a harmonious environment for my family. In a similar vein, I was able to apply those lessons to the workplace, where I encouraged my colleagues to embrace their individual strengths and foster an environment where everyone felt valued and appreciated. Ultimately, through my experiences I learned that embracing differences can be a powerful tool for creating a positive and inclusive environment both at home and in the workplace.

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

MP: I think there is so much from the work world that can help with parenting. I always try to lead by example. I want to show them what commitment and hard work look like and what is possible if you give your all. We talk a lot about business and politics and try to instill curiosity and the importance of lifelong learning. I also love that my boys will grow up knowing there is no limit to what a woman is capable of.

My kids also understand that the skillsets of the future are rooted in entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, strategic thought and creativity. So many things will be done by machines, but mastering those four skills that I have leaned on throughout my career will ensure they are prepared for the future.

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

MP: As the mother of two boys, it amazes me how much confidence little boys have! My sons often tell me, “No one is better,” and to “Just go for it!” Sometimes I think to myself, what would my son Tyler do? So, their best advice to me is just to believe in myself, even on the days when that might feel difficult.

NAME: Edithann Ramey
TITLE: Chief Marketing Officer
COMPANY: Six Flags [Formerly CMO of On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina]
WHY WE PICKED HER: Appointed CMO at Six Flags in February, Ramey most recently led On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina through a major menu innovation and guest experience relaunch as its CMO. A few of her recent wins: The brand’s last campaign for Cinco de Mayo resulted in the most successful event of the past five years, with sales lift up 250 percent compared to a typical Thursday. During the pandemic, she created a new online ordering system, website relaunch, mobile app and a new rewards program. For instance, when on-premise lunch business declined by 20 percent, she pivoted to catering and menu innovation to recuperate sales. As the only female member of On The Border’s C-Suite, Ramey led through mentorship and hosting development workshops, which helped elevate On The Border’s workforce to 15.5 percent Hispanic or Latino females. Outside of work, she supports the KPMG Family for Literacy program, which works to eradicate childhood illiteracy by providing new books and educational resources for children in need.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

ER: Flexibility and empathy in work/life balance. Trust that we will get it done. The schedule might be different, but as long as the output is great, then give us room to take care of business and home. Build out family benefits, including childcare discounts and fertility services. And create a culture of belonging. Bring together new parents with seasoned parents, and provide them a place to connect with educational resources and advice forums.

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

ER: Multitasking—but prioritizing along the way to ensure you are getting the results your need. Patience and perseverance: Always know your “why” and have a clear purpose so you can survive and thrive when things get tough. And [learning to] adapt your leadership/coaching style. Much like you adjust to the different needs of each child, the same can be applied to your team. Everyone needs you differently, and adapting your style to better serve your direct reports allows for a better and more successful team.

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

ER: Giving honest feedback. It’s done so well in the business world, and I’ve applied and leveraged those techniques to communicate with my husband and kids. Problem solving: As a parent you come across problems you didn’t even know could be a problem. Encouraging my kids to openly discuss challenges and help guide them to solutions has been key. And being results-oriented. My mantra is to “do the activities that drive the desired results.” I apply that to my team, to my kids and to myself.

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

ER: “Mommy, it’s okay if you don’t pick us up from school. Please come to stuff where we really need you, and we will be ok.”

NAME: Mercedita Roxas-Murray
TITLE: CEO
COMPANY: Montage Marketing Group
WHY WE PICKED HER: After a stint as Executive Vice President and Partner at RedPeg marketing with a client roster that included GEICO, Chevy, Zyrtec, Cambria/Choice Hotels and others, in 2014 Roxas-Murray embarked on founding her own agency with the goal of improving communities through everyday action and impact. Nor is that mission simply lip service. The company exclusively pursues work that impacts communities, prioritizes diverse hiring practices, supports other woman- and minority-owned businesses and advocates for the competitiveness of small businesses at the local and state level. In just six years, the shop has landed several awards and critical accreditations. Roxas-Murray supports an array of causes personally as well, from ending homelessness to fueling entrepreneurship to supporting minority businesses. She volunteers with the AARP Foundation while also finding the time to be a guest lecturer on entrepreneurship at local high schools and colleges.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

MRM: One of the biggest challenges for working moms is juggling the competing demands of work, family, spouse or significant other, friends and personal wellness. The remote workplace has taught us that doing great work doesn’t require a fixed office and a fixed schedule. The industry can use this as evidence and an opportunity to create balance and support working moms. Creating a hybrid workplace; allowing for flex-time, alternative work schedules or doing away with regulated schedules; and making work more task- or project completion-based are all scenarios for employers to consider. 

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

MRM: Being a mom is a time of discovery about yourself and about your family. Some of those discoveries are not always flattering!

I’ve learned the importance of individuality. Kids are not the same from one to the next. Neither are clients, employees or partners. Their needs, the way that they engage, and the way that they are motivated or inspired are uniquely their own. You have to adapt to that. In business, when you are time-constrained and trying to be efficient, it can be difficult. I have challenged myself to balance both, allowing all those I interact with to have their own unique ways of doing things while also adapting our interactions to my bullet-point work style.

I’ve also learned the value of recognition and acknowledgment. This has become especially apparent in a remote work environment. The harder it is to create connection and personal touchpoints, the more important it is to have moments when you lift up team members. Recognition is also received differently person to person. Some people don’t like to be praised in front of others and others love it. Some prefer alternate forms of praise, like small gifts. Others just like to hear that they are appreciated.

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

MRM: I have learned how to compartmentalize at work. There are so many different projects, tasks and responsibilities. Trying to tackle them all at once means you tackle nothing. You have to be able to minimize distraction and focus on the priorities first.

At home, if I need to do something, I have to be okay with walking past the dropped clothes on the floor, the backpack on the counter, the shoes in the kitchen, and stay focused on what I am wanting to do. If I tried to take on everything, I’d be running around like a chicken with my head cut off! When you do that, you also get stressed. And when you get stressed, you don’t always treat others very nicely. At work, you should always be nice (or at least professional). The same should apply at home.

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

MRM: The best advice I received from my kids is to have treats or food in the office. Everyone loves to eat! And when people eat, they socialize. Snacks bring people together, build connection and create a more lighthearted environment. My kids were also less cranky with an occasional treat, so I think there is something to that!

NAME: Carrie Schonberg
TITLE: Chief Marketing Officer
COMPANY: Ashton Woods Homes
WHY WE PICKED HER: She joined Ashton Woods Homes in 2012 on a mission to infuse a marketing sensibility into the 25-year-old private homebuilder brand, racking up numerous wins, like the company’s first-ever segmentation study that defined prime prospects and established a new brand positioning. In 2017, she led the launch of new entry-level brand, Starlight Homes, to target first-time home buyers. Her bold moves helped fuel revenue growth from $300 million to more than $3 billion over a decade. Schonberg is known—and highly appreciated—for her regular off-site workshops with her marketing group, where frank conversations and sharing vulnerabilities are encouraged. Outside of work, she serves as President of her son’s magnet school foundation, leading a board that surpassed $100,000 in annual fundraising for the first time in the school’s history. And get this: She coaches both her son’s baseball and her daughter’s softball teams.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

CS: As an industry, as leaders, we need to create space for vulnerability. Simply having the title of “working mom” carries with it the expectation that you can and should “have it all.”  That’s a lot to live up to, and you can run yourself into the ground just trying. In today’s world, we see glimpses into everybody’s best life on social media, the moments when we are crushing it. Rarely do we hear about the tradeoffs… missing a little league game or a lost tooth while on a business trip... or for that matter, passing up a career opportunity when you need to prioritize family. There is no such thing as balance. The best we can work towards is harmony.

On the surface it may look as if every other mom has it all figured out. But if we’re being totally honest, not one of us has. When I spend time talking with new and soon-to-be working moms, I show up as my whole self and share the entirety of my what that “title” of working mom means to me. The more we realize we are all living some version of a shared experience, the more we realize that we are not alone and have other working moms who need us just like we need them, the better we can openly support each other.

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

CS: One of the most valuable skills I’ve learned as a mom is being truly present in the moment. At home, that means phone down, open heart, open mind and active engagement. When I practice the same in meetings and 1:1s with my team, they are that much more meaningful and productive as opposed to the times I find myself multitasking. Also, the ability to identify when others are struggling, and instead of jumping in to solve the problem for them, empowering them to work through challenges on their own. On top of all of that… patience.

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

CS: Too many to count, but the work skills I apply to parenting just about every day are the art of negotiation, expectation management, adaptability and resilience. I’m also proud to have raised an 11-year-old with PowerPoint skills well beyond his years and a seven-year-old who can deliver a Girl Scout cookie sales pitch with the confidence of a seasoned keynote speaker.

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

CS: I was at a loss on this one so I asked my son, Brock, for advice. He rattled off what felt like every lesson I’ve tried to convey to him over the years: focus on the journey, not the destination; always try new things, even if they seem scary at first; if there’s a goal you want to achieve, go earn it; it’s ok to make mistakes, just make sure you learn from them; believe in yourself. Wow, I guess he was listening after all.

My daughter Joelle’s advice? “If you ever have a problem, just ask yourself ‘what would a unicorn do?’ They’re magical. They can do anything.”

Solid advice on both counts.

NAME: Liz Tashik
TITLE: Regional Vice President, Client Experience
COMPANY: Movable Ink
WHY WE PICKED HER: Over the course of eight years at martech personalization company Movable Ink, Tashik has worked with more than 200 clients, and she currently manages a team of 35 customer success professionals. But let’s talk about her impact: She helped the largest bank in the U.S. find production efficiencies on their biggest and most successful program, reducing email production time by over 80 percent. Another notable example: She worked with a Fortune 500 retailer to increase revenue by triple-digit percentages by scaling the personalization within their email program. Tashik also launched—and leads—the ERG “Movable Moms,” an offshoot of the company’s female ERG, Movable Pink, to support other moms through education, support and empowerment. And this past year, she was honored by Built In's “Moxie Awards 2022” and recognized as a rising woman in tech.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

LT: The pandemic has pushed the corporate world closer to acceptance of working parents, which is the very first, rudimentary step here. I’d love to never hear a working parent feel the need to apologize for anything related to their parenting—children in Zooms, time off for doctor’s appointments, etc.—and for fathers to be held to the same standards and expectations of childcare as working mothers.

Some basic needs include flexible schedules (which I’m really lucky to have in my current role) and truly livable wages and family benefits so that we can afford to excel in our careers and bring true value to our companies, all while knowing our kids have safe and reliable childcare.

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

LT: Patience is a skill that I’ve always struggled with a bit, but nothing will help you master it more than being a parent. I think I bring a little more patience and understanding to the workforce and to my team as a parent.

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

LT: I’ve always been in roles where the work is never done; I’ve worn multiple hats for as long as I can remember, and figuring out what takes priority and what can have the biggest impact is an important part of my every day. This had to be brought into my parenting as well once I came back from my first maternity leave. For instance, what can wait at home (the laundry), what is important to make time for (bedtime, daily walks, silly dance parties) and what has the biggest impact (nightly story-time, patient communication and creating a safe place for my kids).

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

LT: Parenting is really hard—much harder than my day job—and something I’ve recently tried to focus on are the parts that truly bring me joy. Of course, parenting is full of all the necessary pieces required to raise decent humans, but I’m trying to slow down to enjoy the times that I am truly happy, and to maximize those moments as much as possible. I’m looking at my work in the same way. I’m happiest when my team is realizing success, growing, our work is being acknowledged and I’m meeting new and interesting people. How can I maximize that by day, and maximize the silly giggles, extra-long snuggles and moments of pride I have in watching my children grow and accomplish their own goals?

My kids inspire me to look for the fun in anything we do. (So I can answer the daily dreaded question of “what are we doing that’s fun today?”) I’ve always been someone up for a celebration, but now more than ever, I’m here to celebrate all wins, big and small, and try to find the fun in anything we’re investing time and energy into both at home and in the office.

NAME: Kate Weidner
TITLE: Co-founder and CEO
COMPANY: SRW Agency
WHY WE PICKED HER: Weidner co-founded SRW in 2016 as an agency partner for natural food brands. Today, the shop boasts 40-plus employees and nearly $10 million in gross revenue. When many companies were struggling during the pandemic, she managed to accelerate agency growth by 42 percent year-over-year. She ensures that SRW provides equal paid leave to all birth or adoptive parents, whether male, female or non-binary, thereby creating a culture of inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ parents as well as those who choose to adopt or are unable to conceive.

Moreover, even amidst experiencing a family tragedy, Weidner has proven exemplary. During SRW’s second year, she gave birth to and lost her infant son after 33 weeks of pregnancy. After donating her breast milk to a local milk bank that supports babies in the NICU, she learned how few mothers who’ve lost infants are aware of the option to donate their milk, something that can help the grieving process immensely. So, upon returning to work, she committed to helping the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes spread awareness about their work, revamped their website, launched social media channels, worked on new creative and spoke at engagements on their behalf—which ultimately landed them a front-page story in the Chicago Sun-Times.

CM: How can the industry better support working moms?

KW: Our industry is often focused on evening activities as the chance to do business, but as moms, we need an equal playing field—which means we need the game to happen during business hours. Working moms get about 3-4 hours a day with their kids on work days, much of which is spent doing essential tasks like feeding and caring for them. I often say no to industry dinners and happy hours in favor of breakfasts and coffee chats, and, as much as possible, I avoid late meetings. Making that schedule the norm and expectation would be a huge help to all working parents.

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

KW: Prioritization is number one. As a working mom, your to-do list is never finished, but you know what has got to get done and how to make it happen. That's an essential skill in business, especially as a leader.

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

KW: Staying calm under pressure. When everyone else is losing their cool, it's my job as CEO to stay calm and help find a solution. The same is true at home. With three kids, there's usually one that's having a hard day at any given time. Sometimes, it's all three at once. I've learned to be a calming presence to allow them to feel supported through their most challenging moments, and I learned that skill first in my career.

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

KW: No matter what happens at work, my kids love me. It can be deflating to lose a new business pitch or have something else go wrong at the office. But when I am home with my kids, they don't care about any of that. They don't even know what I do for a living, really. They love me because of who I am and how I care for them, and that context helps me keep everything in perspective when I'm having a hard time.