Up the Ladder, a Leader, and a Mother
Nancy Green, president, and chief executive officer of Athleta, said that motherhood helped her focus more. It helped her get things done at the office, go back home, and make it for dinner with her kids. She also said that the nurturing side of parenthood helped her understand her employees more, thus, manage them better.
Sonia Syngal, president, and chief executive officer of Old Navy, said that taking care of her young ones has helped her approach work and employees with the same heart1.
As for Kristen Sonday, Co-founder & COO, Paladin, her tip to other working mothers is to find a women’s support group. This group could offer you hands-on advice when you need it2.
Jennifer Hyman, co-founder, and chief executive officer of Rent the Runway said that becoming a mother has made her more efficient. It made her more careful and concerned about her time and others' time.
In addition, Rent the Runway had a 100% retention of working mothers throughout its nine years. Working on the retention of working mothers helped Hyman understand why specific policies and other new ones were needed. Becoming a mother has also helped Hayman appreciate the role fathers play at home. Therefore, she equalized benefits for all females and males to allow equal roles at home.
While Rachel Berkey, Founder & CEO, Thimble Collection, suggests understanding your role and priorities within your family. She says that all the decisions she takes at work need to be compatible with her family’s needs, as for Rachel family comes first.
Sarah Lacy, an entrepreneur, business journalist, and mother, has a powerful saying:
"When you are raising kids, you have got to get into their head and understand why they are acting the way they are because they're not acting rationally, You can't tell them you'll just fire them if they don't shape up ... and that level of empathy you have to have to be a good parent is just so powerful in the workplace4".
1How motherhood made them better CEOs, Kelly Wallace, May 11, 2018, Accessed 9 August 2021, https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/11/pf/motherhood-ceo-leadership/index.html
2How becoming a mother made 11 CEOS, founders, and leaders better at their jobs, Apr 7, 2020, Accessed 9 August 2021, https://www.businessinsider.com/how-becoming-mother-made-11-leaders-better-at-their-jobs-2020-4#7-rachel-berkey-7
3How motherhood made them better CEOs, Kelly Wallace, May 11, 2018, Accessed 9 August 2021, https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/11/pf/motherhood-ceo-leadership/index.html
4 Kelly Wallace, May 2018, Money CNN, Accessed 9 August 2021, https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/11/pf/motherhood-ceo-leadership/index.html
For more about this topic, download our latest book "One Woman Two Jobs" for FREE:
