Mom Interviews

What did you do in your previous life?

I was a presidential appointee in the Clinton Administration for three years. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my life that I will always cherish. After that, I spent a year and a half as a business consult in Hong Kong.

Do you think being an entrepreneur makes it easier or harder to balance your work and family responsibilities?

It is more challenging to manage an entrepreneurial venture and being a mom than my 12-14 hour work days in the White House! I do have more flexibility in my schedule but I work harder than I have ever worked in my life.

What has been most challenging about starting your own company?

First, capital. The continual need for funding to grow the business.

Second, managing time. I want my kids to feel that their needs are met and that they feel nurtured and loved. And, I need time to work. Every day requires intensive prioritization and time management.

What has surprised you in this process of running your own business?

How long everything takes. When I have an idea, I want to implement it immediately. However, there are so many variables, considerations, and decisions that have to be made to implement that idea that it often takes more time than I’d like.

What do you find most exciting about being an entrepreneur?

I am doing what I love. From early on, my vision was to figure out a way to help women on a large scale. I wanted to help women realize their own vision for their lives and know that they have the power to design their lives in ways in which they want. When I worked for President Clinton, the goal was always to help as many people as possible no matter what the initiative or program was that we were implementing. I carried this over to Mom Inventors, Inc..

Can you briefly describe your usual day, from the time you wake up in the morning?

My day begins with my girls - having breakfast, getting dressed, lunches made, and ready for school and then dashing out the door to drop them both off at their schools. Then the moment I’ve dropped them off, I’m making calls from the car as I drive back to the office. Then the next five hours are spent working and having meetings. It feels like a sprint - working as fast as I possibly can to get as much accomplished within those hours.

Then off to pick up the girls. Now I focus on them. Hear about their day, do something fun together like going to the park. We have dinner together; play outside until dark, bath, reading before bed.