This month I’m highlighting Lisa Horten as the Mompowerment mama. I really enjoyed chatting with Lisa. Not only was she in a demanding industry in a flexible role, but her former employer specifically approached the business with part-time working moms in mind.
There’s another impressive side to Lisa’s story. When I interviewed Lisa in 2016, she was at Stroller Traffic, an online publication for moms, in a role of editorial director. She also managed The Cribsie Awards, which recognizes the best products, services, and platforms (e.g., websites) for parents with babies to toddler-aged children. And this past spring, she took ownership of the The Cribsie Awards
She’s the CEO and president. Yes, you read that right. As a mom with two young children, she has taken on being in the driver’s seat for a company. (Yep, I saw on many occasions that it’s doable to have flexibility and be in leadership roles.)
Lisa’s background
After earning degrees in journalism and art history, Lisa started working in the publishing industry as a writer and editor. She began her career at more traditional print publications and then moved to PopSugar, a well-known online lifestyle brand for women. After three years at PopSugar, Lisa became the editorial director of Stroller Traffic. She also took on the same role at its sister site, The Cribsie Awards, and eventually took over the company.
What does work look like?
Lisa’s workload varies from week-to-week. She admits that being her own boss has its pros and cons. The Cribsie Awards calendar includes a two-week window where the public gets to vote on their favorite baby and toddler products, so the months leading up to that are busy. Once it’s over and winners have been announced, things quiet down a bit. Lisa works from her home office (or, whichever coffee shop is most convenient with that day’s particular juggle).
What does childcare look like?
Childcare is incredibly important when you’re a working mom, especially when you have a demanding job. Lisa has a nanny come to the house twice a week. While Lisa’s 3 and 6-year old kids are at school, the nanny also helps with laundry and other household chores.
Support from her employer
Lisa moved to Stroller Traffic from her previous employer because she had a lot more of a professional opportunity with a flexible role. In fact, all the employees of the firm were employed in flexible roles, generally working a part-time schedule from home. So, no commute and more time with family!
Benefit of being a working mom with flexibility at work
Working makes Lisa a better mom because she’s focused on something other than kids. Since she doesn’t have commute time and has a lot of flexibility, she feels that she has the best of both worlds. Lisa gets to spend more time with her kids and is still developing her professional skills.
Challenges of working in a part-time role
Lisa definitely shoulders more of the burden of childcare and household responsibilities. She had to figure out a new groove after the birth of her second child. She admits to often overcommitting to volunteer roles at the kids’ schools and around the community, which means she has to make up the lost work time later on. And, as someone who works from home primarily, she sometimes misses adult interaction and collaboration.
Advice for working moms
- Stay organized. It’s really helpful for working moms who have flexibility to stay uber-organized to use their time wisely. Making a “to-do” list for the coming day before bed every night, and constantly prioritizing what needs the most urgency are crucial to fitting it all in.
- Don’t be OK with “no” answers from employers. If you want more flexibility, “be pushy” about what you want. Know your value, be confident in your value, and put forth a strong case as to why you’re worth it.
- Be willing to provide game plan to your manager and/or team. Help your manager or senior leadership team understand what you need and what that can look like from a logistics perspective. Design what you want and spell it out to your team and manager.
- Define and maintain your limits, based on what you and your family need. Know what options you have and up to what point you’re willing to take things. For some that might mean that you’re willing to leave if your employer can’t make flexibility work.
If you’re wanting to read more from moms like Lisa. Grab your copy of either of the Mompowerment books today.
