For years, my life was governed by a silent, high stakes countdown.

As 5:00 PM approached in the glass walled offices of AdTech giants the “panic” would set in. It wasn’t about a missed deadline or a dropping CPM; it was the physiological dread of being the first person to stand up and leave, even after I “negotiated” a 5pm departure in my contract. 

I was a leader, a high performer, and a powerhouse in client meetings. But the moment I stepped toward the elevator to make it home for dinner or a school play, I felt like I was breaking a law I never signed.

I realized then that the corporate “standard” wasn’t just outdated, it was a blueprint designed for a world that didn’t include primary caregivers. So, I stopped trying to fit into a chair at someone else’s table. Utilizing an event that could have broken me in my career I used as a catalyst for something new… I built my own.

The Myth of the 9-to-5 (and the 24/7 Travel)

The AdTech industry has long suffered from a “hero culture.” You aren’t a hero unless you’re on a 6:00 AM flight to Cannes or answering Slacks at midnight.

This “travel or bust” mentality created a narrow path to leadership. If you couldn’t drop everything for a last minute client dinner, you were perceived as “less than” committed. But here’s the reality: The 9-to-5 was never designed for the person who also manages the 5-to-9.

By clinging to these rigid structures, companies lose out on some of the most brilliant, strategic minds in the business, simply because those minds also have to manage a pediatrician appointment or a soccer practice.

Give to Gain: A New ROI

When I founded The Marketeer Group, I didn’t just want to change what we did; I wanted to change how we did it. I introduced a philosophy I call “Give to Gain.”

The concept is simple:

• Give employees the radical flexibility to own their schedules, honor their family commitments, and work when they are most fueled.
• Gain their best work, their deepest loyalty, and a level of efficiency that “office hours” could never manufacture.

This was before the pandemic, when remote work wasn’t the norm and 5 days in the office was. But I realized when you remove the mental tax of “Am I allowed to be away from my desk?” you unlock a massive amount of cognitive bandwidth. My team doesn’t work for me; they work with me toward a goal. If that goal is met while they’re sitting in a carpool lane, the mission is still accomplished. We are all adults, why not work like one. 

Lifting as I Climb: Mentorship and Impact

Building my own table wasn’t just about creating a sanctuary for myself; it was about ensuring I wasn’t the last person to walk through the door. I’ve made it a core mission of my leadership to mentor the next generation of marketers. Particularly those who are new to the industry and/or feel they have to choose between a career and a life. Whether it’s through formal mentorship programs or informal “real-talk” sessions about navigating the AdTech world, I want to bridge the gap between corporate ambition and human reality. Giving back isn’t an extracurricular activity for me, it’s the primary way I ensure the industry evolves. I give back with my whole heart and genuinely want to make a difference, have an impact and push it forward. 

How Motherhood Made Me a Better CEO

I used to fear that being a “present parent” to my daughter would soften my edge. In reality, it sharpened it.

• Empathy as a Strategy: Understanding the chaos of a household makes me more attuned to the needs of my clients and my team. It teaches me patience, not everything is how it seems, and to listen more to learn more. 
• Efficiency over Endurance: Being a parent teaches you how to get eight hours of work done in five. I no longer value how long someone sits in a chair; I value the impact they make. How their clients feel and what work they are able to accomplish.
• Authentic Leadership: Showing my daughter that I can lead a company without sacrificing our family time is the ultimate “win.” Showing her that it isn’t about having it all, it’s about balancing what you have and understanding boundaries and priorities.  

Redesigning the Industry

We are in the business of marketing, which is ultimately the business of human connection. How can we expect to connect with audiences if we are disconnected from our own lives?

I’m not just “in marketing” anymore. I’m in the business of proving that you can be a CEO, a visionary, and a present parent all at once. By building a better table at The Marketeer Group, I’m showing that there is plenty of room for all of us to thrive, provided we finally change the rules of the game. Which is exactly what I am set out to do!