Real Conversations. Remarkable Women. A Redefinition of Success.
At the 2025 PILLAR CT Summit in Greenwich, Connecticut, something rare happened. A room full of accomplished women—from CEO to surgeons—spoke not just about career success, but about the full reality of being a working mother today.
The energy wasn’t performative. It was honest. It was the kind of gathering that reminded us we’re not alone—and that thriving isn’t about having it all, but having what matters.
Here are five takeaways we won’t forget:
1. Cognitive Load Impacts Your Health—and Needs to Be Taken Seriously
We often talk about burnout, but what about the thousands of micro-decisions women make every day? The mental checklist that never ends? This invisible labor—the cognitive load—has real consequences for your wellbeing.
Sheila Lirio Marcelo, a serial entrepreneur and founder of two global platforms, shared how emotional strain and mental multitasking affect our performance and our health. She reminded us that our brains aren’t meant to hold everything—and the most sustainable success stories include delegation and support systems.
“You can grow in your career and be a mom. But you can’t do it all at once or all alone.”
She built Care.com and is now leading an AI platform, OHAI, to support the emotional well-being of CHOs (Chief Household Officers), who are often overlooked. She is not only a caretaker as a daughter, mother, and grandmother, but she is also working to help others as well.
We were reminded that:
- Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s strategy.
- If you have support, use it—and offer it to others.
- Cognitive workload should be tracked like physical health.
2. Motherhood Is a Professional Asset—Not a Setback
Motherhood Makes You Better at What You Do
There’s a common myth that becoming a mother somehow lessens your value in the workforce. But at PILLAR, we heard just the opposite—from women who’ve built and led companies, motherhood can actually be a strength.
Erika Ayers Badan, who now serves as the CEO of Food52 and was previously the first CEO of Barstool Sports, spoke candidly about how motherhood sharpened her skillset. It didn’t make her less capable—it made her more resourceful, more efficient, more empathetic, and more decisive with her time.
These aren’t soft skills. These are executive skills.
“I became a better communicator, a faster thinker, and a more decisive leader. Motherhood taught me how to move quickly—and with purpose.”
This was a reminder that:
- Motherhood isn’t a pause—it’s a transformation.
- You bring more to the table, not less.
- Emotional intelligence, time management, problem solving—these are all sharpened by parenting.
You didn’t step back. You leveled up.
The Workplace Has Changed—Now We Can Make It Work for Us
One story that hit home for many attendees during the summit was shared by a mom who has since gone on to be a successful business leader outline just how much the workforce has changed.
Years ago, when her child was sick, she asked her employer if she could work from home. The answer was no. No flexibility. No options. No consideration. This was normal, it was easy for them to say no.
It wasn’t just inconvenient—it was exclusionary.
But now, after the seismic shifts brought on by COVID, the conversation has changed. Remote work isn’t a rare exception—it’s a proven solution. Flexibility isn’t just a benefit—it’s a business advantage. And mothers are exactly the kind of employees this new model needs.
Today, Erica is using her leadership role—now as CEO of Food52—to create what didn’t exist before. She’s launching a program specifically designed to bring mothers back into the workforce—because she sees what many companies still overlook:
“If you’re not creating space for mothers, you’re missing out on your strongest workforce.”
She’s not just opening the door—she’s rebuilding the room, and inviting more of us in.
What this moment means:
- We can return to work on our terms and bring everything we’ve gained with us.
- Remote work isn’t a step back—it’s an open door.
- Flexible schedules lead to stronger outcomes for families and companies.
- The future of work is smarter, more human—and it includes us.
So, if you’re thinking about stepping back in—or stepping up—you’re right on time.
3. Your Network Can Lead You to Better Balance—and Better Health
Throughout the PILLAR Summit, one message kept rising to the surface: success doesn’t come from doing it all—it comes from knowing who to lean on.
Three inspiring women in leadership opened up about what it really looks like to build a career while raising a family—and how their networks helped them grow, reset, and thrive.
Jess Jacobs, co-founder and CEO of Coterie, shared how her professional path wasn’t a straight line. She built her skillset over time, taking each opportunity as a steppingstone. With each chapter, her confidence grew. She reminded us that you don’t need to have it all figured out right away—you just need to stay in motion and surround yourself with people who believe in you.
At the same time, Bethany Evans, CMO of Rhone, got real about the same women often feel in asking for help at home—whether it’s hiring support, outsourcing tasks, or simply admitting it’s too much.
“Sometimes I think I’d be more successful if I had a wife.”
That moment made the room laugh—but it hit hard. The truth is: women aren’t falling short—we’re over-functioning in systems that weren’t built for us.
Melissa Maultsby, VP at Mastercard, shared her perspective on balance—not as perfection, but as a practice. She spoke about the quiet work of learning when to say yes, when to say no, and how she relies on her network to manage both career growth and family priorities.
And perhaps most importantly:
- Building your network is a skill. Use it for career moves, health decisions, and life logistics.
- Your support system can be your edge—and your sanity.
Leverage and Lean Into Your Network:
Start by identifying your “core team”—the people who help hold you up.
This might include loved ones, of course, but also those outside your family: your OB-GYN who really listens, a therapist who helps you process, an HR contact who advocates for flexibility, a mentor who’s been where you are, or a fellow parent who simply gets it.
Your network isn’t just professional—it’s deeply personal. These are the people who remind you you’re not in this alone. Build your team with intention, and lean on them when you need to.
The more we speak honestly about what it truly takes, the more we reduce the stigma for others. You’re not the only one figuring it out.
If you’re sharing your life on social media, be real. Honesty builds connection. One of the speakers opened up about navigating the tension between presenting a polished, put-together version of life and quietly managing a deeply personal struggle with her child.
Her story was a powerful reminder that mothers don’t have to appear perfect—and that there is real strength, support, and healing in vulnerability. More of her journey will be shared soon.
Don’t feel guilty if getting help costs money.
Hiring a nanny, housekeeper, or extra support isn’t a luxury—it’s a form of sustainable care. It’s not taboo anymore to say, “I can’t do this all on my own.” You’re not supposed to.
Choosing help doesn’t make you less capable—it shows strength, self-awareness, and a deep commitment to showing up for your family and yourself.
Let your community include the people you hire, too. They’re part of the team that helps you thrive.
Know that “balance” looks different for everyone—and it changes with the seasons of life.
For some, it means having a partner who stays home. For others, it’s hiring a live-in nanny, splitting shifts with a co-parent, or finding creative ways to manage schedules week by week. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and that’s the point.
Everyone makes it work in their own way. The key is having support that can move and grow with you. Never judge—just listen, show up, and help when you can. We build stronger communities when we allow each other the freedom to do what’s needed without shame.
Final reminder: There is no single “right” way to do this. But having support—whether emotional, logistical, professional, or physical—isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Your network is a resource. Use it.
Your needs are valid. Voice them.
Your life isn’t meant to run alone.
4. Confidence Isn’t a Trait—It’s a Skill You Build
One of the most refreshing messages of the day: you don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward. Jess Jacobs, co-founder and CEO of Coterie, shared how before Coterie she was a copywriter, not a CEO—but someone took a chance on her. And she owned it.
Another reminded us: fake it till you make it isn’t about pretending. It’s about trusting yourself to figure things out as you go—and giving others that same shot.
From building global marketing teams to hiring while parenting toddlers, these women reminded us:
- Confidence grows when you use it.
- The best teams are built by leaders who take chances—on themselves and others.
- Moms are often the most efficient workers in the room.
One of the summit’s speakers shared how smart work—not just hard work—is the key to career sustainability.
“You can do eight hours of work in three—and still make it to pickup. That’s not cutting corners. That’s clarity.”
5. Your Health Needs to Be Treated as Holistically as Your Life
In a quiet but powerful shift, the summit moved into a conversation about women’s health—not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.
Dr. Karli Goldstein, a fellowship-trained surgeon and founder of ESSE Care, shared a message many women needed to hear:
“You might have had fibroids removed. But if your pain is from endo—and your doctor doesn’t treat endo—you may never get the right diagnosis.”
Too many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed because they aren’t seeing specialists trained in complex pelvic conditions. Dr. G walked us through:
- How stress and inflammation can worsen symptoms
- Why you need to trust your instincts when something feels off
- And how creativity, science, and strategy belong in your health care plan, just like in your work
Learn More About Endometriosis→
Learn more about ESSE Care’s approach to integrative women’s health →
These Women Empowered Us—But They Also Helped Us Recenter
This wasn’t about “doing it all.” It was about doing what matters—and doing it with support. Every woman at the PILLAR Summit brought depth, vulnerability, and strategy to the table. They reminded us that success isn’t about hustle—it’s about alignment.
We don’t need to burn out to prove our worth.
We don’t need to apologize for being both brilliant and exhausted.
And we don’t need to choose between health and ambition—we deserve both.
What a powerful reminder of what’s possible when women come together with intention. Until next year, PILLAR—our hearts (and calendars) are full. ❤️
