When I walked out of Harvard Business School with my MBA focusing on Entrepreneurial Studies securely in my hands, I knew I had it covered. I had been taught by the best minds in academics and business and had voraciously absorbed everything they had to share. Over the years, that knowledge helped me create a series of successful entrepreneurial ventures. I am forever grateful for my stellar education.

...motherhood was what really taught me how to negotiate, communicate in the business world, think on my feet and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. Raising three kids is undoubtedly the best training ground I could have for understanding what it takes to succeed and thrive in the entrepreneurial universe. Those lessons traveled directly from the playroom to the boardroom.

At some point I realized my children have been my greatest driver in my business for nearly 20 years.

Being a Mother

I started to scan back over my career of things that I do well and thank you notes that I received or companies we were able to fund or exits we were able to make or wonderful events that pulled off well or speakers we've recruited and I thought, “What did I do here?” What skill do I have?”... and then, “Where did I get that skill?” Interestingly the answer was not “At Harvard Business School, as an entrepreneur, as a mentor, an investor, board advisor, etc. Over and over the answer to the question, “Where did I learn what I needed to succeed in Business?” was: “Being a Mother!”

What I'll Touch on