My Summer as a different kind of CMO

I’ve had dozens of conversations with folks, who like me had recently started to reflect on life and career choices. What does it mean to strike a balance between career and family? How do I find more time for myself while maintaining or accelerating my career trajectory? What do I want to do for the next XX years of my life? To sort through these I needed space to think, and a vacation just wasn’t going to cut it. So I took quite a big leap and left my executive job at Google to explore freedom, family, and fun. For many of us, the thought of relinquishing a successful position is daunting (and perhaps a little crazy) but for me, it was a necessary step toward embracing a more fulfilling life. I am aware that taking a sabbatical is not a luxury available to everyone, and I am grateful for the privilege of having a supportive husband and a stable financial situation that make this possible.

Making a brave bet

I’ve written countless strategy documents that include “big bets” for hitting the plan that year, but it wasn’t until this year that I contemplated the big bets I needed to make to achieve my personal goals. As I worked through this notion with my executive coach (the incredible Jackie Yeaney), we talked about the fear of making high-risk life decisions and the bravery it takes. Jackie introduced me to the idea of “brave bets”.?

This led me to make a brave bet on myself: A Career Pause for Personal Purpose.

In March, I mourned the passing of my mother, Pamela, and in July, I faced the heart-wrenching loss of my father, Sidney. Their departures profoundly impacted my perspective on life, reminding me of the importance of cherishing every moment together with loved ones. I realized I was not cherishing anything - I was hurtling through each day at breakneck speed “doing it all”. Super-Sally: first and foremost career woman, business executive, and fearless leader; at the same time I successfully crafted a life of fleeting engagement to fulfill Daughter-Mother-Wife-Sister-Aunt-Friend duties. Sound familiar? I loved the buzz of it, but with my son about to turn 10, key milestones were slipping by, and the moment of clarity arrived — it was time to embrace a different kind of leadership focused on personal purpose.?

Embracing the Role of Chief Mom Officer

Stepping out of the corporate world meant redefining my identity. Who am I if I am not working? Leading a team? Driving business outcomes? If I am not doing those things, then what am I doing? I worked the last 25 years as a woman in tech, earning my seat at the table. What happens when I step away from the table???

Being a "Chief Mom Officer" was not just a new title; it was a commitment to dedicate time and attention to my son, family, and friends. I envisioned a summer filled with adventures and learning experiences, from campervan family road trips to time at home in the garden. Most critically, giving myself the gift of time to reflect, refresh, and figure out what I want to do with the next stage of my life and career.

The practicalities of my CMO daily life were both refreshing and challenging. I learned so much, but three main themes emerged that might be helpful for those of you out there who may be contemplating your brave bet:?

#1. Wherever you go, there you are

Thanks to Taoist philosophy for summing up the journey of self-discovery so succinctly in 6 words. Turns out for me this is true, and possibly something many folks out there will recognize in themselves. I learned that to thrive I need to be challenged and I need to be learning. So, whether I’m working in tech or staying at home “there I am” fearlessly seeking out new experiences with passion and determination.

Personal insight: All of the ambition, focus, energy, and leadership I had invested in my career were now redirected into this new home life. I challenged myself to give my son an awesome summer. We went on long vacations and daily adventures, we even squeezed in a couple of local camping trips (including one where I chopped off the end of my finger with a hatchet, but that's a whole other story). I mom’d like never before. I challenged myself to spend more time outside, but instead of relaxing in the garden and reading a book, I re-landscaped the entire thing. I challenged myself to become stronger, but rather than deepen my yoga practice, I joined a strength training gym to push myself harder (today I lifted my record). I also made time to just be. Now, to be brutally honest I had to schedule in time for stillness such as meditation (that often turned into naps), but once on the calendar, it became more natural. I thrived. I thrived because I challenged myself in new ways. I learned new things. I learned this is how I operate.

Career insight: I thrive in rapid growth conditions. On reflection, the most fulfilling moments of my career were those that were also the most innovative, fast-paced, and also the most challenging. I love turning ideas into realities to create lasting value, working on nascent businesses scaling revenue growth and brand awareness, and helping teams and individuals thrive by working together. So, for my next position, I have learned I need to focus on an organization where innovation is at the forefront, where risk-taking is embraced, and where adaptability is in the DNA. A place where my entrepreneurial spirit is elevated and not extinguished.?

#2. Belonging beyond the business

Belonging isn't something I'd intentionally thought about for myself until this experience. I guess I always felt like I belonged to whichever company I worked for, in fact so much of my identity was tied tightly to the job and organization. From the friends I made and spent time with at work and outside of work, to ensuring I was creating a culture of belonging within the teams that I led. Sure, I have good friendships outside of work with a close-knit group, but I didn’t take the time to belong to any other realms.?

Personal insight: My CMO stint was time to change this. I contributed to my kids' school, started going to all my son’s soccer games (and actually watching), and engaged more deeply with the nonprofit organization I’m involved in (shameless plug for support of WWIN), all of this provided me with a fulfilling sense of community that I hadn’t fully experienced before. I attended networking events that not only expanded my professional connections but also fostered new relationships that enriched my personal and social circles.?

Career insight: This summer taught me that fulfillment and belonging can flourish in unexpected places when we invest time in our communities and relationships. As I look forward as a leader in the workplace I will of course ensure I continue to foster a sense of belonging within my org, but also encourage my teams to explore prioritizing time for belonging outside of work. Social ties are critical to physical and mental health. Yet 58% of people in the U.S. report feeling a lack of meaningful connection and sense of belonging (source: gosunny.org). I believe being intentional about creating meaningful connections strengthens engagement, performance, and ultimately productivity.

#3. The pursuit of purpose

"The greatest fear is not death, but living a life without purpose." said a wise philosopher. That is not to say that before taking this sabbatical I felt no sense of purpose, more that the realms where I found joy, fulfillment, and a sense of meaning were limited, and over-indexed on work. And if the work I was doing did not fully satiate the fulfillment I needed, then I felt lacking. And in the case of my purpose as a mother, while this was (is) the greatest joy in my life, I’ve often felt guilty for not being as present as I could be if I’d made different choices.?

Personal insight: What I’ve learned is the “motherly guilt” was mostly self-inflicted (insecure overachiever), the steps I made to be more present as a Daughter-Mother-Wife-Sister-Aunt-Friend while appreciated by the recipients, this was mostly for me. What I mean by that is having time off helped me recalibrate where I spend my time, enabling a different perspective and prioritization to emerge that enabled me to be present, whereas previously I was unsuccessfully multi-tasking. Mummy showing up to soccer and cheering from the sidelines matters way more than me sending one more email from my phone. Being intentional to spend time with a friend 1:1 each week vs fleeting group texts. Small changes equaled a big impact.?

Career insight: I’ve experienced moments where I have lacked professional purpose and others where the mission is all-encompassing. I learned I am an all-in person, and I need to work in a culture that's all-in. Said otherwise, I need to work in an organization whose mission, vision, and values are something I am excited about and that I can get behind. This is highly correlated to #1 above, I believe a leadership team closely aligned to the company purpose is a force multiplier,? impacting culture, employee engagement, innovation, and ultimately business success. That means I will be focused on joining an organization that is mission-driven and high-performing, and I won’t be taking a role for money, title, or convenience.

A brave bet that’s paid off

In sports betting, when you win a bet, you'll get back the amount of your stake plus a profit for winning. The amount of profit will vary and depend on the odds. There’s also of course the chance you don’t win and lose everything. In the case of the “brave bet” I made on myself, I feel like I won the jackpot. Deciding to leave my job to go on this journey may seem like a pretty nuclear approach, whilst it was the right decision for me, you can likely embark on your self-discovery by making some adjustments alongside your current role.?

What’s next? ?I have clarity on what my next chapter looks like both personally and professionally. I understand who I am, the conditions I need to thrive, and how to thrive consistently, and with purpose. I’m actively looking for a mission-driven, innovative, entrepreneurial, high-performance business that needs a CMO at the helm of marketing to help scale the business. Maybe it’s a unicorn, but? I’m going after it. One might say, this is my next brave bet.?

What’s your brave bet??

I invite you to reflect on your journeys. Have you navigated similar transitions or made changes for your family amid a busy career? Sharing your experiences can inspire and uplift others who may be facing similar challenges. Join the conversation in the comments below, and let’s continue to support one another on this incredible journey.