Spotlight Series: Celebrating the Super Moms of Sono Bello.

Join our mini-series dedicated to interviewing working mothers of Sono Bello where we'll explore the beauty and challenges of navigating it all.

Today's spotlight is on Kristen Phillips , our Senior Marketing Manager who has been with us for 7 years! She is a bright light and truly gifted when it comes to prioritizing family, managing her team, and excelling as a working supermom.

What do you love most about being a Mom?

Watching these little humans (that I made!) develop and grow into curious, funny, smart, interesting people. The whole experience is fantastic albeit exhausting ??

What words of encouragement do you have for other working Moms?

Balancing the demands of work and family is no easy task, but every day you are doing an incredible job juggling it all. I see you and you are doing amazing!

What are you most proud of about being a working Mom?

I take pride in my ability to navigate the complexities of modern life while being able to fulfill my professional aspirations and provide love, support, and financial stability for my family. I am strong, dedicated, and resilient – and if my children see that then they can embody that.

What kind of support do you find most helpful from the workplace and/or your manager?

As a mother, flexibility and understanding from the workplace and my manager are incredibly valuable. Having the option for flexible work hours or remote work to better accommodate family responsibilities is important to me and my success. I am grateful to have a supportive manager who prioritizes work-life balance and is empathetic to the challenges of balancing work and family responsibilities - which creates a positive and inclusive work environment. Communication is also key; being able to openly discuss any concerns or needs related to parenting without fear of judgment or negative repercussions fosters a supportive workplace culture.

What are ways you invest in your health and wellbeing?

I try to find balance and prioritize self-care amidst my busy schedules. Finding time throughout the day to go for a walk or do a quick workout helps me maintain my physical health, reduces my stress, and boosts my confidence.

How do you promote transparency and challenge societal norms to support working parents (and yourself) in openly communicating about expected and?unexpected family events?

I strive to create a culture of understanding and flexibility in the workplace by establishing clear expectations, encouraging open dialogue to normalize discussions around expected and unexpected family events and most importantly, I lead by example. As a working parent, I openly discuss my own family commitments and how I will be managing them with my team which sets an example for others to feel comfortable doing the same. I find sharing personal experiences can help break down barriers and create a more supportive environment.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a working Mom?Going back to work after my first child was born was extremely difficult because although I wanted to return to work, dropping her off at daycare for the first time was devastating and certainly impacted my ability to focus and be productive. I found it challenging to be 100% committed to work those first few weeks.

What solutions or practices have you found most effective in overcoming these challenges? Time, repetition, and grace is what helped me overcome. Being a new mom is tough and brings a lot of new challenges and emotions – some of which make it difficult to devote yourself to work again right away. Be patient and give yourself some grace.

How do you communicate your availability and boundaries to your team? I like to give my team the autonomy and flexibility that I am provided by my manager. In doing so, I try to provide updates on schedule changes or periods of time I might be unavailable, so they feel informed.

What changes in the industry do you hope to see to support working parents? Expanded parental leave policies – we need to extend the duration of leave to allow parents to bond with their newborns or newly adopted children without the added stress of financial insecurity.