Balancing Motherhood and Career: Insights from a Digital Media VP

Balancing work and family life is no walk in the park, especially for moms who juggle multiple responsibilities every day. The demands of a career and the needs of a family can often feel overwhelming, making it essential to find strategies to manage both.

This is particularly important for companies to recognize, as women make up over half of the advertising workforce. An employer plays an important role in a mother's journey, especially with data that suggests 4 in 10 working mothers are likely to change jobs because of childcare issues.

Danyelle, VP of Digital and Programmatic Media at Brandience, shares her journey as a parent in the ad industry and her life as a mom to two energetic kids.

With nearly 15 years in the digital media space, she offers valuable insights on balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities, emphasizing the important role companies play in making this balance more manageable.

A Mom's Story of Work-Life Balance in Advertising (Q&A)

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your journey into the ad industry and your current role?

I got my BS in advertising from San Jose State University in California, and have been working in the digital media and programmatic space for almost 15 years. It’s been wonderful to be able to see so many sides of the digital landscape, including buy-side, sell-side, technology-focused, and programmatic-focused.

My current role with Brandience is VP of Digital and Programmatic Media. I get to be involved in all of the digital media happenings here, including strategy, implementation, and new business.

Q: Tell us about your family.

Ah—my favorite thing to talk about! I’m lucky enough to be the mom to 2 amazing kids—Olivia, who is 9, and AJ, who is 2.

My fiancé James and I like to keep the chaos rolling at our home, and have 2 French Mastiffs (Frank and Stella), a cat named Mike, and a few chickens in our backyard. Our home is always loud and full of love.

Q: Has your career path evolved since becoming a mom?

It really has, but I also think it’s just a product of evolving in my career as I’ve aged. Stability, work-life balance, and healthy work environments have become more of a priority to me.

Q: What does work-life balance mean to you?

Work-life balance is all about finding that sweet spot between your job and your personal life. It means making sure you have enough time to get your work done while also being able to be fully present and enjoy time at home with family. Gotta throw self-care in there too!  

It's about setting boundaries, prioritizing what's important, and sometimes tweaking your routine so that neither work nor personal life gets left too far behind.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a new mom?

Finding a routine that works for you and your family is something that’s extremely important. And what’s even harder about finding a routine is that it’s going to be constantly changing as your children grow up. Prioritizing tasks and finding a balance between everything is probably the most difficult.

The truth of it is that we’re only one person, and although most of us moms feel like we NEED to be superwoman, we have to grant ourselves grace and just do the best we can.

Q: How do you manage your daily schedule to balance work and family responsibilities?

This is something, honestly, I struggle with a lot! And sometimes the balance does tip to one side over the other—however, with clear, open communication at home and set expectations at work, it becomes a bit more manageable.

Q: What kind of support do you think is essential for new moms?

An environment that provides flexibility, and co-workers / a leadership team that see you as a human first and an employee second, is the best thing that any mother could ask for. Whether you’re returning to work because you want to or HAVE to, it can be extremely difficult to have to leave your children.

Q: How has your workplace supported you in balancing your roles as a mom and a professional?

Brandience has been extremely supportive of me as a new mom, and I think that starts from the top down. Here, we have a culture that truly encourages a work-life balance. It’s not always the case at other companies. Hear about Sathvika's journey from India to Brandience.

Something as simple as allowing flexibility when there are doctor’s appointments or sick children leads to happier and more productive employees! The leaders at Brandience made space for me as a breastfeeding/pumping mom and made sure that I always felt comfortable, supported, and happy!

Q: How can leaders in the industry better support their employees who are parents?

I think it all starts with a healthy and flexible work culture. Truly valuing the work-life balance for moms and all employees can make all the difference and is the secret to a successful team. Flexibility to take a child to the doctor, pick them up early from care if they are sick, can go such a long way with employees who are parents.

Q: What advice would you give to other new moms who are navigating their career or trying to balance work and home life?

Grant yourself grace! You are doing a great job, and know that if you cannot handle it all, it’s ok! There is a lot of pressure to do and be everything, and honestly, we are often putting these unrealistic expectations on ourselves. Remember to take care of yourself too! Also—it’s ok to still want to excel in your career!

Follow Danyelle's Journey

Danyelle's journey and tips on balancing work and family life offer valuable lessons for all of us. Connect with Danyelle on LinkedIn to stay updated on her latest insights and experiences.