Hiring, or looking to be hired?  Do you promote your products to families, or are you a mom looking for that ideal career?  Look no further!
Jessica from Chief Mom Officer is here!

"Moms are powerful.  Moms are consumers.  Moms have an impact.

I know. I'm stating the obvious.  Most companies that target moms know this but surprisingly they don't tap into the insight, the value, and the professional expertise that educated, experienced Moms can offer.  Many believe that Moms can't have the best of both worlds,  as a Chief Mom Officer myself, I'm here to say that you can.
What can Chief Mom Officers offer companies?

    * Business development
    * Marketing
    * Community Management
    * Public Relations
    * Networking through Social Media
    * Blogging
    * Writing
    * Usability testing
    * Promotion

What can companies offer their Chief Mom Officers?

    * Flexible schedules
    * Ability to telecommute
    * Competitive pay
    * Opportunity for growth as children grow
    * Understanding and respect of their role as Mom
    * Challenging work

In a nutshell, if you are a company offering a product or service to parents, especially Moms, hiring a Chief Mom Officer will give you a company evangelist, a social networker,  and leader."

If you're a laptop-loving diva like myself, you might have opted for the 17" monitor rather than the demure 15" screens of most notebook computers. Don't get me wrong, I love the ample screen size my 17" Mac affords me, but try finding a good looking bag to house it. Sure, I could opt for a "man bag" or a neoprene tote. But what I long for it a "handbag" with benefits.

My search always leads me to Marka, maker of fine women's handbags and (yes) laptop totes. The bags are always just a step ahead of handbag trends. But if you read closely, you'll discover that all of the bags are names after ex-boyfriends of the two founders. Yes. Ex-boyfriends. To the credit of Molly and Katherine, all of the descriptions are quite complimentary. Read how the "Gavin Satchel" was inspired:

"Molly met Gavin after a hard break-up, and unfortunately the timing was just never right for the two of them. That said, Gavin provided reassurance, support and friendship just when she needed it the most. The comforting, cozy suede and sturdy handle of this bag remind her of its namesake. The Satchel also has a classic look with a little edge – much like Gavin, who loved to add his own flair to a more traditional look, such as pairing old Levi’s with designer dress shirts."

The stories themselves are nearly as cute as the bags. I indulged in the lovely McDowell Mini and am always impressed with the extra flair it offers an otherwise staid black and white outfit. While it may not house my laptop, the bold graphic print is just the thing this season. (Trust me, plenty of other gorgeous bag they offer work perfectly for my grand Mac.) And - if you can believe it - the bag is on clearance right now over at Marka.

So grab your second (or fourth) cup of coffee for the morning and read how two Stanford grads turned life's lemons into lemonade. We will have the privilege of interviewing the entrepreneurs here soon. So stay tuned!

I'm a serial entrepreneur, and addicted to learning more about others like myself. I've just discovered Lisa. This Londoner used to run a restaurant and now owns a handbag supply store. Her desire to develop her own talents at making handbags has her blogging away over at U-handblog. See what TypePad had to say about her:

"Lisa has always been passionate about designing purses. When she had a tough time getting her materials, and heard a similar complaint from other seamstresses, she took advantage of the gap in the market. Now, her new blog gives detailed photo instructions of how to make stylish handbags that would be the envy of any Beverly Hills boutique. Not only does she give altruistic tips on how to make these bags, but she also offers Bag Selling Tips & Business Advice. Note that her blog is not one big filter for her supply shop, she also lists other crafting resources and shows off bags made by her readers."

We have been blessed with the chance to get a behind-the-scenes interview with the two sisters behind Tadam Jewelry. Deborah and Allyson have created a successful brand of accessories and are one of our dearest clients. Hear what it takes to run a successful woman-owned business and continually be inspired to create new works of art.

Tadam was founded by you and your sister Deborah a few years ago.  Do you both participate in the creative process for the jewelry?  
Yes we do.  We have complimentary designing styles, so we either create pieces individually to make a line, or we collaborate.  It all depends on the emphasis of the line.  Deborah’s signature is adding delicacy with a bit of sparkle, and my signature is to streamline the overall form.       

I work with my husband, and enjoy the shared enthusiasm created from working with a family member.  There seems to be a deeper commitment to the success of the business. Growing up, did you ever envision yourselves as business co-founders?  
No, not at all.  Entrepreneurship was not a practice in our family.  My parents emphasized college and a career working in government or industry, so we never spent evenings and weekends huddled together on our beds dreaming about becoming jewelry designers.

What does it mean today to be a "good mom" in the eyes of others? Inspired by MSNBC's recent article, What's the Measure of a Good Mom, Kristen confirmed what I've always suspected in today's post:

"I remember when I was a young mother, there was always an edge between the moms who “worked outside the home” and the moms who “stayed home with the kids.” Each thought she was “better” than the other. Better because they offered a second income or better because they spent more time with their young children. In these situations you just can’t win."

Jim, my husband, observes that raising a child has never been more difficult than it is in modern life. In decades past, mothers and children experienced a more "clan-like" lifestyle. This allowed distribution of duties and the ability to accomplish things in a group (like sewing, making bread etc) in order to keep the house going while the men were out providing for their families.

Jim writes on StorkCalling:

“The expectations of mothers (including the need for a second income) have grown while the help offered the modern mom (in the forms of other caregivers) has shrunk - and moms do need a break.”

Today a stay at home mom might find herself at home watching three kids, all under the age of 5, and is still expected to keep the house relatively clean, run household affairs and somehow find "time for herself" - all while looking like a supermodel. And she's doing this alone. Without the daily help of her mother and grandmother living under the same roof. My how times have changed. And the working mother has to balance a day job with a more than full-time job waiting at home the moment she walks in the front door. How cruel are we to pit one group against the other?

Where am I going with this? The next time you see a mother (even your own), thank her. Thank her for the choices she has made, whether she works out of the home or works as a full time mom. Thank her for sacrificing her own needs for the needs of others. Thank her just for being herself. It really is the toughest job in America, and doesn't get the recognition it deserves.