Canadian Ad Insider

Lori - Compartmentalizing the 3 areas of my life - my kids, my work and myself -  and making sure that they are all moving forward in parallel is really the only way to get it done. There's no option for the important things to fall behind when you're a single parent in a demanding career so you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, breathe, and then focus on the big picture wins with family and work. I live for my workouts because they allow me to carve out productive space for me and I think of them as something I 'get to do’. I have an amazing support team both at home and at Coty and never forget this as I go through my days. And coffee. Always coffee. 

Can you share an accomplishment from your career that you're proud of and how motherhood has influenced your work approach?

Lori - I'm focused on ensuring my kids try new things, find solutions and learn from the experiences, whether they succeed or not. I tell them that sometimes you just have to do things that scare you.

 As an example, I was contacted by a national lifestyle TV show to join them as a segment expert. With zero TV experience, I was quick to dismiss the opportunity. When I discussed the opportunity with my manager, she reminded me that even if I fail, at least I've tried and it may even end up being a definitive moment in my career. I ended up saying yes to the opportunity, learned new skills, gained invaluable experience and built career-defining relationships as a result of ‘going for it’. Over the course of 2.5 years, I completed 8 segments and am so thankful for the opportunity and the push from my manager because it truly engrained the idea that I can do anything, even its unfamiliar. I would never have hesitated to give that advice to my kids so it was on me to take the same advice for myself and always remind my beautiful boys to keep trying, learning and growing. 

What does a typical (or perhaps not-so-typical!) day look like for you?

Lori - I tend to break out my day in chunks of time. Before the kids go to school, I scan emails and social media and flag immediate follow ups for myself once they are off for their day. The days are full of meetings, brainstorms,  liaising with internal teams and external agencies and building relationships with creators and media so time needs to be spent efficiently. I make sure I prioritize cooking and meal time with my kids to learn about their days and make sure I'm present for them during this time and once they are off to do their homework, it's time for me to catch up on work that needs focus time, since there's no distraction from email or messages. This way I can start the next day with a clear plan and focus on what needs done.

Any advice for other women?

Lori - Find your people to make a village for yourself. Thank them LOUDLY. Figure out the little things that bring you joy when the days seem long and difficult. And prioritize yourself so you can be good for everyone else who will inevitably need a piece of your expertise as a mom or PR professional at any given moment.   Certain things no longer matter in the grand scheme so learn to be ok with letting go of what no longer serves your bigger picture.