Written by Brea Starmer, CEO & Founder of Lions & Tigers
On May 14th, I had the privilege of attending the first-ever Moms First Summit, an event dedicated to uplifting the stories of diverse mothers across our country. Organized in partnership with Share Our Strength, the summit aimed to encourage business leaders, elected officials, and thought leaders to put moms first. As the CEO and Founder of Lions & Tigers, this mission resonates deeply with me, and the summit was an unforgettable experience that underscored the urgent need for systemic change to support mothers in the workforce.
The Power of Letting Go: Finding Our Highest & Best Use
“There’s no better way to say ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ than an invitation to go change the world,” said Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Moms First, a sentiment that set the tone for the summit. This historic gathering featured over 50 speakers, including notable figures like Hillary Clinton, Reshma Saujani herself, Dr. Becky Kennedy, Katie Couric, Geena Davis, and more. It was a powerful reminder of the collective strength and influence of mothers.
“Becoming a mom was my ‘drop the ball’ moment when I was trying to keep them all in the air,” said Tiffany Dufu, President of the Tory Burch Foundation.
I hadn’t stopped to think about all the balls I was juggling until Tiffany said this. She should know…she literally wrote the book on it: “Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less.”
Our team knows how much I love the idea of finding your (and my) “Highest & Best Use” (HBU). And my beliefs about what we can unlock when we think about it as a system of inclusion.
Tiffany confirmed this HBU mantra by emphasizing the need for mothers to get clear on what matters most, ask for help, and understand the expectations others have of us. This concept aligns perfectly with our philosophy at Lions & Tigers, where we focus on leveraging each person’s strengths and delegating the rest. As Tiffany eloquently put it, we all achieve more when we do less.
Redefining Motherhood for the 21st Century
Another highlight was Reshma’s interview with Hillary Clinton, who poignantly stated, “I think it’s gotten harder” when asked about the evolution of motherhood across generations. Hillary’s call to redefine motherhood for the 21st century and support women’s choices was a powerful reminder of the work still needed. The mantra from 1912, “8 hours of work, 8 hours of play, 8 hours for what we will,” feels increasingly outdated in today’s world. We need a new rallying cry that addresses pay equity, paid leave, flexible work, accessible healthcare, childcare, and inclusive workplaces.
At Lions & Tigers, we are committed to making fractional work possible, ensuring that mothers who want paid work can have it. Our mission centers on economic access because when mothers thrive financially, our entire society benefits. To date, we’ve put more than $34 million in the hands of L&T consultants, primarily mothers, and seen firsthand the positive outcomes of inclusive workplaces.
The Community’s Readiness for Change
During the summit, Dr. Becky Kennedy, CEO and Founder of Good Inside, spoke about the readiness of the community for change. She highlighted how mothers are acutely aware of the system’s shortcomings and are eager to band together, set boundaries, and demand structural support. This sentiment was echoed by Nando Cesarone, EVP & President U.S. at UPS, who pointed out that companies have much to gain from supporting their employees holistically. He noted that while some returns can be measured in dollars, others are intangible, such as increased loyalty and discretionary effort.
Emily Oster, CEO of ParentData, further emphasized the importance of combining data with compelling stories to make the case for supporting caregivers. This approach is essential for convincing leaders and policymakers to enact meaningful change. At the summit, I took notes alongside Allison Whalen and Jenna Vassallo from Parentaly, who are leading efforts to make paid leave a competitive advantage for companies. Their work is a testament to the practical steps that can be taken to support working parents.
One of the most powerful statements from the summit came from Reshma, who said, “Freedom is the ability to move in and out of the workforce without penalty.”
This struck a chord with me because I, too, have felt penalized for having children. At Lions & Tigers, we advocate for economic access & flexible work environments to ensure that personal wellness & business outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Work should not be an all-or-nothing proposition.
The energy and insights from the Moms First Summit have fueled my commitment to building pathways to inclusive work environments. I am grateful to Reshma Saujani, Molly Day, Orli Cotel, and the entire Moms First team for creating such a fertile ground for conversation and action. Together, we can transform corporate America, the policy arena, and our culture to enable mothers to thrive.
As we move forward, let’s remember the powerful messages from the Moms First Summit and continue to advocate for a world where motherhood & career can coexist harmoniously. Thank you to everyone who made the summit possible. I look forward to the changes we will create together.
LOVE this!!! Thank you for sharing! I think I can speak for us all when I say we wish we could have been flies on the wall!