Marketing, motherhood and the art of spinning multiple plates

Being a mum and working in marketing have more in common than most people realise. Both require creativity, patience, resilience, and an uncanny ability to juggle a dozen things at once, while smiling through the chaos (or at least trying to).  

At home, I’m chief uniform washer, packed-lunch maker, concierge, driver, bedtime storyteller, and occasional bum wiper. In the office, I’m a strategist, copywriter, campaign planner, and data analyst. All before my second coffee. The truth is that motherhood hasn’t just shaped me as a person; it’s made me a better marketer, decision-maker, and leader.  

1. Spinning plates like a pro  

Mums are natural multitaskers. We can manage a school run while mentally planning dinner, remembering a birthday party, and answering an email. That kind of mental agility is priceless in marketing. Where multiple campaigns, deadlines, and opinions constantly compete for your attention.  

Motherhood teaches prioritisation on a whole new level. You learn to quickly identify what really matters and what can wait - a skill that translates directly into productivity and focus at work.   

2. Going with your gut  

In both parenting and marketing, everyone has an opinion. There’s always a new trend, a “must-try” idea, or an expert telling you what you should be doing.  

But unlike with parenting, in marketing you just can’t always trust your instincts. Of course, gut feeling plays a role, but when you are a marketer, the data tells you how you have performed and what you should do to improve. It tells you who your best target audiences are and that can differ from what your instincts tell you. You think you know your audience (or child) better than anyone else, but sometimes they surprise you and then it’s good to look into the facts. That is what marketing brings to motherhood. Your marketing experiences teaches when to go with your gut and when to follow the data (facts). In either case you know how to adapt and when.  
  
What works for one family, or brand, might not work for yours. And that’s okay. Experience teaches you to go with your gut, adapt when needed, and have confidence in your own judgement.  

3. The ultimate storyteller  

As marketers, we sell products and ideas. As mums, we sell the world to our children. We teach them what’s right and wrong, what’s worth their time, and who or what to avoid.  

We’re essentially doing the same thing. Shaping perceptions, guiding behaviour, and influencing choices. The difference? At home, the stakes feel a little higher (and the audience can be way more stubborn).  

Motherhood sharpens your empathy and storytelling. You learn to communicate clearly, creatively, and with heart. Which, let’s face it, is the foundation of every great marketing campaign.   

4. Confidence and courage  

There’s a quiet, powerful shift that happens when you become a mum. Suddenly, you realise you can do hard things. You can run on no sleep, make life-altering decisions, and still show up (even if your hairs in a messy bun and your coffee’s cold).  

That confidence spills into your professional life. You start to take more risks, trust your abilities, and push boundaries. Because if you can survive toddler tantrums or teenage monsters, deadlines are a walk in the park.   

5. Organised chaos – and why it works  

Let’s be honest, being a mum in marketing is wild. It’s crazy hair, forgotten meals, unanswered texts, and the constant feeling that you’ve forgotten something or someone. But it’s also the most rewarding mix imaginable.  

Seeing your children grow into little humans, just like watching leads turn into loyal customers, is proof that all the effort, chaos, and care are worth it.  

And truthfully, “mum brain” and “marketing brain” aren’t so different. The same programmatic scheduling that gets everyone to school on time can easily manage campaigns, content calendars, and events. Structure, flexibility, and a dash of humour. That’s the secret formula for both.   

6. Why motherhood makes me a better marketer  

Motherhood gives you perspective. You learn to focus on what really matters, communicate with empathy, and find joy in small wins. It builds resilience, adaptability, and creativity, all things that make marketing not just a job, but a craft.  

So yes, being a mum in marketing is messy, noisy, and predominantly fuelled by caffeine and chaos. But it’s also powerful, purposeful, and deeply fulfilling.  

Because when you can handle the unpredictable world of parenting, the unpredictable world of marketing doesn’t seem quite so daunting.  

A little bit about the author  

I’m Jess, mum of three and Marketing Campaign Manager at Spotler UK, within which I am responsible for the running and executing of a multitude of marketing campaigns. From email, events, online webexs, social media, content and partnerships. I am recently back from maternity leave with baby number 3 and have joined the wonderful world of MiMs (Mums in Marketing). What a great place to share knowledge and learn from others experiences and insights. If you are a MiM too, I would love to connect with you, please reach out in the Facebook community or send me a LinkedIn invite.  

Hope to talk to you soon! I would love to hear your thoughts on my blog, can you relate? What are your key pieces of advice to get you through the day as a mum in marketing? Send your best survival hacks via LinkedIn!