Mentorship

Advice for Young Mothers in Advertising, From Other Moms

Industry leaders share how they balanced work and children

Five agency mothers are pictured in front of a floral background and text that says — Mothers in agency leadership suggest finding a community of other women or mothers, like HeyMama or Chief.

Brandweek will feature live discussions with marketing pros at ULTA Beauty, Converse, UPS and more. Meet us in Miami Sept. 11–14 to boost your business and elevate your brand.

The Mad Men-era is long gone, but its roots permeate to the present day and make it especially challenging to be a woman, and a mother, in the advertising industry.

Statistically, working women take on more caregiving duties for their children than working men. This means women are expected to do more in a world where, on average, employers pay them less than their male counterparts. During the mass school closures caused by the pandemic, agency environments became untenable for many mothers, causing a number of them to choose to leave the field.