During the pandemic, women in communications were 1.3 times more likely to not receive support from their employers, based on a report by NYWICI. And one in three working mothers considered a job change with one in four driven by a desire to scale back their hours. But here’s the thing. A whopping 63.9 percent of the PR workforce consists of women. Most traditional agency models can be inflexible and as women rise through the ranks, many full-time working moms may drop out of the workforce.
Which is why working at an agency like Escalate is even more attractive. Since its inception in 2019, (and ahead of its time), Escalate embraced the make-your-own-hours and work anywhere model. Across the country, we hire seasoned communications experts with a minimum of 15 years of experience to service our roster of B2B and tech-adjacent clients. This flexible model helps us achieve that rare and elusive unicorn-feeling we all wish for: work-life balance. So we bring our best selves to work every single day and work happily around the schedules of our partners and our children. Most of our senior staffers are mothers, so we asked them how motherhood has impacted their careers. Here’s what they had to say:
“I often say babysitting and more recently, motherhood, has really helped me hone my communication skills. If you can convince a 3 year old to go to bed and a 7 year old to do homework first thing in the morning, you can communicate effectively with just about anyone.” – Jennifer Jewett, Senior Vice President, Scottsdale
“The demands on a PR pro are many. Arguably, negotiating with a toddler has taught me the most number of lessons. How to be a better teacher, keep calm, manage expectations, compromise and above all, embrace the craziness! I don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s given me so much perspective.”- Rebecca Ferros Senior Vice President, New Jersey
“The key to successful storytelling is understanding your audience and getting the timing just right. Motherhood has helped me listen more closely, craft better stories and have greater impact than ever before. I’ve learned to put on my oxygen first, I take the time to process information before reacting.” Laura Collins Senior Consultant, Scottsdale