I’ve always found building and making things exciting, but it was also important to build and make things with purpose. It wasn’t just about being creative, it was about making things better – and most importantly – understanding people and thinking about how people fit into those things.

I have heard it said that love is something you do. No better example of that than Herb Kelleher.

I always was told “Do more than what is asked of you” and “Ask a lot of questions.” I always considered my career my own business. It’s no secret that the world is full of competition. I needed to stand out. I wanted to surprise people by giving them more than what they asked.

The great leaders that we admire are always inclusive. We often mention Kennedy and MLK in the same breath, but their styles were very different. Yet, they found their own unique way to get it done. And they made us believe that we could do it.

The Mom Project is the career destination for moms. Through our digital marketplace, we connect a community of over 100k women with opportunities at top companies like Etsy and AT&T. Our vision is to design a future where women never have to choose between their families or their career.

Right before my friend’s mother passed away, he asked her what she would have done differently in her life. Her simple answer, “Eat more cake.” Those words have stuck with me for over 15 years.