Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.
This week’s Q & A is with Allison O’Kelly, Founder and CEO of Mom Corps. Allison founded Mom Corps in 2005 as a working mother who wanted to help other working moms find work-life satisfaction. Mom Corps has a talent network of over 200,000 candidates.
1. What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?
Having my first child in 2003! I had always been a Type “A” overachiever/perfectionist. I returned to work at Toys “R” Us in a fast track management program and realized that I was anything but perfect. I was finding it tough to be on time, I was constantly getting calls from the day care to pick up my son, I felt I couldn’t be a good employee or a good mother. I knew there had to be a better way. After doing some freelance accounting work and being so professionally happy, I realized it wasn’t just an “Allison” issue but a working mom issue and I knew I had to help others achieve the same professional satisfaction and thus founded Mom Corps in 2005.
2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?
My husband and I met in our MBA program. He’s the best sounding board I have and I know he’ll always be honest with me even if I don’t want to hear it!
3. What is your biggest goal right now?
Mom Corps is celebrating 10 years this summer. Our clients love us because of our access to different talent but also because of our high touch service. They have come to count on us for all of their professional staffing needs (both part time/interim and full time/contract) but our brand does not reflect this to future clients. We are expanding our brand this summer to Corps Team – A complete professional staffing solution. The Corps Team Solutions will include Mom Corps, Corps Search and Corps Advisory. We look forward to letting the world know what our clients have known for a long time…. And introduce our full suite of services.
4. How did you get your first job? How did you jump to your second job?
I was an accounting major in school, so it was a fairly structured path to a first job at an accounting firm – work hard, get good grades and network! Once I realized that I wanted to do something outside of the accounting field, I decided it was time to get my MBA and redirect. It’s never too early or too late to reinvent yourself!
5. What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning?
I wake up sometime between 6:00 and 7:00 when my four year old decides it’s time for me to wake up! With three small kids, the first hour or two until my nanny gets in is spent with them. Coffee for me, juice for my little guy, the older guys on the computers and Disney Junior on the TV. At 7:45 I turn into my professional alter ego and start my work day.
6. How did you feel on your 30th birthday?
What were you doing at that time? Tired but excited. I was pregnant and due to give birth to my first child. I had no idea what was coming and how it would impact my career. In some ways, I wish I had known and planned better, but in others, it was the catalyst to this amazing entrepreneurial journey.
7. What challenge / achievement are you most proud of?
Being a working mom of 3 boys! It’s a daily challenge and a daily achievement. I am so lucky to have a work/life blend that works perfectly (most of the time) for me and my family. My career is very important to me, but not important enough to sacrifice my family. It’s a constant balancing act, but I love it and am very proud of how I’ve been able to handle both.
8. What cause do you most want to advance?
My youngest son was very ill with a missed heart condition at birth. A simple EKG would have made a big difference in his early days. Congenital heart defects are America’s #1 birth defect yet we do very little testing at birth. One day “when I have more time”, I would like to advocate for cardiac diagnostic tests before babies leave the hospital.
9. What is your “keep me going” quote?
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison
10. Who on the list of prior Honorees would you like to meet?
All of them of course!
Check out Allison O’Kelly’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!
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