What is your background, and how did you get into finance?
My background has always been in marketing and the last 10 in financial services marketing. I began in financial services after returning from time as a stay-at-home mom. I live in New York City and it made sense to go into financial services--I started at a private bank doing marketing.
Were you successful initially, or did you have problems at first? How did you keep motivated and pushing forward?
I was successful from the beginning but only marginally as I was embedded at a large bank. However, I noticed that most in high net worth financial services were "left-brained quants" who had difficulty marketing or understanding business development. That is what motivated me to become an entrepreneur and start my own firm almost 5 years ago. I am motivated by having many great people around me--whether they are clients, contractors, or colleagues.
Do you have any secrets for balancing being a mom with being a great investor?
For me, there is only one secret: balance. Sometime being a mom comes first, and other times, work comes first. There is no magic bullet - just a continual balancing act. It may be more difficult depending the ages of your kids. Although my kids were older, and could understand that I was working, they were sometimes unhappy at "waiting" for my attention.
What advice would you give to a busy mom who is interested in learning how to trade stocks?
This is a great field for busy moms who want to have a flexible schedule, the potential of earning a significant amount of money but yet not willing to commit to either a full-time job or starting a business. However, there is a downside risk to this line of work as well. You must be fully aware of the "swings" that day trading involves.
Can you share a little about your family with us?
Yes - I have two sons who are now 21 and 18. They have learned a lot about their mother from many other perspectives by watching me build my business. I inspired my older son to begin his own business while in college and both of my kids have been inspired by my expertise in social media. They are both active bloggers.