Why We Need to Rethink Motherhood as a Business Superpower
- Tamara Edwards
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
We don’t often think of motherhood as an attribute of business success. In fact, we’re more likely to hear it framed as something that needs to be “balanced” or carefully managed—something that, if we’re not vigilant, could take us off course professionally.
But what if motherhood actually sharpened our business instincts? What if, instead of being something to compartmentalize, it became our greatest leadership asset?
That question came into sharp focus for me during my conversation with Hoffman Media's Brian Hart Hoffman for this week’s She Said/She Said Podcast.
Brian is the President & Chief Creative Officer of Hoffman Media, a publishing company with beloved brands like Bake from Scratch, TeaTime, and Southern Lady. But what’s most remarkable about Hoffman Media isn’t just its success; it’s the foundation it was built on: the vision, values, and fierce maternal drive of Brian’s mother, Phyllis Hoffman DePiano.
In 1983, Phyllis launched her first magazine from her Birmingham, Alabama home with a $2,000 investment and a love of cross-stitching. She was raising twin toddlers (Brian and his brother) at the time. While she had a CPA certification when few women did, she found that accounting wasn’t what fueled her. She was determined to build a company that allowed her to be fully present as a mom without sacrificing the ambition burning inside her.
She didn’t separate the two—she combined them.
What struck me in this conversation was how intentional Phyllis was not just in business strategy, but in every decision that prioritized her family. She turned down a lucrative acquisition because it would have uprooted her sons. She bought back her company, mortgaged her house, and went without a salary for five years. She worked multiple jobs to fund her sons’ college education—all while rebuilding her company from scratch.
And here’s the thing: those decisions didn’t limit her success. They made it sustainable.
As a mother myself, especially during this month when I think deeply about my own legacy—how I’m showing up for my children, for my work, and for my community—I found Phyllis’s story incredibly grounding. It reminded me that influence isn’t about being everywhere at once or proving you can do it all. It’s about doing what matters most, on purpose, and trusting that the impact will follow.
Motherhood has taught me many, many things: patience, perspective, prioritization, and deeper empathy among them. Those are leadership skills. And yet, we rarely talk about them that way.
Phyllis Hoffman DePiano lived that philosophy. Her story is a powerful example of how putting family first and building something remarkable are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can be deeply intertwined.
If you need that reminder, I hope you’ll tune into Episode 329 of She Said/She Said Podcast. You’ll hear Brian’s heartfelt stories, his reflections on legacy, and why his mother’s example continues to shape not only his company, but the countless lives -- including the many women at The Southern C -- who have been touched by her vision.
Let’s keep telling stories that reframe what leadership looks like because the world needs more examples like Phyllis!
Listen to my complete conversation with Brian Hart Hoffman here: https://bit.ly/3YqCaS6
You'll find all of my episodes here: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com
I’d love to hear your thoughts: has motherhood, or the influence of a mother figure, impacted the way you lead or build? Please share in the comments.
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