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Leslie Forde
My research helps Mothers make space for self-care and employers retain working parents.
Leslie Forde is the CEO and Founder of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, LLC, a platform dedicated to supporting mothers in balancing their personal and professional lives. She developed the Mom's Hierarchy of Needs framework, which helps mothers prioritize their mental, physical, and emotional health amidst the challenges of caregiving and work responsibilities. This framework is designed to provide evidence-based tools that enable mothers to reclaim time for self-care and career growth.
Background and Career
Leslie has over 20 years of experience in research and strategy, having held various roles in brand management, product marketing, and business development across consumer technology, media, and publishing sectors. Prior to founding Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, she worked with notable organizations including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Care.com, and CSpace, where she focused on market research and innovation strategies.13
Her journey into entrepreneurship was catalyzed by her personal experiences with burnout after returning to work from maternity leave. This led her to explore the barriers mothers face in achieving self-care and career success. Leslie began sharing her findings through writing and research, ultimately launching her business during the pandemic.45
Contributions and Initiatives
Under Leslie's leadership, Mom's Hierarchy of Needs has launched several initiatives aimed at supporting working parents:
- TimeCheck Wellness App: A self-care discovery engine for mothers that helps track well-being.
- Allies @ Work Program: A program designed to assist employers in retaining caregivers by fostering inclusive workplace cultures.
- Research Studies: Conducting extensive studies on the impact of the pandemic on parents' work-life balance, with over 3,000 participants involved since March 2020.14
Leslie is also an advocate for policies that benefit working families, including access to affordable childcare and mental health resources. She has been recognized as a leading voice for these issues, even being invited as a guest by Senator Elizabeth Warren at the State of the Union address in 2022.2
Publications and Media Presence
Leslie's insights have been featured in prominent publications such as The Washington Post, Slate, and Parents Magazine. She has been quoted by major media outlets including CNN and NBC News, emphasizing her role as a thought leader in the conversation around motherhood and workplace policies.13
Through her work at Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, Leslie Forde continues to influence how organizations support working mothers and promote a healthier work-life balance.
Highlights
As we approach Black History Month, I'm excited to share that I am available for additional speaking engagements in February.
My expertise lies in empowering employers to foster inclusive workplaces that truly support parents.
🙋🏾♀️🙋Are you striving to enhance talent retention and build a culture where caregivers flourish?
My sessions are designed to educate, activate and motivate transformational change.
I focus on bridging the gap between parents, people of color, and corporate policies, paving the way towards a future where wellness and inclusivity goes hand in hand with productivity.
I’ve been honored to speak at incredible organizations like, HubSpot, Capital One, AstraZeneca, Merck, the Barr Foundation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among many others.
Here’s what some of my clients have said:
“Thursday’s event was a huge success, …you kept them engaged throughout, answering their many thoughtful questions until the very last minute. The workshop was so appropriate especially as we approach the holidays, and because so many people are affected by global uncertainties as well as the constantly changing environment at work and at home. It affirmed the importance of setting personal and professional boundaries and practicing self-care. …We have received positive feedback from the intersectional attendees with descriptions like, awesome, impactful, relatable and wonderful.” Virginia Johnson, on behalf of ABAC ERG Co-leads and MIT Partners
“Leslie designed Allies@Work surveys with us and provided solution-orientated sessions on relevant topics including self-care, well-being, and managing stress through an uncertain time. This helped us challenge our assumptions and raise awareness of the importance of self-care and embed wellness practices into the culture of the organization…” Lynn Harwell, VP of Administration for the Barr Foundation
“Thank you to Leslie Forde for our amazing HubSpot wellness challenge this month thinking about Mom's Hierarchy of Needs. It all helps.” Alyssa Rodning, former Senior Customer Success Manager for HubSpot
📣 Call to Action:
If your organization is committed to creating a more inclusive workplace and you recognize the importance of this conversation, I encourage you to share this post with your Human Resources leader, Employee Resource Group, or Leadership Team.
Let's collaborate to make Black History Month not just a celebration of past achievements, but a stepping stone towards a more inclusive and supportive future.
📩 Interested? Please reach out to [email protected] for more details on how I can make a difference in your organization.
#speakingengagement #speakerannouncement #employeewellbeing #employeeengagement #workingparents
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Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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