On Friday, May 2nd, a dynamic mother-daughter team were featured – Virginia and Justine Greene. Each told her own story about how to succeed with both the benefits – and challenges – that family life presents.

Virginia Greene, President and CEO, BC Business Council has been a major force in both the private and public sectors for many years. As founder and CEO of Go Direct, one of BC’s most successful advertising agencies, she built a multi million dollar company from the ground up, while still taking a significant role on many not-for-profit boards and community projects, and raising her family.

Justine Greene, Director Operations, InspireHealth worked in her mother’s business rising to General Manager, overseeing more than 40 creative, sales and administrative personnel, and managing many high profile accounts. Now mother of three children, Justine balances a busy role in Canada’s leading integrated cancer care centre, InspireHealth, with an active family life. She followed up her momcafé event by running in the 2008 Vancouver Marathon!

Speakers’ Key Points

Virginia and Justine spoke about their top 10 list of “What have we learned and what are we teaching”. With a combined age of 98, they had fun with the audience sharing their mother-daughter relationship, and how it has impacted where they are now.

The Greene Girls Top 10 List

1) Take Care of Yourself

• It’s not a cliché – it’s fundamental!
• Women are the centre of every family and if they are not functional then no one around them can be either.
• Find things that work for you and give you pleasure and nurture you.
• You are your own worse enemy – others will support you, if you let them.

2) Set Goals and Monitor Attainment or Take Them Off the List

• If you don’t know where you’re going – any road will get you there – goals help.
• Setting goals makes you think and helps you move forward.
• Its fine to take them off the list – that’s not failing.

“Have a vision board at home.”

3) Reassess, Reassess, Reassess

• What to leave out and what to leave in? – make this your daily, weekly and annual mantra.
• Be honest with yourself – do you still want to do what you are doing?

“If you put something in, take something out.”

4) The Company You Keep

• Surround yourself with good, supportive, loving people. Other’s negativity and stress is contagious and a little bit goes a long way.

“Prioritize how you spend time with “company.”

“Pick the people that truly care about you.”

5) What about Men?

• Keep it simple.
• Use them wisely.
• Appreciate the differences.
• Different needs at different stages in life are realistic – know what your current needs are.

“Men aren’t there on every issue.”

“Nobody needs a CEO at home.”

“Don’t come through the door in full sail.”

“Be honest – if you don’t care about a conversation your partner wants to have, be honest about it.”

6) It’s a Long Life – There’s Time for Everything

• All the dreams are possible – pace yourself.
• Throw away the “things I must do before…” lists.
• Life is episodic – recognize and embrace the phase you are in.

“Step out of your career and don’t worry about losing your place in the queue.”

“The ability to take risk is there today for women, for example, maternity leave.”

“It doesn’t have to all happen at once.”

7) The World is ready for whatever you choose to do with it

• Those that have gone before us have laid the ground work for women.
• Its ours to take - whatever we choose – but choose we must

8) Have Fun

• Again, not a cliché.
• Lighten up

“Stop and enjoy the moment.”

“Do the goofy stuff with the kids.”

“You have children to raise children.”

“Play first, then cook.”

9) Give Back

• We live in a privileged place in a privileged time – don’t forget that and find ways to complete the circle – your karma will thank you for this.
• Teach the young while they are young and build this into each day

10) Mom’s Matter

• Remember where you came from – remember who you are and who’s you are…
• Having Children is the most noble and honourable role we get to play – this is the true legacy we leave.
• Embrace your mom’s teachings, even if you reject her path, her values will sustain you. No one knows you better or loves you more.

“Go back and find the things that bind you rather than the things that divide you.”

“My mother (Virginia’s) is my reference point - her teachings, soft touch and importance. You need to find what bonds you and your mom.”

Questions

Q. How do you set the boundary when you are working from home?

A. Virginia – Discipline. Block the time off. For example, if you have computer work and telephone calls to make, schedule that time in the day.

Justine – I have a blackberry and a cell phone. My kids are use to seeing me with these. They are learning about how I do business and the tools I use.

Q. Do you run organizations that are Mom friendly?

A. Virginia – Governments are mom-unfriendly places. But I allow moms to bring kids in, if necessary, if there wasn’t daycare that day. I ask the moms “What can we do here to make this a more mom-friendly place?” You can create a mom-friendly environment at work by getting people together, using your influence, and making changes.

Justine – I leave work early one day a week to go see my son’s teacher. This was a priority for me so I made it part of the job contract.