MetroMom Kari Boiler
Mother of two Kari Boiler started up Bugaboo in North America in 2002 with 15 strollers in her garage. She helped build the iconic brand and recently was appointed president of Bugaboo Americas.

MM - Okay, so we can imagine you are a pretty busy person. How do you balance your family and career?

It is certainly a careful and daily balance. The main thing is to not lose sight of my priorities and family is my number one priority. I make decisions that don’t hinder my job duties but also support my family priorities. I also have an incredibly supportive husband. We support each other and our careers and share in family responsibilities. It often takes two to keep it balanced in a positive and open way.

Luckily, I work for a company that supports this way of working. While there can be late nights (after kids are in bed) and travel, I balance it with enough of the important and visible moments for the kids. If I travel it’s to make sure I call home at the right time, if I’m not traveling it’s to make sure I drop off at school, help with homework, schedule play dates, have some laughs, etc..-normal mom stuff. It really comes down to being present to the best of your ability regardless if you are away or at home. It can be challenging, but again, goes back to prioritizing- If it is a priority you make it happen.

MM - Your marketing style involves thinking big and thinking into the future. Does this influence your parenting style?

Hmmm I’d say my parenting style is less about thinking big and into the future with my kids. I keep it much more low key. I just want honest, kind, sincere, thoughtful and fun kids that grow into the same honest, kind, sincere, thoughtful, fun and intelligent adults. If they do that, they will think big for themselves.

MM - Who in your life has been a great influence on you, both as a mom and as a successful businessperson?

My mom. She was a working and single mother for part of my childhood. She was a nurse and managed the IV department at the hospital. Looking back I now get it- I get what she had to do to raise three children and work full time while maintaining the small details of running a household on top of a busy life. Not only did she manage to make lunches, dinners, plan sleepovers and get us up to the mountain to ski on the weekends, but I also got to go to work with her often. At her work I would see what she did, how she managed a department and did her rounds with patients. I didn’t always understand what she did, but I could see how people really liked working with her and for her in her compassion to patients and her leadership to her team. I remember being very proud of her at a very young age. As an adult I realized she had a larger influence on the industry in some patents she developed in IV training. She never apologized for working, she was very proud of what she did. I also remember she would take time to go swimming, to get exercise. So somewhere in a very busy and long day, she also took time for herself. So I draw a lot of inspiration from my memory of her in her ability to balance work and life.

MM - Do you have any words of wisdom for working moms?

Set your own priorities and stick to them and you will be balanced. When you get the kids' school calendar, immediately put important dates into your agenda.

Have the same calendar at home and work to reference. I can’t remember a date for the life of me and I live by calendar reminders. Be diligent about updating all the events, school functions, etc., otherwise the chaos drives you vs. being ready for the chaos.

Don't apologize for your work and being away from your kids. It can be hard and surely we moms feel guilty. But if you involve them in what you do, how you are making a difference and learning yourself, they might just want to learn with you.

MM - What is your parenting motto?

It has to be fun and delicious (another gem from my mom).