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Subscribe to RSSAt Fortune Magazine's "Most Powerful Women" dinner in Palo Alto, Calif., businesswoman Marissa Mayer, who was criticized for juggling a short maternity leave and her new role as Yahoo's CEO, says she has found balance by "ruthlessly prioritizing" God, family and then Yahoo, citing legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
"The baby's been easy!" Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer told an invite-only crowd at a Fortune "Most Powerful Women" event on Tuesday evening in Palo Alto, Calif.
"The baby's been way easier than everyone made it out to be. I think I've been really lucky that way but I had a very easy, healthy pregnancy. He's been easy. So those have been the two really terrific surprises: the kid has been easier and the job has been fun!" Mayer said, referring to her son, Macallister. The crowd chuckled along with her.
It turns out the former Google executive, known for her planning skills and extensive use of spreadsheets to make major life decisions (and determine the perfect cupcake recipe), can still be surprised when it comes to both motherhood and corporate leadership.
"I think that there's two surprising things," Mayer told the audience, comprised mostly of women, "I knew that the job would be hard and I knew that the baby would be fun. And the thing that surprised me, and really puzzlingly so, is that the job is really fun! Yahoo is a really fun place to work."
In a television exclusive, TODAY aired excerpts of the interview this morning, which may be her last public interview for some time.
The 37-year old, Mayer, who became Yahoo's CEO while 6-months pregnant and gave birth shortly thereafter, returned to work after a two-week maternity leave, sparking debate about whether she could both lead the embattled internet giant and be a good mother.
More broadly, her story has kindled a national conversation about whether women can truly "have it all" in terms of work-life balance. As a female CEO in the male-dominated tech world, and pregnant at that, some have pointed to her ascent as evidence of "The Fall of Men."
"What's the most important thing that you do, to get it all done?" Mayer was asked onstage at the FORTUNE event.
"You have to ruthlessly prioritize," replied Mayer. Doing interviews haven't been high on the priority list lately.
"And that's one of the reasons I haven't been talking and I will go back to not talking after tonight." said Mayer.
So far investors agree with how Mayer prioritizes her time. Yahoo's stock is up 18 percent since she took over.
A native of Wisconsin, Mayer cited legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi as an inspiration.
"And you know Vince Lombardi says, in my life there are three things: God, family and the Green Bay Packers, in that order. For me, it's God, family, and Yahoo, in that order."
In a few hours Mayer will join a group of CEOs meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss their priorities for the so-called "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and spending cuts set to take place Jan. 1, unless Congress acts.
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Of course its easy when your have that kind of income, you hire a nanny and walla easy right!
We all need to quit being negative and encourage all new mothers, working women (at home or at their other jobs), and be happy for them and all their accomplishments.
I totally agree but raising a baby is not easy never has been never will be, its a labor of love, but definitely labor.
Jeff, she was saying that her baby was easy, not motherhood in general. Everyone's acting like she said something like, "Motherhood's a cake walk, all you women who think it's hard are complete failures!" She didn't say anything of the sort. Her baby's not especially fussy or collicky and we're crucifying her for saying he's an easy baby!
Nothing against her achievements but I've heard the "god, family, work in that order" before. I would like to see what her priorities would be if someone had her child and was threatening to kill it. I don't really mean that I'd like to see that happen to her, but I have watched several of her ilk lose it as soon as something bad happens in their life. Too much religion of any kind makes idiots of us all.
Thank you NBC for making us watch a 32 second commercial before we can watch the video...what happened to the good old days when they were just 15 seconds long? Does anybody else think this website(and others) has gone overboard with advertisements? Congratulations, you've achieved the level of commercial interruption that TV is at now. At least with TV, I can record shows and FF through the commercials.
I hate these articles that show some woman of the 1% who "has it all" of course she can go back to work after 2 weeks maternity leave. She is wealthy she can hire someone to do all the dirty work. How many real women have that choice. Most have to make the choice do i go back to work so i can pay someone to take care of my child or do I stay at home. in most cases going back to work means you give all your money to day care. The USA as the most anti child environment in the world.
"For me, it's God, family, and Yahoo, in that order."--- God "before" her Family? That's one hell of a statement! In more ways than one.
Thats about right Capitalist pig and God as conservatives
God doesn't sell so well in Silicon Valley.
Yikes! Dump your stock now!
Anyone illogical enough to believe in a god should not be in charge of a popsicle stand, much less a major corporation.
What a bunch of poetic nonsense. I can't understand for the life of me WHY you people choose NOT to live in the REAL WORLD but in La La Fairytale land. Anyone w/an IQ over 10 knows the difference between a MYTH / DELUSION / FAIRYTALE and REALITY.
big fail...from my blog at hintofattijude
Dear Marissa,
When I saw that you were appointed as the head of Yahoo, I was so happy. Then learning that you were pregnant, I was beyond proud. Finally...while I knew you are a woman of means, I truly believed that this was your chance to pave the way for all moms in the workplace. My expectation of you was to represent us all and to explain the reality.
Since your appointment, the stock performance has been pretty freakin' good. Up 18%.
But today, I saw that you addressed a Power Women's Lunch. I googled a list of Fortune's Powerful...some woman, have kissed their ovary ability goodbye and some woman, like Oprah Winfrey, never parented but are owners of dogs and a struggling network... (Yeah! Dogs are just like kids! Freak you!) Were there any moms of small children in the crowd?
MM...this was your time. These weren't shareholders. I wasn't looking for you to start crying and go into a harsh reality of post partum. I wasn't looking for you to justify taking two weeks of maternity leave. Girl, that was your choice. (After, my first kid...I wanted to go back after two weeks too...as long as I lost the weight.) But, you didn't step up. Really, you truly sucked. Your description of anticipating parenting was "fun". Your current word, of parenting, was "easy". Jesus, double Stanford grad and these are your words? You must suck at Scrabble. Fun and Easy?
Ironically, I do agree with your priority...God, family, Yahoo. When I was trying to get my newborn asleep, crying as she was crying, I prayed frequently to God for her to sleep. I prayed to know what to do. As I was a new mom, I thought I was prepared but really, I wasn't. This was my family...very hard but my main responsibility. And if I didn't know what I was doing, I usually when to Yahoo to research.
In reality you are not like most new moms. I can't imagine the help that you must have. Before throwing out the word easy...you may want to let the global mom know (why your perspective is easy). Or to at least educate that snotty 24 year old that thinks that she can have it all--she has no idea the help that she needs.
Marissa, you are in such an amazing place to, not educate, but set expectations. Did you cry with your son at 1 am because you didn't know why he was crying? Clogged milk duct? Pump during a conference call? Did you ever panic about not getting thank you notes out in time?
Right now, I hope you can redeem yourself. (I don't own your stock--I could give a rip) To me, you might as well saddled up next to Tom Cruise at a Power Dinner. He has issues about Post Partum Depression...but then, I have issues that he may not be a man...just sayin'.
Regards,
JCW
mother of two...