E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
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.
Leave a Comment:
For me it is invisible pink unicorns, leprechauns, tooth fairy, easter bunny, santa claus, zeus. In that order.
Whatever floats your boat :).
Dear CEO
You bore me.
I think it great that Yahoo hired a woman for their CEO and of course she has to say "it is easy" to make the stock continue to stay strong.
However, lets be honest. Babies take 24 hour a day care. They need fed every four hours, diapers changed 2-3 hours, they need held, loved and proper interaction for good brain development. Breastfed babies do not often sleep through the night. Toddlers are even more work and need lots of positive parental interactions to make them socially acceptable when they begin school ( even prestigious private schools have standards of behavior :)
CEO's work 10-15 hour days minimum!
THis woman is really NOT raising her own baby. She obviously has a really well paid nanny ---and I am not saying there is anything wrong with that. I am saying that she shouldn't be so cavalier in saying "its easy" because it sets young working women up for failure.
This woman makes millions, she can hire the best nanny, a cleaning team, a workout coach, she can pay to have healthy organic meals made for every meal. REAL women have all of that to do and take time to raise a healthy child both physically and emotionally. IT IS HARD WORK!!!! ---and don't let this very smart lady , who is worried about Yahoo's bottom line, tell you otherwise
I just had a baby, lets make sure my job is tied into this personal event and lets make sure the baby issue keeps our company on top of the stocks for as long as possible....
wow what a class act, she had a baby and now shes using it like she uses her computer. clearly this woman will have little to do with this child as her job is way more important.
Spot on Kallie!
EXACTLY Kallie! Try being a single parent with only one very moderate income and having to do ALL of it by yourself. "Easy" my butt.
Having the money for three or four nannys does help too.
Kallie you must be from Pittsburgh! Not knocking you (and I agree with your comment) but I've noticed people from Pittsburgh leave out "to be" from sentences. Like the baby "needs to be" held...not "needs held". etc etc etc It's such an odd phenomenon and I've only noticed it with my Pitt coworkers! lol
This is a story ???? (yawn)...another bible thumping one percenter...
Those items are undoubtedly more real than "god".
Kallie, do you know this woman personally? Are you one of the nannies she's hired? No? Then get over yourself. Ever think maybe her husband is a stay-at-home dad? Or that maybe his or her parents help out? And do you know what her work schedule is like because YOU have previously been the CEO of Yahoo? I doubt it. Oh, and "REAL women" don't judge and put down other women who are in a different situation. Will I ever be able to afford the luxuries and lifestyle of Marissa Mayer? Probably not. But I also doubt I've ever worked as hard as she has to get into her position. It sickens me that this woman has worked SO HARD and has the joy of being a mother as well, and other women are hating her for it. We should applaud her for the strides she's made for herself and women in general in the technological field.
PS- When the CEO of any other company's wife has a baby, do we demonize him for being a terrible father?
Of course it's easy....when you're rich and you can afford as many nannies as you want....duh! Let's see how "easy" it would be for her if she didn't make as much money as she does....if she was just a regular mom who worked a regular job and had 50% of her pay go to childcare.
Derek-381097
So much so you clicked on her story and then commented. Your definition of "bore" must be different than mine.
@Kallie
So you're saying a successful business woman is NOT a "real" woman???
Gee and I thought it was supposed to be men who make it difficult for women to succeed in business. Seems to me other, less successful, women are just as much a part of the problem.
How nice. She puts her delusions before her family.
Faith in God as the pinnacle of existence is no more delusional than a person thinking they are the pinnacle of human existence.
1. God is a delusion.
2. Human's are the pinnacle of human existence. Just not the pinnacle of all existence.
Faith in God as being delusional is an opinion. Human opinions are not facts. Are you saying that nothing out there in the universe could rise above humanity or above all existence? Sounds delusional and myopic. I have faith that the unverse holds more truths than mankind could possibly express an opinion on.
First, I think she meant her baby is an easy baby not that it was easy having the baby and the CEO job. An easy baby is one that is not high needs as opposed to say a collicky baby that is very high needs. My DD was an easy baby... slept through the night very early on, good eater, not sick very often, etc.
Another, she has worked for her position and the animosity at her b/c she can afford nannies and such is uncalled for. I work full-time outside the home and can't afford nanny, maid, or cooks.... but I also didn't put in the work she did to develop my career. I worked my 8-5 job and happily went about my social life so I'm no high powered executive. Also you are making assumptions about the nanny, maid, & cook.
Also different people have different energy levels and each of us has our own capacity for how much we can get done. She seems very high energy and extremely organized and focused...those types can get an awful lot done in a day.
No. There are no facts to back up your opinion. Therefore, it does not exist.
Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
She has her priorities in the right order. I respect this talented women.
In everything I've ever read about her, this is the first mention of God I've seen. You'd think if it was her top priority I'd have read more about it by now.
How many times does one have to express what their top priority is for you to except that it is truly their top priority? How many times have you talked to her in person? How much do you know about her? I would rather be a one percenter than not. I'm sure you would too. If not than why do you even care about the one percenters? Another whiney bitter sad sap who covets what others have. Yawn! Funny, that's even discussed in the Bible. Ever read the Ten Commandments?
Goodbye Yahoo, it was nice knowing you.....
It always disturbs me when people put their imaginary friends before their real families, and then are cheered for doing so.
I think she has her priorities right. You can't go wrong, walking in His will.
My invisible pink unicorn prays that you get a clue.
I would NEVER invest in a company that thinks god has a hand in anything.
Um, Magic- why do you care so much what other people do and do not believe?
Left- What on earth in this article suggests that Yahoo as a company has any religious affiliation whatsoever? Those are HER PERSONAL priorities for HER PERSONAL life, not the company's.
Just to show you the people on the left (liberals) have no common sense. I hope when they need help in their lives they do not trying turning to God because it seems that they do not need any help from him. Maybe they will turn to the Messiah Obama......he can help them.
A lot more than god ever will. Chris Cristie asked for Obama's help, not god's.
If Cristie had to "ask" for obama's help then obama needs God.
Hate to break it to the "Moral Majority" but there are plenty of liberals who are also Christian. @Liz...That is an awfully large brush you are painting with. God did not proclaim that the Republican party was God's party.
You may want to go back to Sunday school and review what it means to be a Christian. I was taught that Gods love was infinite and that at any time a person turns to Christ he will welcome them.
Remember you can say all the right things but God knows what is in your heart.
In your opinion.
God is great!
God is great!
God is great!
I love free speech!
Free speech is great. We have the freedom to express whatever delusions and myths that we want.
Time for me to ditch anything that is associated w/Yahoo! I wiill not support any more companies run or owned by wingnuts and biblebangers. Those two attributes are signs of mental instability and psychosis.
Wow now we wait and see if god will give her child cancer as " test of his love"! Christians are such sane little folks aren't they?
Your comment is mean!
Your comment is meaner!
Reads like drivel from a bitter cancer survivor...
At the same sane level as someone who believes everything in the universe is pure coincidence and there there is nothing after death. And suffering and dying are all just part of the purposeless and pointless trudge toward death.
#annsrum They are. It is all coincidence, and if it isn't, it isn not the god any human makes up.
Well Anthony if you can look at the ocean and feel the pull of the water and see the marvelous sun moving across the sky and see the intricate growth and formation of a brand new human baby and still see nothing but coincidence then that is your prerogative. I have no problem with someone having a different point of view than me as we are all unique individuals. However, to imply that everyone who doesn't agree with you is not sane is a bit arrogant in my opinion.
Agreed, Annsrum. People can believe in Superman, UFOs and Teddy Ruxpin but I can't believe in God? Give me a break.
100 to 200 billion galaxies (estimates as high as 500 billion galaxies) with 200 to 400 billion stars in each of them, God decided this is the only one worth his attention?
I do get a kick out of all the requests for money, I suppose after all the miracles of creating the universe, the one thing it can't make is money.
What makes you think she is a Christian? I see nowhere in this article where it states that. Or did you just want to troll and bash Christians?
Never3putts Comment collapsed by the community
They are hardly worse than the people who waste their time whining and crying about them for no apparent reason. And they are, generally speaking, FAR less annoying.
Nasty comment. I hope it never happens to you or any one in your family because you are wishing it on someone. Sicko!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We all know thats crap. Its 18hr days for all those young boinks working for her. No life, no family. God, well you can fit him in on your lunch break. We are all very impressed that she has some 'priorities', while shes up their being the most powerful woman in the world, etc. whatever!
@Erin D
You clearly have a problem differentiating what you "know" from what you want to believe. I suspect the two are rarely the same.
She has it incorrect. Family first.
That is your opinion.
and mine. she does have it incorrect and all this article is doing, err i mean the baby news, is to put her company on the front page, her job...not her family. This is the point, the exact point, where a family is broken....broken. the baby will know what gifts are before he can say his first word...
If she really wanted her company on the front page, she'd be doing more interviews which as she mentioned...she has not been doing and probably won't be doing for awhile. I applaud her! And if it were a man doing the same thing....would half these comments even exist?
God (who may or may not exist) comes before her own flesh and blood (who most certainly does exist) that she carried in her womb for nine months? Amazing.
I always think parenting is easier when I'm out of town, too.
Maybe for their next CEO, Yahoo can find a 12 year old.
When an individual submits their life to the will of God he will guide and led them to the best place he has for them. The adventure will not come with out test, trials and at times tribulations, but in the end, both the journey and final destination are worth the price.
ooh i heard of that magic before...
Bet that headline/story just chaps your atheists /non believers / non Christians a$$es, doesn't it. How dare she mention God. How dare MSN/MSNBC, the Godless Democratic mouthpiece media outlet run such a pro Christian story. I wonder what she'll say to the "chosen one" Obama about the fiscal cliff, taxes etc?
Go ahead haters, call her down, call her a "1%'er", call her a crazy religious nut. I'm glad she had the "balls" to freely speak of her Christian faith and say it's a large part of her life.
Can't you just hear Nelson from the Simpson's "Ha Ha!"
Good post and it is refreshing to see someone speak their mind and hold to their convictions in a world where most people just simply take the path of least resistance
Wow, still mad about the election, I guess. I hope she does well and Yahoo does great for years to come. Although, I won't be using their services or trusting my money to her guidence. I would rather trust in someone who has a better grip on reality and runs a business with the BUSINESS as the #1 priority. There are things you need to give up when being a CEO and running a multi-million dollar business requires a lot of effort if it's to be done correctly.
Speaking of Christian faith doesn't mean you actually have it. The quote is "By their works shall ye know them," not "words."
you really jumped the gun....so far you are the only one calling out religion....no wonder people are starting to ignore it.
While Marissa is obviously smart and her professional accomplishments should not be discredited, I am yet to be convinced that you can hold her up as a beacon of women "having it all." She says having a baby is easy? What is her personal situation? She probably has a full-time nanny and considerable other "outside help" that her high-paying salary can afford her. Is this really having it all? Does this really represent the average working woman -- what ever that is? Is her example of motherhood really one that should be emulated? Honestly, there's not enough information here to really know...
excellent points
Exactly!!
And yet how is that any different than a man CEO having his wife stay at home with the baby so we can live at the office and barely ever see his kid? Why is it that when a man does it he is "Being a man and providing for his family" but when a woman does it, she is totally messing up and a complete loser?
like everything else, she is outsourcing motherhood.
Well, Annsrum, I might be old fashioned in my thinking but I think that's why God gave women the ability to carry a baby for 9 months, give birth and provide natural milk....there's nothing like a mother's love and nurturing. I was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mother for 8yrs with both my kids and then economics and moving out of state put me back in the workforce. It was never "easy" and I don't believe anyone that says that. Don't get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with mother's that work with newborns but I don't think leaving the baby 2 weeks after giving birth is something to brag about....I can see her "true" priorities and it's not in the order she says cause it sounds like Yahoo is first and then family....not sure where God fits in there. I am not surprised that she went back to work so soon, she has to keep her investors happy and not let them think she can't handle being a mother too.
annsrum, Most people don't have a problem with her being a mother and a CEO- it's very admirable that she has accomplished so much.
What is not admirable are her claims that taking care of a baby and having it all are easy. Of course it's easy when you have nannies taking care of your kids 24/7. I work full time and took 8 weeks leave with my first and 12 weeks with my second. I don't mind being a working mom- being a stay at home mom is not for me (healthy respect to those that stay at home, this is not a judgement). But it hasn't been easy, nor will I ever claim it is.
She's setting herself up for a spectacular parenting failure when that kid reaches school age.
annsrum, this isn't a mother/father issue. Her situation is not the average by any means. I read somewhere that she is worth around $200M. Managing family life and a job becomes a lot easier when you have that kind of money. It's a heck of a lot more difficult on a middle class family income. She obviously worked hard and earned what she has, but articles like this are a joke because they make it seem like her situation is not that different from the average person's.
I read her comments a little differently. I didn't think she meant, "Motherhood is a piece of cake, I don't know what all those women are whining about!" I read it as her baby is easy. I've heard lots of parents say, "Little ___— is such an easy baby! He never cries... etc. etc." Or "This baby is so much easier than the last baby." I've heard plenty of women talk about their babies like this, and most of them weren't multimillionaire CEO's.
Karen-589712
Did anyone suggest she represented the average woman or that she should be emulated???? Is there something wrong with a successful woman telling her story since there are obviously people who asked her to share it??
It would have been better if she said she was lucky to be able to have nannies and cooks to help her, rather than say "It's easy." It's a little out of touch.
An Ann Romney colleague, obviously. Though harder-working.
I was not talking about whether or not it is easier for her because she has nannies and is rich. Although technically any working mom who drops their kids at daycare is essentially using a shared nanny. My only problem with nanny's and baby nurses are when the parents have the nanny doing most of the hard work even when they are home and could do it themselves and they just drop in periodically to play with the baby and let the nanny wake up at all hours of the night while they go to get couples deep tissue massages.
Also, there are some of us who are women that are the primary bread winner and I find it rude that those who can stay at home with their babies full time act like they are so much better of a mother because their spouse makes enough for them to stay home. Staying home all day doesn't make someone a great mom. I know some stay at home moms (relatives) that are lazy bon bon eaters who are raising super brats. Before you label me a stay at home mom basher I will point out my mother was a stay at home mom and she did a great job. But I don't think she was better than my spouse's mom who worked full time.
Regardless of all of that, whole point is that if you are going to nitpick at her for being a CEO then people should be railing at every male CEO who punts his responsibilities to his spouse.
Lots of jealous men and women on this site. Major intimidation by a powerful and successful women. You go, Marissa.
I say work for one buck, untll she proves anything at all
Why? Is that what you did at your job?? Surely you wouldn't suggest she be subjected to something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself??
I'm sure having a baby is easy when you are a multi-millionaire and you can hire people to get up at night to feed your child, take care of them during the day (whether you are home or not) and make sure your house is clean, your laundry is done, groceries are purchased and food is cooked.
Yet another out-of-touch one percenter. I'm glad God makes things so easy for her while not paying attention to the billions in poverty, those stricken with disease or not caring how his creation is being systematically destroyed by man whom he created in his own image.
Why would God create a species that would ultimately destroy everything else he created? Logic fails, but I guess that's consistent with the concept of faith.
@Deep Time
The only person out of touch is YOU. You have no clue what her life is like but still you manage to con yourself so thoroughly that you are "sure" of it. Please don't bring up the failures of logic when you make little attempt to apply any yourself.
I'll bet she's BFFs w/Ann Romney...another delusional, out of touch 1%er.
@Backcountry164:
"The only person out of touch is YOU"
My apologies, I didn't realize that on this entire planet I am the only one who is out of touch. Sucks to be me.
Let me ask you though: If you were CEO making millions a year and you went back to work after 2 weeks of maternity leave would you be taking care of your infant, feeding every few hours and tending to his/her needs?
Or is it reasonable to expect, given the situation, that you would hire help to ensure the baby's needs are met so that you could effectively carry out your duties at work?
Do you have children? Do you remember how exhausting those first few months were? Did your kids ever have colic? You're lucky if they didn't.
"Belief in the supernatural reflects a failure of the imagination."
Deep Time
"Reasonable to expect" is a far cry forom being "sure" of something. Why don't you just stop your whining and come right out and admit you just don't like anyone who is succesful. So much so that you'll make assumtions for no other reason than to give you something to cry about. Why eles would you even give a @!$%#???
Boo hoo, let's all be d-bags because some rich woman said her child was "easy".
This is the first time I have heard this woman speak in an interview and I am shocked at the way she speaks. She sounds like an inarticulate, babbling idiot. I have a hard time believing that she is as "brilliant" as everyone says she is. There are some women business leaders who are really bright and sharp, but she doesn't seem like one of them. Yahoo's stock is up for now, but we'll see where it is in a year or two.
Is there ever a time when someone believes themselves to be "too smart" and it actually turns out to be true?? Judging a persons intelligence based on how they speak in an interview would suggest your moniker is misleading to say the least.
She is a smart lady. And very lucky; most of her money was made being at the right place at the right time, not because of her smarts, but because of serendipity.
But I agree, she sounds like an idiot when interviewed.
Merry Bear- or with round the clock private nanny care, that isn't even an option for most women. Good luck finding a day care that will take them younger then 6 or 8 weeks. Personally as a mom and woman I think she cheated herself and that baby. I wouldn't trade a moment of the first 2 months of my daughters life for anything. She barely gave her body time to heal before she was back at it. 2 week maternity leave? Yikes, I was still having trouble lifting my kid in her car seat carrier. Getting a stroller in and out of the car wasn't a go and we were still learning to nurse. Never mind all the trips you make to the Doctors in the first month. I think I had at leasst 2 (wasn't even cleared to drive until 2 weeks out of surgery) and my daughter had at least 3.
I know what she "says" her priorities are but they look more like Yahoo, Yahoo, Yahoo, family.
It's easier when you have people to do that for you. You know, the "help."
There's no way she's nursing the baby. And she's probably not spending much time with the baby either. Maybe it's easy for her now, but it won't be when she's missing milestones or her child gets separation anxiety leaving the dad or nanny. She needed more time off. Her and Palin are setting a horrible precedent.
I do think the point about being "lucky" is super important. She didn't have to go on bed rest and didn't have a c-section to add to her recovery. I'm also assuming that because of her position, she has the means to hire a great deal of help. I personally did not have that type of help or luck with my preganancy. Also, to give some perspective, I choose to stay home, which wasn't a difficult decision since my husband earns a good living and I"m a school teacher. It is easy to decide to stay home when the cost of a nanny is as much as you make in a year. I'm sure this wasn't an issue for her.
Marissa...Mom to mom...it gets a lot harder as they learn to miss you...when they start crying and reaching for you as you leave it hurts your heart...I wish you the best of luck...make the internet great for all of us
The kid won't miss her and reach out to her, because it will attach to the person actually taking care of him (be it the father or nanny).
annsrun - It isn't right for a man to do it either! My husband has one of those types of jobs and it is a daily struggle to juggle the schedule so that we can all have dinner together and have family time. I don't know what her husband does, but I do think it is important for one person in the equation to carry the heavy lifting of family life. If you are hiring out all of that, why bother having a family?
That's my whole point. If they are going to rail against her, they should be railing against male CEO's too. But they don't. Double standard.
Gee... What a trooper. It's real tough to manage when you can afford to pay a nanny to take care of your kid on company dime while still drawing your million dollar salary. She is a CEO. Let's be real. Almost all of the work done on behalf of the Yahoo Corp. is done far below her. I know management types like herself want to believe they are the ones making the company work, but that couldn't further from the truth. They contribute a very small amount of work sitting on top of the pyramid. The real trench work is being done by everyone else and reports are funneled upward. By the time it reaches her level, everything has been distilled down to one or two reports with recommendations for next steps. They are not special or possess some skill no one else has. There are literally MILLIONS of people who can do her job.
Being a single mom is hard and I have nothing but the upmost respect for the mothers of all my children who do it every day.
Best of! Most awesomest comment of the board! I am lonely. Come love me. Signed, CEO in TN
it sure is easy when i have nannies and other people to bathe, feed, change and take care of my baby.
what a bad mother...
it's probably for the best, let everyone else raise the kid and keep her kid as far away from her as possible.
I wonder do you have an intimate knowledge of her daily schedule b/c you seem to know a lot about her that is not in the article.
I knew she was a reichwing knucklehead...it's not god, family and company...what a weird priority system
She is liberal and supported Obama.
Wow. She is so much dumber than I assumed her to be.
Needing a spreadsheet to make all her decisions? It's fine for business where there are so many variables, but it's rather sad to need spreadsheets to make cupcakes. Is that how she will "manage" raising her child? How pathetic she can't simply be a human being and make her own choices. Is she that scared of the possibility of failure in every aspect of her life? Raising a child via spreadsheet decisions will really create a sad child, who may well grow up to have as little soul as a spreadsheet.
I dated a girl once from a wealthy family. She told me about back when she was 4 years old she thought the nanny was her mother. When her mother figured that out, she freaked out and started spending more time at home. But not much more, because after all raising a child isn't actually easy. Anyway, life has trade offs and we all make them. Best of luck to Marissa and her family, I'm sure she's doing her best to juggle priorities, no more imperfectly than most of us.
I really can't hate. I am very interested in hearing her comments years from now about this phase in her life once she has no ties to Yahoo and can be candid about the whole thing.
yep - Yahoo is the greatest thing since sliced bread, now. She will dump that love in a heartbeat for the next great 'opportunity'. In the mean time, god and family still take the back seat.
It sounds like many of you women belong to the "bitter mom's club." Why did you have children if you're going to bitch about it?