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When you picture a marketing executive, you might not imagine a Zumba instructor, a stay-at-home mom, or someone who once questioned whether she'd ever have a career again. But Kate Speer is all of those things, and more. In a conversation with Trust Me Mom host Ekaterina Konovalova, Kate shares her winding, deeply relatable journey of balancing motherhood and ambition, and how she ultimately launched her career to new heights, after having four kids. Career Paused, Not Lost Kate’s career began in the traditional corporate world, at Merrill Lynch. But when she became a mother at age 24, it didn’t make financial or emotional sense to keep going in a job she didn’t love. So, she stepped back. But she didn’t stop growing. She started teaching Zumba. Then she opened a fitness studio. It was small and flexible work that allowed her to raise her children while still learning how to run a business, including marketing, payroll, web design, and client management. These weren’t “just part-time gigs.” They were stepping stones that sharpened her skillset and built her confidence. The Freelance Hustle and an Unexpected Breakthrough After closing her studio due to family logistics, Kate dove into freelance marketing. This was before the gig economy exploded, yet she was already laying the groundwork for something bigger. Her hustle paid off when a trucking company took a chance on her. Within two years, she became their VP of Marketing. But in 2022, Kate lost that job unexpectedly. She had built a career that helped support her family. She wasn’t in a place where she could afford to “pause” again. What followed was a crash course in reinvention, visibility, and networking.  From Invisible to Irresistible: The Power of Networking “I never networked. I didn’t think I had to,” Kate admits. Like many moms, her days were full - working, parenting, managing hockey schedules. But when she suddenly needed a new role, she realized the power of being visible. So, she leaned in. She built a personal website. She started posting on LinkedIn. She showed up to in-person events. And while it was terrifying at first, she kept asking herself: What would I want my kids to do in this situation? Kate believes that “confidence is a muscle,” and that to build it, “you get that by doing things and putting yourself out there, and the more you do that, the easier it gets. And the more that you feel confident in yourself - that I might not know all the answers or feel ready for this, but we're going to take the leap and figure it out.” The result? Two job offers in under six months - one of which led to her current role as VP of Marketing & Brand Development at Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop. But more than that, she found a thriving professional community and a new sense of identity.
“I’m Further Ahead Now Than I Would’ve Been Without Kids”
Kate doesn’t just feel like she caught up - she feels like she sprinted ahead. Motherhood, she explains, taught her how to prioritize, how to juggle, and how to make every hour of work count. “If I’m going to spend eight hours doing something, let’s make it count.” The emotional intelligence, time management, and resilience she gained through parenting? All of it transferred into her work life and helped her thrive under pressure. Advice for Moms Feeling Stuck or Behind Kate has a message for moms questioning whether they’ll ever get their careers back:
Final Word: Moms Can Do It All - Just Not All at Once Kate’s story is a reminder that the “motherhood penalty” doesn’t have to define your path. With intention, support, and self-belief, moms can not only return to the workforce - they can lead it. And sometimes, the detours turn out to be the most powerful chapters of all.
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