​Marketing Meets Motherhood: How Nikki Ramirez Uses Branding Lessons to Raise Her Toddler

In a recent in-person episode of the Trust Me Mom show, host Ekaterina Konovalova sat down with a marketing executive, TEDx speaker, and LinkedIn content creator Nicole (Nikki) Ramirez. What followed was a raw and relatable conversation about parenting, professional identity, and the surprising overlap between marketing and motherhood.
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Ekaterina and Nikki know each other from the marketing world, but this time, the focus wasn't just career moves - it was the unexpected wisdom that emerges when a marketing expert becomes a parent.

From Forbes to Fishy Challenges

Before motherhood, Nikki's career path was nothing short of impressive. "I'm a journalist turned marketer and now I'm a growth marketing specialist, specializing in healthcare. I am also a personal branding coach and a LinkedIn content creator," she shared. She even led marketing at Forbes for their accolades department and gave a TEDx talk back in 2018.
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But everything shifted when she became a mom. "I thought, I'll be a mom, and it'll just fit into my life, and I won't change at all. And how naive I was," Nikki admitted. "Every day is just a new adventure. You watch this person become a whole human, and it's incredible."

Going Viral Over Beach Chicken

That human (Nikki's toddler) became the star of a viral LinkedIn post that put Nikki in the social media spotlight. "My toddler hates fish but loves chicken. So, when we have salmon, I call it beach chicken and he says 'Yay, beach chicken!' and eats the whole thing," she explained. "I ended the post with 'know your audience.'"
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The internet exploded. "I ended up on the Today Show and Newsweek... I had colleagues and friends who are not on LinkedIn or follow me sharing my post and saying, 'Hey, I saw you on X, formerly known as Twitter... and on Instagram... and someone did your whole post on TikTok.'"

Branding, Negotiation, and Toddler Psychology

Nikki believes that many business skills translate directly to parenting. "My negotiation skills are top notch now... you're always rebranding and storytelling and rephrasing things to really get your toddler to stay alive and be a good person." Her parenting mantra? "Know your customer."

As a mom of one with another on the way, Nikki has learned to be deliberate about how she divides her energy. "I make sure to end my day when my child comes home from daycare... closed laptop, I'm spending time with my son... no phones at the table, no distractions."

Advocacy and Identity

Beyond parenting and work, Nikki is an advocate for maternal rights through her work with the Chamber of Mothers. "We have three pillars that we really concentrate on: maternal health, affordable childcare, and paid maternity leave." She emphasized the need for a phased return to work and the high costs of childcare that force many families to make painful choices.
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"Fill your cup with what you want to do," she advised. "If you're forced to say, 'Okay, I can't afford childcare so I’m staying home,' that's not filling your full cup."

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​​Check out the podcast episode (Season 1, episode 17) where Nikki and Ekaterina reflect on their marketing careers,  motherhood journey and how some of the skills they developed as marketers could be applied to parenting. 

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​Redefining Self and Social Life

Parenthood also changed her social rhythm. "I was such a social butterfly... now I have no desire to really do a lot of that anymore. I'm trying to wrap my head around: is this who I am now? Or am I just exhausted?"

Despite the shifts, she’s clear about one thing: "You need to keep your identity when you become a mom. Diversify your happiness. Don't give up on your hobbies and passions. When your cup is filled, you can fill other people's cups."

Nikki’s Advice to New Parents

"Put your oxygen mask on first. Do what makes you happy and don't feel guilty about it. Because then you are your full self, and it will reflect on your kids," reminds Nikki. Moms tend to lose themselves in caregiving and work, and they will thank themselves in the long run if they maintain hobbies and continue to invest in friendships despite the exhaustion.
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Whether you’re marketing beach chicken or trying to make sense of your new identity as a working mom, Nikki’s story is a refreshing reminder that the skills we use in our careers can serve us well at home - and vice versa.