A Mother's Day Tribute: Leading Women Defined by Mom
Twelve women we admire honor their moms.
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Harriette Cole - The best-selling author and nationally syndicated advice columnist shared how becoming a mother has changed the meaning of love: "Now I understand how happy my mother is to have us. It reminds me of a type of love that is not definable and yet it fills your heart," she said, adding, "If I could say one thing to my mother, it's what I say to her every time I speak to her, 'I love you.'" (Photo: BET)
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Amy DuBois Barnett - The former editor-in-chief of Ebony lost her mother when she was only 22 years old and says the holiday is a bittersweet one for her because she mourns "the loss of somebody who was so influential" to her while celebrating being a mother to her son. She also shares what being a mom means to her. "It means patience. It means patience more than anything else. After a full day at work surrounded by people wanting your attention or needing something from you – needing your input, wanting your advice – you've really given yourself to your career. You've got to come home at the end of the day and be accessible and loving and fully present for your child. You have to understand that your child doesn't know or doesn't care what you've been going through all day at work, they just want their mommy." (Photo: BET)
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Tai Beauchamp - The TV personality thanks her "regal" grandmother for introducing her to the world of cosmetics and her mother for teaching her about accepting her inner beauty and strength. "One of the things that my mom taught me was to believe in myself, believe in my own beauty and my own power and to know that there is nothing I can't accomplish. But most importantly, my mother has taught me about strength and resilience. She has persevered. She is such an amazing giver of life and love to so many people. That advice has really shaped my whole existence," explained Beauchamp. (Photo: BET)
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Kimberly Paige - Paige, who is vice president of marketing at The Coca-Cola Company and manager of the Sprite trademark, said her mother taught her to define success on her own terms. "I think what my mother inspired in me was really being able to figure out what's important in life and understanding my values, and then governing myself in a way that is true to my values," she said. "So when I am at work, I am very confident in my abilities, because I know it's rooted in who I am as an individual." (Photo: BET)
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Esi Eggleston Bracey - The vice president for global cosmetics at Procter & Gamble credits her mom for teaching her that impossible is nothing after attending law school and passing the bar on her first attempt all while raising two young children. "If I could tell my mother one thing, it would be thank you for setting a high standard, because I have taken that on not just for my life, but for my whole family’s life," Bracey said. (Photo: BET)
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Lynn Richardson - The financial coach shares the best advice her grandmother would share with her: "Don't run ahead of yourself." It took Richardson a while to learn what she meant by the phrase. "I never knew what she meant by the advice, but I know now," she said. "As I travel from city to city, sometimes I don't get enough sleep and sometimes I haven't had anything to eat, but what I realize is I have to take care of myself, and I know very well now what my grandmother meant by 'don't run ahead of yourself.'" (Photo: BET)
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Tarren Guy - The popular hair blogger is not only feeling the love from her 450,000 followers, but also from her two teenage boys, a five-year-old daughter, and soon from her little baby on the way. In her interview with BET, she explained the importance of allowing her children to be individuals. "Being a mother, sometimes we forget that our children are individuals. So let them express themselves to you, even if you don't agree with it. Sometimes trial and error is the best way to learn without them hurting themselves. Support their dreams." (Photo: BET)
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Michaela Angela Davis - The activist and writer strives to incorporate a sense of excitement in her own life thanks to her mother, a woman who constantly reminded Davis that "life could be magical." And at the age of 75, it's a mentality that her mother carries to this day. "The best thing that my mother gave me was the example of how she is living her life. She stayed really involved in the adventure of her own life," Davis said. (Photo: BET)
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MC Lyte - The rapper remembers her mom being both cool and strict, treating her and people from the neighborhood to see Broadway plays when they had extra tickets and teaching to always be aware of her surroundings. "There were games being ran on everyone all the time and she just wanted me to stay safe," Lyte said. (Photo: BET)
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Kelli Coleman - An executive vice president for GlobalHue, Coleman admits that Mother's Day has been more fun since having her daughter. "As cliché as it sounds, we make the world go 'round, and I love that there is a day dedicated to celebrating that," she said before adding what her two-year-old has taught her. "She just has this real excitement that is amazing to watch and even better to experience with her. I think two-year-olds are great reminders of the fundamentals of life." (Photo: BET)
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Sheila E - When Sheila E's career started to take off as a topnotch percussionist with some of the industry's hottest names, she realized that there weren't many females doing what she did. Still, her mother was always right there supporting her dreams and telling her to keep busting down walls. Go for it, her mom would say. Sheila E added, "What people need to realize is that we're great musicians, we just happen to be women. I think being a woman is a gift." (Photo: BET)