An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Build a community of kids. While the support of adults has been critical for me, having a healthy kid’s community was just as important for my family. It provided breathing room and opportunities for growth for Taj and the neighborhood kids. They need a break from their families and it’s important to see things differently from good friends’ perspectives.
In this fast-paced world, mothers who juggle work and parenting responsibilities face unique challenges and experiences. Their stories of resilience, strength, and adaptability are not just inspiring but also enlightening. We aim to delve into the lives of working mothers to understand how they manage their professional ambitions while raising their children either single-handedly or with a partner. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Maria Tucker.
Dr. Maria Tucker has been an executive leader and consultant for 25 years, developing evidence-based programs with nonprofits/NGOs, colleges and universities, and government entities in the US and abroad. Maria has mobilized more than $14 million for community programs in education, youth development, environmental justice, crimmigration, and community health, and today, in support of single mothers. Maria is currently the inaugural Executive Director of Jeremiah Program Las Vegas where she is leading the charge to foster economic mobility among single mothers and their children using higher education as a lever. Maria holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan. She also goes by the title Taj’s mom.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about celebrating working mothers, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
My career path is rooted in my lived experiences as a daughter and mother. My mother was devout Catholic and although she would not characterize her lens this way, she lived with a social justice focus and deep love and empathy for people. As the youngest of 10 siblings, I grew up in a home that welcomed the neighborhood. I am also Taj’s mom and raised him as a young single mother, which is why the mission of the Jeremiah Program is so resonant for me. At JP, we partner with single moms and their kids to disrupt the cycle of poverty two generations at a time. I feel honored to do this work with moms and kids in Las Vegas and would have benefited from JP had it been around for Taj and me.
Can you share a moment or story that happened to you where you were inspired or given hope that there could be successful parenting while building and growing a meaningful career?
It’s difficult to get this down to one moment or story. Over the many years of parenting Taj, so many people served as inspirations and generated hope. However, the other single mothers that I did life with were especially impactful. We just loved and cared for our babies as best we could while pursuing academic and professional goals. They kept my head in the game. They kept me focused on motherhood and moving forward every single day. Sometimes the day-to-day, the mundane — a path of consistent persistence — can be where we find the greatest inspiration and hope. I found it in the mamas closest to me who became aunties of sorts to Taj, Ms. Jamala, Ms. Lisa and Ms. Natalie, who are also successful working moms.
And today, I find hope in the 75 Jeremiah Program Las Vegas single mothers who are pursuing their academic goals. They’re an inspiration and remind me of the power of sisterhood!
It is exciting to be here with you today celebrating your success. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to that success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
As a young single mother, my success as well as my son’s success is intertwined. This is why the Jeremiah Program’s mission is what it is: Day in and day out kids are most influenced by those they wake up to. So, I’m answering this question with that in mind and suggesting what traits led to my success as a parent and professional.
Persistence. As a young professional and single mom, I was making minimum wage in a residential center for adolescent girls even with a bachelor’s degree. What it provided, unlike other centers, was healthcare for my son and me. I knew if I wanted to expand my career in changemaking, I needed to lean into discomfort and continue to get experience in the field and possibly continue in school, which I eventually did.
As a mother, I got to a point in my career where I was working too much, and I wanted to be more present for my son. I essentially chose a doctoral program so I could have greater flexibility with my time and could be home when my son came home from school, volunteer in his classroom and attend his soccer games. In returning to school, I failed my preliminary exams miserably. But persistence was key. Of course I was ready to quit. Imposter syndrome crept in but what would the story be that I had to tell Taj? I couldn’t quit. So, I re-enlivened my dream and passed my exams the second time around.
Inquiry. I’ve always been curious about the world around me, ever since I could remember. This curiosity is what drove me to continue pursuing education and eventually a doctorate. I’ve also been a social innovator, and there’s a thread of entrepreneurship in my professional history where I started new programs and departments. I was also curious about new research in parenting and stayed on top of this throughout Taj’s childhood. This kind of inquiry laid the groundwork for Taj’s intellectual curiosity, educational pursuits and professional success, and continued to undergird my own professional growth. Frankly, I find joy in it, too. And I suppose experiencing joy in life should be considered a part of success.
Creativity. I asked Taj about this question, and he immediately responded this as a character trait for me. He’s been the eyes watching me for quite some time now. So, who better to answer this? I’ve been open to possibilities for my little family to look different from anything I’ve ever imagined. My son attended schools I’d never known existed when I grew up. I traversed educational and professional opportunities, unlike anybody in my neighborhood. I am a first-generation college student and professional, and, as such, wanted so much more for my son. I paid attention with a great deal of curiosity and openness when I navigated new spaces. This willingness to create something out of nothing, while sometimes scary, was critical to my success. The example that comes to mind was loading up Taj in the car and traveling 2,200 miles to Ann Arbor, sight unseen, to begin my doctoral studies at the University of Michigan.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a personal story that highlights the balancing act of being a working mother?
When Taj was very young, I worked the swing shift, which required me to find child care outside of normal working hours. I’d leave him with a family friend and pick him up around 1:00 am each morning. I felt so guilty for disrupting his sleep, not to mention my own exhaustion after driving a long 45-minute commute from work. I did this for nearly a year until I could get a better paying job closer to home at a college with a child development center. My mom’s prayers for me worked! 😊
What has been your most effective strategy for balancing work commitments with your responsibilities as a parent?
My personal commitment to balance drives my strategy around it. The buck has stopped with me. I do the things I am committed to. Sometimes I’ve had to check in with myself about my own health and wellness and ensure that I’m obtaining the outcomes I want for myself. When I fall off the proverbial wagon, those self-check-ins can be the inspiration I need to climb back on and re-engage.
Can you share a significant challenge you faced as a working mother and how you overcame it?
Being a young single parent presented the challenge of making sure food was on the table, the bills were paid, and I was able to find time for my child. Persistence was my solution. Persisting in my efforts to obtain my degrees was my solution to economic mobility for me and my little family.
Some employers are hesitant to hire moms and especially single mothers. Will you tell us a story about your productivity and accomplishments and how being a mom actually assisted you at work?
There was a time when I was passed over for professional travel because someone assumed I couldn’t travel due to having a child at home. Having a child grounded me and gave me the drive to focus and get things done in the classroom and at work. Since I had even more limited time with a child, I became more effective and efficient with it.
How do you prioritize self-care amidst your busy schedule?
I have not been a perfect parent…who has? 😊 But one thing I feel really good about is being able to communicate early on the importance of living a full life as a parent. I never stopped pursuing things that were about my own joy and care. These included gym memberships, team sports, leadership in clubs and organizations, and simply creating a village around Taj and me. As a single parent, there’s a great deal of shame, guilt and loneliness, so putting together a community of adults to connect with supported my mental health and wellness.
How do you find time and energy for personal development?
I make it. What is life without personal development? 😊
Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Things You Need to Thrive as a Working Mother?”
1 . Sisterhood. Being a single parent can feel lonely sometimes, so my mom community, like what Jeremiah Program moms build together, was clutch. Talking to other like-minded adults took the edge off on many occasions.
2 . Build a community of kids. While the support of adults has been critical for me, having a healthy kid’s community was just as important for my family. It provided breathing room and opportunities for growth for Taj and the neighborhood kids. They need a break from their families and it’s important to see things differently from good friends’ perspectives.
3 . A schedule. Keeping track of our many activities was a feat all by itself. I have always calendared everything.
4 . Spiritual practice. I haven’t always been a practicing Catholic, but I’ve always understood the power of prayer and what others call manifesting goals and dreams. Faith in a power greater than myself has been the foundation of hope even during the greatest mental and economic challenges. Having a spiritual practice such as a daily prayer and/or meditation isn’t simply about self-care, it’s the basis for life and community care.
5 . Coffee and wine. Do I need to explain? 😊
What support systems or resources have been crucial in helping you manage both parenting and your career?
Family, friends (or framily) and mentors. Choosing them with great thought and intentionality has been critical.
What advice would you give to single mothers striving to achieve success in their careers while raising children?
Choose employers as wisely as you’d choose friends. And if you date, choose even more wisely.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
When we invest in moms and kids, we change generations and generations after that. The movement has already started with JPs model of fostering economic mobility and disrupting poverty two generations at a time. If my lived experience as a young single mom to Taj and our journey could inspire continued investments in two generational approaches, I’d be grateful.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Jeremiah Program and Jeremiah Program Las Vegas are accessible via social media channels. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremiahprogram/; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahprogram/; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jeremiah-program/
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Balancing Acts: Maria Tucker Of Jeremiah Program On How To Thrive As A Working Mother was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.