Summoning Resilience In Our Darkest Times: Bozoma Saint John on Loss and Motherhood

Continuing In our For the Love of The Matriarchy series, Jen talks with powerful women who are taking innovative approaches to their work, their relationships, and their joy. Bozoma Saint John is a trailblazing marketing executive whose career has taken her to the heights of companies like Pepsi, Apple, Uber and Netflix. But her path to becoming a "badass" has been one marked by profound loss and upheaval. 

From the loss of her first child and her husband's battle with cancer, to being told she's "too much" by those closest to her, Bozoma opens up about summoning resilience from life's lowest lows. She discusses redefining what true strength looks like, embracing authenticity even when it ruffles the status quo, and pioneering a collaborative model of single parenthood that makes space for her daughter's voice.

Jen and Bozoma discuss:

• Embracing authenticity even when it ruffles the status quo and offends those in power
• Redefining strength not as impenetrable toughness, but as the pliability in experiencing brokenness yet still rising again
• The complexities of reconciling life's tragedies with its gifts and holding space for gratitude amid loss
• Pioneering a collaborative, trust-based model of single parenthood that makes space for her daughter's voice and needs

For anyone craving inspiration to honor their scars while uncompromisingly claiming their power, this is a master class.

* * *

Thought-Provoking Quotes:

“Privilege is a reliable enemy of equality. And it is sometimes insidious the lengths we’ll go to protect it because we're still benefiting [from it].” - Bozoma Saint John

"You don't have to have had the same losses I've had or suffered the same way I suffered to prove that you are worthy of the scars that you bear. You have them and it's okay." - Bozoma Saint John

“My parenting has changed because I need to make space for [my daughter] to be honest with me about what she needs so that I can be the mother that she needs; not necessarily the mother that I think is needed.” - Bozoma Saint John

"The most amazing thing about being human is how incredibly tied we are to each other. And it is a beautiful thing that even through our pain, we are still tied together as human beings." - Bozoma Saint John

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Bozoma’s Marketing Hall of Fame Induction: https://marketinghalloffame.org/inductees-leading-marketers/bozoma-saint-john-2022-marketing-inductee/

2021 Most Influential CMO: https://www.forbes.com/connect/event/2021-wmi-cmos/

Ambassador to the African Diaspora and Special Envoy to the President of Ghana: https://bit.ly/4bhmVig.

Guest’s Links:

Bozoma’s Website: https://www.bozomasaintjohn.com/

Bozoma’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintBoz

Bozoma’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/badassboz

Bozoma’s Instagram: http://instagram.com/badassboz

Bozoma’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bozoma-saint-john-0305441/

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