The Low Down: Featuring Jill Koziol, CEO of Motherly
It is with great pleasure that I introduce the inaugural Low Down featuring one of my dear friends and the incredible Co-Founder and CEO of Motherly, Jill Koziol. When I think about women who embody doing it all, Jill is the first one to come to mind. Jill is one of the most impressive entrepreneurs you will ever meet and is also an incredible wife, mother, and friend! Jill has overcome the startup odds and navigates running an Inc 5000 Fastest growing private company, being very active in YPO, managing several boards all while having two young daughters and making it look easy. Though she will be the first to tell you that she has an incredible behind-the-scenes team and relies heavily on delegating. I am so grateful that she took the time to share some of her experiences as a mother and a CEO and how she manages a work/life balance or as she calls it “work life integration.” Jill is truly wonder woman in my mind and I can’t wait for you to get to hear her story and hopefully extract some of the incredible pearls of wisdom she has given us below. Thank you and welcome, Jill!
Please tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, where did you go to college and what did you see yourself becoming when you were younger.
I’m from a small town in Southern Maryland about 45 minutes southeast of Washington, DC. As a first generation college student I went to a state school in Maryland for undergrad and then Georgetown for my Master’s degree. When I was younger I dreamed of being an international lawyer and one day working for the United Nations or being an ambassador.
How did you come up with the idea of Motherly and where do you see your company in another 5 years?
Prior to Motherly I invented, patented, and brought to market a baby goods product so I had already cut my teeth on entrepreneurship when I received a call from my now cofounder who was interested in launching a new brand for modern mothers. I jumped at the ideas because as a Millennial mother I felt motherhood was portrayed in a really outdated manner back in 2015 and knew we could do better. We built Motherly to be woman-centered, expert-driven, and empowering.
We’ve grown a ton over the last 7 years and this year are an Inc. 5000 fastest growing private company in the US. Five years from now I believe we will be the most valuable parenting platform – most valuable to our audience and our media clients.Who inspired you to be a leader and why?
My father is a small business entrepreneur and leader in our community and I’ve always been inspired by him not just to be a business owner but to give back to my community. I saw how he impacted our community as an employer and as a philanthropist and he encouraged me to do the same. I’ve also always been very inspired by my great-grandmother who in the early 1900s ran our family’s publicly traded business in the background after her husband died because women couldn’t be officers in public companies. I like to think she’d be proud if she could see me now.
What is the best piece of advice you were given? Regarding anything from business to parenting to personal development, etc.?
The best advice I’ve received is, “feedback is a gift, not a mandate for change.” As a start-up entrepreneur and as a mother I’m frequently given advice and feedback. Once I internalized feedback as a gift and not something I’m required to act on, I was able to view it more objectively and determine for myself what worked best for me authentically.
What advice would you give to other women who are running a business and raising children?
I’d offer that self-care is not selfish and that it is important as a mother and a business owner to prioritize your own health and wellbeing. Your family and business won’t thrive if you aren’t thriving so finding ways to fill your cup, even before others, is critical.
Is there anything you wish someone had told you along the way?
I wish someone had told me that successful companies almost die a dozen times before they become successful. It’s a roller coaster for all companies and just because something is hard doesn’t mean you aren’t doing it right.
What does work/life balance look like for you?
For me it’s more like work life integration. I don’t think of it as a balance because it’s never fully at an equilibrium balance. And it’s important to note that I don’t do it all – I have an amazing support structure of paid household help who enable me to thrive at work and at home. At home, and at work, I prioritize the things only I can do and outsource or delegate the others so that I have time to workout, be present with my children, spend time with my husband, etc.
What are some of your favorite traditions and do you place a priority on certain things?
Mothers are the magic makers and I’ve created so many traditions that my family prioritizes from special birthday breakfasts to spending Thanksgiving in Hawaii to our night Christmas book tradition during Advent. I believe that these are the moments my children will recall when thinking about their childhood and it fills me with such joy.
I know you are extremely mindful of well-being. How has that impacted your life?
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis nearly seven years ago and it changed my perspective on health and well-being significantly. Too often mothers don’t prioritize their health and my diagnosis gave me permission to prioritize my health from eating well to exercising regularly, and recently a meditation practice. These practices help me show up as my best self for my family and my company.
What adversity has challenged you the most, yet made you a stronger person?
No one leaves this life unscathed and like everyone I’ve faced many adversities. My MS diagnosis was one of the most challenging because it impacted every aspect of my life so profoundly including my children, who were very young, my husband, and Motherly. I’m 10x as strong – mentally, physically, and emotionally – as I was when I was diagnosed and in many ways I now see MS as a gift.
You meet so many inspiring women every day, how do you feel we can better support the motto of “Women helping Women?”
The most important thing I believe women can do to support other women is to pay it forward – so many people have supported me over the years and I pay it forward by taking calls from women who are trying to launch a new business, grappling with an MS diagnosis, or figuring out how they can better integrate their work and personal lives. Women need more support and less judgment and paying it forward, sharing our experiences, is a critical way to support each other.
How would you describe your sense of style?
I prefer classic over trendy and tend to be more minimalist enjoying texture over pattern and a more neutral color palette. Since moving to Park City in 2020 I’ve started to gravitate more to mountain inspired fashion. So I’d say my style is California meets mountain, maybe?
What is your favorite splurge or investment “High Bar” piece in your wardrobe?
My various Valentino rock stud shoes are probably my favorite splurge – I tend to buy a new pair each season and still love my older pairs so I consider them an investment, too. But, my diamond pieces from Katie Anderson Diamonds are definitely my favorite investment items – my rings, bracelets, and earrings designed by Katie are classic while on trend and items I know my daughters will one day treasure, too.
What is your favorite trendy yet affordable “Side Bar” piece in your wardrobe?
I’ve lately been loving the fun, trendy earrings from MIGNONNE GAVIGAN – they make great statement pieces and I love the Madeline collection.
What is one thing on your wish list for the holidays? What is something on your children’s wish list? Something on your husband’s wish list?
I’m going to give classic cross country skiing a try this season so a set of Atomic cross country skis and boots are on my wish list. My youngest daughter has all things American Girl on her wish list, while my oldest daughter is hoping Santa brings her a pair of air pods. For my husband, he doesn’t know it yet but a Therabody Theragun is on his list!
