Marketing Like a Mama: What Breastfeeding Taught Me About Brand Strategy

Before I had my son, I thought I knew what multitasking was. I’ve built brand campaigns in my sleep (figuratively), pitched to CMOs on two hours’ notice, and made more strategic pivots than a politician during an election year. But nothing—and I mean nothing—taught me about stamina, audience insights, or the power of timing quite like breastfeeding did.

It’s one of those things people don’t really explain. You hear, “It’s natural,” or “You’ll figure it out,” but rarely the truth: it’s hard, beautiful, exhausting, and the most real-time customer feedback you’ll ever get.

And I realized—mid-latch, burp rag on my shoulder, trying not to cry from cracked nipples or a missed deadline—that marketing and motherhood weren’t competing identities. They were overlapping skill sets. The same intuition I trust to nurture my son? I use it to nurture brands.

Here’s what I’ve learned while doing both:

1. Your Audience Is Loud—If You’re Willing to Listen

My son will absolutely let me know if something’s off. Wrong position? Wrong time? Too much stimulation in the room? He’s not keeping it to himself. At first, I thought I was failing. But then I realized—this was feedback. Raw and honest.

That same lens applies to customers. Every click, scroll, unsubscribe, and angry comment is communication. You don’t need to panic—you need to interpret. What is your audience actually trying to tell you? Don’t take it personally. Take it as data.

2. Timing Is the Whole Game

There were days when I was ready to feed, but he wasn’t. And days when he was ravenous and I had nothing to give. We had to learn rhythm. We had to sync up.

Marketing campaigns have their own rhythm too. You can have the perfect content, but if your audience isn’t ready to receive it—if the cultural moment is off, if it’s not aligned with their needs—you’ll miss. Learn to move with your audience, not just at them.

3. Consistency + Comfort = Loyalty

Breastfeeding is about more than milk. It’s comfort. It’s bonding. And that only comes when your baby trusts that you’ll be there. That even if you’re late, tired, or out of sorts, you’ll show up.

That’s branding. That’s marketing. Consistency creates safety. When people know what to expect from your content, your voice, your values—that’s when they trust you. And trust is the only way to get them to buy in (emotionally or financially).

4. You Won’t Always Feel Like an Expert—and That’s Okay

I’ve cried during feedings. I’ve Googled things at 3AM I never thought I’d need to know. There have been moments where I felt like I was failing both my baby and my inbox. But I kept going. I kept learning. I kept loving through the chaos.

Imposter syndrome hits hard in marketing too. You’ll question your strategy. You’ll see someone else go viral and think you’re behind. But you’re not. You’re in your process. And just like with breastfeeding—there’s no one “right” way to nourish growth.

5. There’s Power in Quiet Impact

We don’t talk enough about the intimacy of influence. The things that change us don’t always shout. Sometimes they happen in the hush of early morning feedings. Or in the quiet click of someone saving your post, even if they don’t “like” it publicly.

We’re taught to chase virality. But real impact? It’s subtle. It’s sustained. Just like a mama showing up to feed her baby again and again, even when she’s bone-tired. That’s where loyalty lives.

So here I am—marketer, mama, writer, southern woman who believes in strategy and soul. If you’re building something (a brand, a family, a dream you can’t quite name yet), just know: you don’t have to separate your soft from your strong.

They belong together. Just like we do.

Want more stories where strategy meets soul? Stick around. The boardroom and the back porch are both open.