Lessons from mom: How our mothers shape our lives and impact our success

In a world of uncertainty, moms—whether related to us through blood, love, or shared history—are the constants. They’re the ones who always have our backs and never let us down. They’re our role models, confidantes, and cheerleaders, all rolled into one.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, the extended BILL family wanted to take a moment to reflect on how much our mothers mean to us—and what motherhood means to them. To us, the holiday isn’t just about celebrating biological moms, but also extends to appreciating the guidance, mentorship, and support provided by all of the amazing women who have played a motherly role in our lives.

Here are some of the heartwarming lessons we’ve learned.

Insights and guidance from our maternal mentors 

For Jennifer Bauman, CFO of AE3 Architecture + CM, an architecture, design, planning and project management firm, being a mom is a symbol of breaking barriers. “I always thought board members and CFOs looked a certain way and sounded a certain way,” she describes.

It turns out, that’s not the case: “Now I’ve been on the board of Vanguard for seven years and CFO at AE3 for over three years,” Bauman shares. “I’m proud to represent girls that look like me, and show people: you can be a mom, you can have a partner, you can have a full-time career, and you can serve your community. And, you can do all these things and still be you. You don’t have to change anything about yourself to fit into a traditional idea of what you should be.”

As a child, Sarah Acton, CMO of BILL, remembers her mother instilling in her the power of learning. “As an avid reader, she inspires me to continue to learn, because, on that journey, we find growth,” Acton shares.

A lasting effect on our lives

Ann McFerran, founder and CEO of Glamnetic, an e-commerce beauty company offering magnetic lashes and press-on nails, is very close with her mother.  “I was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and then I immigrated to the United States with my mom when I was seven years old.”

As she grew up, her mother encouraged her to be a doctor, but McFerran had other plans: she wanted to be an artist. “My mom was an artist growing up, but I didn't know that you could make it a real career.” McFerran saw real potential once she started selling her own paintings. “I ended up going and pursuing art, and I did that for four years.”

Now, she owns her own business and a growing beauty brand with seven figures a month in revenue, and her mom couldn’t be more proud.

Loren Padelford, CCO of BILL, says that his mother has always been an inspiration to him because of her determination, care, and humanity as an entrepreneur. “She’s also the reason I care so much about small business owners: she is one,” he explains.

Love Catering is a full-service catering company, and the co-founder and CEO Jonathan Darr shares that his mother’s love of cooking inspired his career. “My mom was a big home cook, and she inspired me to cook and learn more about the culinary world,” he explains. “I still use my mom’s brownie recipe at Love Catering!”

Supportive wisdom

"My mom is the smartest and hardest working person I know,” says Irana Wasti, CPO of BILL. “She’s the person I call for personal and professional advice, and the person my two kids call when they need help with homework or school. I appreciate her help on everything from career advice to helping raise our kids (her grandsons)."

Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement!

These stories remind us that mothers play an invaluable role in our lives, from inspiring us to pursue our dreams to providing us with the support and love we need to succeed. So let’s take a moment to celebrate all of the mothers out there who have given so much of themselves to their families, and continue to do so.

Happy Mother’s Day!