#MakingTime: A Day in the Life of a CEO Who's Changing the Maternity Fashion World With Her Sisters

Women can do anything — but not everything. As the largest online career community for women, we at Fairygodboss realize that balance is a myth, and that picking what to prioritize when everything feels important on a day-to-day basis isn't always easy. In the #MakingTime series, women share with us how, for one day, they chose to spend their most precious resource: time.

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Who: Lori Caden

What: CEO of Caden Concepts and Co-founder of Belly Bandit, a maternity wear company for new and expecting moms that Lori and her sisters launched 10 years ago; with celebrity fans like Molly Sims and Kourtney Kardashian, Belly Bandit specializes in solutions for women before, during and after pregnancy to help with support for pelvic and back pain.

Where: Sherman Oaks, California

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7 a.m. 

My alarm went off today, as it does every weekday morning, at 7 a.m.! Lucky for me, my kids, (Charlee, 14, and Chase, 11) are now self-sufficient. So, this morning they got themselves dressed and made their own breakfast while I’m doing my very quick morning routine: brushing teeth and checking for any important texts. I did pack lunch for Chase this morning, although my husband does it more often as he thinks his choices are healthier. And they probably — nope, definitely — are!

7:30 a.m. 

We are all out the door. 

8 a.m. 

I drop off Chase at school — one down! 

8:15 a.m. 

I drop Charlee at school and then head straight to the office. I’m already tired but since I don’t drink coffee (shocker!!), I run on pure adrenaline and the occasional bag of Doritos. 

8:30 a.m. 

I arrive at the office! I start my day working on Caden Concepts, my promotional branding company. I’m taking calls with clients and getting ready to present some ideas to a major sports franchise … think Los Angeles and BLUE! I’m looking at product mockups and putting the final touches on our presentation. 

10 a.m.

Time to switch gears and start working on company #2 — Belly Bandit! I have a meeting with my sisters/business partners to discuss some new hires. We’re always excited to bring new talent to Belly Bandit HQ. 

11 a.m. 

Time for my bi-weekly call with our PR team discussing everything from new product launches to celebrity endorsements. Since we’re based in Los Angeles we get a lot of celeb love which is always fun. 

Noon 

We’re having a photo shoot for our new ActiveSupport line. I chat with some of the models and make sure they are wearing the products correctly and then let the professionals, ie my sisters, take it from there! 

1 p.m.

This afternoon was a series of meetings, conference calls and emails – over 100+. I also worked on the website for my third company which we’ll be introducing soon…. yes, I stay BUSY!  Also, got a quick visit from my parents and their adorable, new puppy, probably the highlight of my afternoon! 

2 p.m. 

I grabbed a late lunch from the very convenient Greek restaurant next door to our office (they know me!) and always get my very specific orders right! 

3 p.m.

Headed into a Belly Bandit manager’s meeting to look at mock ups of our new boxes.  We’re always trying to innovate and seeking out our team’s opinion is an important part of the process. 

4 p.m.

What would my day be without a sales meeting?! I go over numbers with our VP of Sales and discuss our recent Mother’s Day Sale. 

5:30 p.m. 

My phone rings, “Mom, what are we doing for dinner?” It’s Chase who needs to eat before his 7pm baseball game! I arrange to have my husband pick up some dinner. Then it’s a meeting with our social team to work on new posts and brainstorm on giveaway and IG story ideas. 

Grab some “mini” York Peppermint Patties that are conveniently located in the huge candy table in my office – I’m proudly candy-obsessed.

6:45 p.m. 

It’s now a mad dash to get out of the office and to the game! 

7:15 p.m. 

I’ve arrived by the 2nd inning, success! But, I have to run before the 9th as my daughter Charlee is ready for her CH-UBER  (Charlee and Chase Uber, that’s me!). 

8:30 p.m.

Pick up Charlee from basketball practice that is ridiculously far way and something I do 3x a week!  Quick stop at Poke for dinner, but not for this vegetarian. Feeling a little like supermom, definitely putting on my cape tonight.

9 p.m.

Home! But, quickly discover that my cat has gotten sick on my entry floor.  She’s 22- years-old and has had waaay more than nine lives!   I clean it up and head staight to the shower. My bathroom is currently under construction, so I have to use the bathroom upstairs to shower….but I must have over done it because the steam from the shower has set off the fire alarm!!! Argh…..

9:45 p.m. 

Time to catch up with friends on the phone..I don’t drink wine and I don’t watch TV so this is my time to do a little online shopping and work on a coffee table book I’m creating of my fave sayings….and then into bed.

10:30 a.m.

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