These 3 Working Mothers Spill Their Secrets for Showing Up at Work and Home (Without the Guilt)

Besides working at Orkin, a subsidiary of Rollins Inc., Jenn Pavone, Jessica Guimbellot and Trish Caples all have one thing in common: they’re working mothers. However, their experiences with working motherhood couldn’t be more different. 

“I have two grown children that I like to visit, as well as my family that is spread out over the country,” Pavone, a branch manager at the pest control company, says. “Having an employer that understands the need to connect with my loved ones is extremely important to me.”

Meanwhile, Branch Manager Guimbellot is both a career changer and a single parent. She says “my boys have a full time mom with minimal interruptions” and notes that her job has helped her “become more of an organized, budget savvy leader at home.”

And Caples, an area sales manager at Orkin, exposed her “little humans” to art at an early age. To this day, she attributes much of her own creativity at work to being a mother.

We spoke to these working moms about the boundaries they set at work, their pre-work morning routines (which, for Caples, includes figuring out if she stepped in her children’s pee or water on her way out), and their no. 1 tip for new moms who are navigating working motherhood. Check out their responses below.

Jenn Pavone: I’ve been a branch manager for 10 months and prior to that, I was an area sales manager for Orkin. At the rate of growth and endless opportunities to grow at Orkin, who knows where it will take me years from now! That’s one of the best things about Orkin — the opportunities are plentiful.

Jessica Guimbellot: It will be 11 months I have been in the acting role as branch manager for Orkin Pest Control.

Trish Caples: I have been an area sales manager for three years now. I was a Commercial Account Manager for two years prior for Orkin. Before starting my amazing journey in the world of Pest Control, I owned my own health insurance agency and was a nursing student.  

Jenn Pavone: My pre-work morning routine actually begins the night before. I review the tasks not completed from that day and create a prioritized list for the following day. In the morning, I enjoy a brisk walk with my dog to get my energy pumped and mind cleared with a little “me time” to balance out between home and work. Having direction before I start my day gives me a foundation to build on, although it’s inevitable that my task list will shift and change depending on the needs of my team and the business. 

Jessica Guimbellot: Let me be clear — morning time is me time. From 4 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., I make a cup of coffee and review my schedule for the day. I spend 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. walking, stretching or jogging and 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. washing up and getting ready for the day. From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., I get my boys up and drop them off at school.I head to the office by 7.

Trish Caples: I wake up and roll over and check the share point for our team. I get my gym clothes on, listen to one of my Ted Talks or podcasts, and do the kid shuffle. This includes packing lunches, getting them dressed, figuring out if I just stepped in a puddle of urine or water on the floor (hopefully, water) and kissing them off to the bus. I hop in my car and blare Apple Music on my way to the gym. Than I order Starbucks on my app and pick it up at my local store. This all is accomplished before I finally get dressed for my day.

Why do you think your company is a particularly great place to be a working mom? (Parental leave, flexibility, remote work options, healthcare/childcare, employee resource groups, etc.) 

Jenn Pavone: Orkin has allowed me to have some flexibility with my schedule and that’s important to me. I have two grown children that I like to visit, as well as my family that is spread out over the country. Having an employer that understands the need to connect with my loved ones is extremely important to me — and is even encouraged — which is such a blessing! 

Jessica Guimbellot: Orkin is a very understanding company. I switched from being a paramedic to a home inspector due to the flexibility in hours. With the time I have been here, I have made a life that my boys have a full time mom with minimal interruptions. I am able to financially support them without much struggle.

Jessica Guimbellot: I have become more of an organized, budget savvy leader at home. Being a single mom, changing careers and having to start from scratch can be chaotic. Growing in Orkin coincides with me growing as a single mom. All of the leadership training Orkin has given me has helped me become passionate about leading and being financially sound.

Trish Caples: When I worked at the local branch, I never missed a celebration, a special event or a field trip. I could pop in on my lunch time be a mom and poof — pop out to be an Orkin employee. Now that I travel, I had to get better at time management and being intentional, but this is a huge win for me!  

Jenn Pavone: I think that as a mom, I am able to connect with my team with empathy when appropriate with a sense a firmness. I am able to create a trust level with them knowing that my intentions are always coming from a positive place. They know that it’s my job to not let them fail and that I am there to support them as long as they are doing their part and meeting me at the fifty yard line.

Trish Caples: I would say that I am a much better multi-tasker and I’m pretty patient when teaching a new skill to a member of our team. I often laugh and attribute my creativity to being a mom.  

Jenn Pavone: Sunday mornings are for church. Sunday nights are for meal prep. Those are not up for negotiation. I also don’t read emails or texts in the morning when I first get up. I allow myself to have some quiet time in my mind while I get ready for work, enjoy some coffee and read a chapter from my book while giving my dog some attention. 

Jessica Guimbellot: Having more than one plan has saved me a lot. My boys know most things I do at work. It’s a passion of mine and I hope to be instilling that same passion within them. As far as the negative side of things go, I address them immediately, correct them and move on. My policy is to never let negativity linger.

Trish Caples: I only charge my cellular devices in my office at night. Night starts at 10 p.m. and is a no fly zone until I start my day the following day. 

What are you especially good at as a mom? What about at work? 

Jenn Pavone: As a mom and a leader, I am very passionate about helping others see how much more they are capable of and helping them develop independence and teamwork. Both my children and my team players have told me that I’m very black & white with my expectations, have high expectations and that I never settle. Always want to go from OK to good to great.

Trish Caples: I encouraged my kids to express themselves through different types of art at a very young age, whether it be through cooking, music, painting, acting, writing or film. I think this allows them to thrive as little humans. At work, I’m great at identifying strengths and communication styles of individuals connecting people to each other to utilize as resource. 

Jenn Pavone: I have found that I needed to commit to “work time” and “family time.” Sometimes, I found myself stressed out about what I would miss out on at work if I was not there — then I learned! I learned to multiply myself, delegate tasks when and where appropriate, and accept that I couldn’t be everything to everyone at the same time.

Trish Caples: Be true to yourself on what level of commitment you are ready to make to an employer. If you set unrealistic commitments, you will miss them every time. 

What do you love most about your company? 

Jenn Pavone: So many things come to mind! The training, my leadership, my team, the culture beliefs, the growth opportunities.But if I had to pick just one, I would say the support I receive at the company. I feel supported by my team, my direct boss, leadership, fellow branch managers and our corporate team. I never feel alone and I know that I can reach out at any time and the person on the other side really cares about my success and helping me. 

Jessica Guimbellot: Orkin has a genuine desire to do what’s right and make the most out of every circumstance. They do not settle for average and I appreciate that energy to the fullest!

Trish Caples: That’s easy: the people, the fact that I get to be a scientist in my role and the fact that I can change the lives of both my internal team and external customers.  

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