How Brett Edgar Considers Being a Parent and a Boss a Gift

I’ve moved on from the guilt we parents often feel over missing events, feeling split in half between work and family. It’s part of life, and, in our post-COVID world, we have all earned the gift of increased flexibility. 

That said, I often wonder how the constant pursuit of that balance between my roles as parent and CEO influences my leadership style. My values – clarity, agility, and approachability –, a set set shared by VCCP, impact my approach in both arenas. 

But does being a parent make me a better leader or does being a CEO make me a better mum? 

In 2022, I stepped into the role of CEO at VCCP US, the global challenger network for challenger brands. We work with brands including White Claw, Audi, T-Mobile for Business, Native, among others, and I’m constantly working with partners internally and externally to keep those challengers pushing the envelope in their respective spaces. My role marked an unprecedented one, the first North American CEO in the agency’s 20-year history.

Throughout the past two years, I’ve undergone a journey that’s taught me the unlikely parallels between home and office, that’s shown me the value of leading with those core principles in both arenas, and walked away with a few key learnings. 

BE UNPRECIOUS

Be willing to dive in to handle any and everything. Being a CEO and parent means there is no “off” button. You’re always on, and it’s just a matter of which arena – home or office – needs your time in a particular moment. To move more efficiently in both arenas, you need to check your ego at the door and do what you need to keep things moving. At work, that means maintaining a mindset that no task is too small for me to tackle, saying “yes” to things that fall outside my job description if they help out a team member and serve the bigger strategic goal. At home, that means essentially serving as an Uber driver for my daughters.

BE AGILE

Raising kids and leading an agency are both team sports. When I’m in the office, VCCP is my team. We collaborate. We share. We challenge each other. We disagree. We build on ideas. When a team is highly functioning, it feels good. Everyone can see how they are part of building, and it can be pretty magical. At home, my family is my team. My husband and I are the coaches. We tackle the big and small stuff together. From getting our daughters to school (hopefully on time) to strategizing coverage to get everyone to all their activities. A spirit of collaboration keeps us going and helps us win, and that also means staying mindful of precedents and learning when to step in versus step out. 

BE APPROACHABLE

Finally, start to sense – and ask – when people need affirmation versus a reality check. Sometimes, kids don’t want a lesson; they simply want to vent. The same goes for team members. Knowing when to hold space versus when to give advice has helped me become a better parent and team member. Drawing that distinction can help set boundaries for the conversation ahead – and allow you to better support the people who matter most to you. 

IN CONCLUSION

Whether you’re driving carpool or leading a meeting, you’ll get faced with choices you don’t always feel totally equipped to make. But it comes down to trusting your gut and knowing that your values – whatever they may be – are serving as your North Star. 

You won’t always get it right, but, where you don’t, you’ll learn so that you can get the win next time.