EVP, Strategic Insights and Research, MTV Networks; New York, NY

Children: Delia, 10; Gillian, 8 ♦ Husband: Patrick Rush

Why We Love Her At work, Colleen is charged with tracking the ever-changing tastes, interests and passions of MTV’s young audience. Then she goes home to, well, track the ever-changing tastes, interests and passions of her own tweens, Delia and Gillian. Apparently she’s a true pro at both, because all the new moms in the office look to her as a role model. Her advice: “be where you need to be.” She then makes sure they’re equipped with laptops, blackberrys and cell phones so they can do just that. Of course, it helps that Colleen’s own boss is a working mom, too. “She’s the one who inspires me,” says Colleen.

Q: What’s your best advice for a new mom returning to work? A: I always tell new mothers and really all parents in our research group: “Be where you need to be.” The good news for moms is that technology has made it very easy to do that. If you need to work from home tomorrow because your sitter is sick, laptops, Blackberries and cell phones pave the way for that work

Q: What’s your best tip for keeping your home life running smoothly? A: I'm a big planner. One thing I do religiously is create a menu for the week, then shop, cook and freeze. The kitchen is really the center of the household and it’s amazing how everything seems easier if you just have dinner planned. Another thing is keeping a good calendar, at kid eye level, so they can help me remember what each day will bring — at school and after school. Lastly, my husband Patrick: He's amazing — a wonderful father and caring coach — and I absolutely could not do this without him. 

Q: What does balance mean to you? A: Balance means keeping my priorities in order. There are going to be days when I need to put in long hours at the office and days when my family will really need me. If I can stay on top of it beforehand and stay organized, I know that people at home and people at the office can depend on me.