Tax Managing Director, KPMG; Baton Rouge, LA
Children: Madison, 11; Connor and Cole, 8 ♦ Husband: Sean Kirkpatrick

Why We Love Her
Shannon’s true measure of success doesn’t have a thing to do with status, power or material things—it lies with her children. “She’ll consider her life a success if her children grow up to be happy, balanced adults,” says a coworker. A big believer in acts of kindness, Shannon created a good-deeds chart that lists situations in which a family member didn’t do the easy thing but did the right thing. When the page is full, her family celebrates with a special dinner, ice cream and a trip to the arcade.

Q: What’s your best advice for a new mom returning to work?

A: Lose the guilt. It makes you feel terrible and it’s not particularly productive. Instead use that energy to focus on getting organized, learning not to sweat the small stuff, and focusing on what you can do to make the most of family time. There’s no doubt that going back to work can be a very emotional time. I remember holding my firstborn at 1 month old, tears running down my face, wondering how I could possibly put her in someone else’s care. But I have learned that children are more resilient than moms like to give them credit for. 

Q: What’s your best tip for keeping your home life running smoothly?

A: I believe the keys to keeping our home running smoothly is teamwork, planning and taking shortcuts everywhere possible. Laundry is forever, so the entire family pitches in. I wash and dry, my husband sorts and folds, and everyone (including the kids) hangs and puts away their own.

Q: What does balance mean to you?

A: For me, being a working mom is not just about bringing home a paycheck to help provide a comfortable living for my family. It’s also about the personal satisfaction I get out of helping my clients navigate through a complex tax system. It’s about the friendships formed with co-workers. And it’s also about teaching my children by example.  I believe this about being a working mom. I am not harming my children by working outside the home, I am teaching them how to be successful in life by setting an example.