This month marks the 10th Anniversary of Working Mother Media.

For some of our readers, that may seem a little confusing.  You may know that the magazine, Working Mother, was launched in 1979 as an offshoot of a then national women’s magazine McCall’s (some of us remember it fondly as the home of the paper doll Betsy McCall). In the beginning, Carol Evans was the new non-mom publisher. But she became a working mom while already in love with the magazine. She often tells her story of her mother who, as a teacher, was told she could not return to her job in the classroom because she was pregnant!  Later, her mother returned to work and Carol was proud of her accomplishments. So the whole concept of a magazine to support working moms rang true to her from the beginning. She stayed for 10 years before moving onto other publications.

Meanwhile, Working Mother, like many magazines, traveled around through various owners during it’s 34 years in print.  At some point, McCall’s sold it along with a group that included Working Woman magazine and the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE).

In 2001, that group was on the block. Carol, along with a team of investors, purchased it, and walked in the door on August 17 within a month of that fateful day, 9/11.

In a celebration of our ten years this week, Carol reminded us of that rocky start  for Working Mother Media as America and business coped with the horrific aftermath of the day of terror. It took the courage of conviction, entrepreneurial spunk and the same type of tenacity pointed to in the phrase: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Three years ago, still with Carol at the helm, Working Mother Media became a division of Bonnier Corp., a part of a global media firm. But we are still true to those beginnings: “Serving Women Boldly,” and committed to working moms, diversity and inclusion, and the advancement of women. 

Today, Working Mother Media includes Working Mother magazine and the digital hub workingmother.com, Working Mother Media Conferences and Events, Nafe, and Diversity Best Practices.

During our luncheon celebration (with some of our colleagues Skyped in from remote locations) it was wonderful to laugh with Carol about the challenges and together look to the future.  And of course, we had cake!  So cheers to all the working moms out there who have joined us in supporting each other as we take on the challenges of life and work.

Read more from Carol's CEO Mom blog.