C-Suite Moms: Dr. Alea Harrison Of Banfield Pet Hospital On How To Successfully Juggle Motherhood and Work

An Interview With Vanessa Morcom

Being intentional with my time to ensure our moments together are meaningful is so important. It can’t be every time, but I try my hardest to make sure from a scheduling standpoint that I don’t have any meetings or calls when dropping my girls off at school or picking them up. At the beginning of every school year, I look at their school calendar and block off their breaks so that I can take time away with my family, and each of my children get to pick a trip so they feel special and involved.

In today’s fast-paced business world, women in executive roles face the unique challenge of balancing high-powered careers with the demands of motherhood. Despite progress in workplace equality, female executives often carry a disproportionate share of domestic responsibilities. How do these successful women manage both spheres of their lives so effectively? In this interview series, we would like to explore this intricate balance and we are talking to women executives from various industries who are also mothers, to share their insights and strategies for successfully juggling their professional and personal lives. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Alea Harrison.

As Chief Medical Officer of Banfield Pet Hospital, Dr. Alea Harrison supports the practice’s 3,600 veterinarians in delivering high-quality, preventive care to millions of pets every year. Dr. Harrison has been with Banfield for more than 17 years in progressive leadership roles, starting as a veterinarian in the practice’s hospitals in 2006. Her personal experience treating pets and listening to pet owners helps her identify the best tools and strategies to make best-in-practice treatment decisions informed by the latest medical research, Banfield’s own data, and values of inclusion and wellbeing. Dr. Harrison is a board member of Banfield’s charitable arm, the Banfield Foundation, the executive sponsor of Banfield’s Asian Pacific Islander Diversity Resource Group, and a part of Banfield’s POWER Diversity Resource Group, focused on creating an engaging environment to attract, retain, and elevate Black talent.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us the “backstory” behind what brought you to this point in your career?

You probably haven’t heard many career stories that begin with a cat in a Christmas tree. One year, we were setting up a tree in our living room that we had gotten at a local tree lot when a stray cat jumped out. This cat became my first childhood pet and was the beginning of my lifelong love of animals. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories and what ultimately led to me starting my own pet sitting service when I was little. It wasn’t until my last year of undergrad that I realized I could turn this passion of mine into a career.

I graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and immediately began my career journey at Banfield Pet Hospital, where I’ve stayed and grown for over 17 years. I started as an associate doctor practicing at Banfield locations in Ohio and North Carolina and continued to hold progressive leadership roles. Today, I am honored to be the practice’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) where I oversee more than 3,600 veterinarians as they deliver high-quality preventive care across our 1,000+ hospitals nationwide.

As CMO, I’m focused on leading with a strong hospital-centric focus, helping veterinary teams partner with clients to make informed, best-in-class treatment decisions that are rooted in the latest medical research. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of a purpose-driven organization like Mars, Inc. that is committed to creating a better world for people and pets.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people who selflessly lent their time and expertise to help me learn and advance in my career. Today I lead with this same passion for coaching and supporting doctors while promoting equity, inclusion & diversity within the veterinary profession and giving back to pets and the people who love them. This includes being a board member of Banfield’s charitable arm, the Banfield Foundation, the executive sponsor of Banfield’s Asian Pacific Islander Diversity Resource Group, and a part of Banfield’s POWER Diversity Resource Group, focused on creating an engaging environment to attract, retain, and elevate Black talent.

Can you share with us how many children you have?

I have two daughters, ages 11 and 6.

Where were you in your career when your child was born/became part of your family?

When I had my first daughter, I was around 8 years into my career. I was a Director of Veterinary Quality at the time, overseeing multiple markets and 30 hospitals.

Did you always want to be a mother? Can you explain?

Marriage and motherhood weren’t ever things I clearly envisioned for myself. That is until I met my husband. We have been married 16 years now, and it’s when I met him that I knew I wanted to build a family together.

Did motherhood happen when you thought it would or did it take longer? If it took longer, what advice would you have for another woman in your shoes?

Becoming a mother was not an easy process for me and took longer than we expected. Some learnings and advice I’d offer to other women who might be experiencing this:

1. I realized when I started to question why it was so easy for others and not for me that I needed to trust the process and let go of my expectations and comparisons to other people’s journeys. I really had to lean into the belief that what was meant for me will be, and to not give up hope. Looking back, I know now that no part of me was “failing,” but it was what was in my head at times. Stopping that negative internal monologue that I was doing something “wrong” and re-focusing my energy was what really got me through those difficult times.
2. Don’t be afraid to continue to ask for help and support. If possible, center yourself with women and individuals who have gone through similar experiences. I also made it a point to really open up to my doctors and continue to ask questions to understand the tests and different options that were available to me. Leaning on others for comfort and answers really helped me understand what was possible and accept that some things were out of my control.

Can you tell us a bit about what your day-to-day schedule looks like?

My days typically start at home — getting my daughters up, dressed, and ready. I make an intentional effort to start the morning off on a fun and light note to help set the tone for their day. I take my daughters to school every chance I can to have that intentional time together.

My work days look different every week — whether it’s meeting with our Associates in-person at hospitals across the U.S. to create those personal connections and learn how we can best support them; connecting virtually with teams at our headquarters and leaders across Mars Veterinary Health to ensure we are implementing the right programs and initiatives to move our practices and the profession forward; volunteering alongside Banfield Associates to give back to pets and communities; or visiting with veterinary colleges to learn how Banfield can best help set future veterinary professionals up for success.

On days when I’m not traveling, I pick my children up from school and my entire family gets involved in cooking and enjoying dinner together.

It isn’t always easy — and every day can’t be rainbows and sunshine — but my husband and I pride ourselves on creating a safe and loving environment for our children. Being with my family brings me peace and gives me energy to bring my best to other areas of life.

Has being a parent changed your career path? Can you explain?

Being a parent has made me more driven and connected to a greater purpose, and that is to show young girls what’s possible. As I advocate for the veterinary profession — which is made up of nearly 70% women today and increasing yearly — and the future pipeline of women in STEM, I realize there’s a huge opportunity for me and others to set an example, especially for young African American girls. This mindset is what drives me to continue to be the best version of myself at home and at work.

Has being a mother made you better at your job? How so?

Being a mother has taught me so much. When I think about qualities I want to display at work, they’re very similar to the qualities that my mother demonstrated to me growing up, and what I want to display for my girls at home. Namely, patience and empathy.

What are the biggest challenges you face being a working mom?

Mom guilt is very real. There are times when I can’t be there to tuck my children in at night. I can’t get that time back with them, but that only makes the moments we have together that much more intentional and special. I am getting better at saying no to things that can wait so that the time I have with my family isn’t distracted or rushed, and I cherish every minute we spend together.

Are there any stories you remember from the early days of parenthood that you want to share?

Early days of parenthood are a blur of sleep deprivation, bottles, and diapers — but I’ll never forget how my whole outlook changed and life became that much more meaningful when I first held my daughters. It’s the highest honor being a mother, and it’s prepared me for any role that’s come my way since.

Are there any meaningful activities or traditions you’ve made up or implemented that have enhanced your time with your family? Can you share a story or example?

Music is a huge part of our culture and family. I start every morning off playing music on our home speaker that makes us feel good and move our body. Getting up and getting dressed to our favorite tunes helps set the tone for the day and is a fun way for us to connect.

Preparing and cooking food together is another one of our love languages as a family. Both of my daughters have severe food allergies, so being that comfort for them when they get home from school or on the weekends, grocery shopping and cooking a meal together that they feel safe and confident in eating means the world to them — and to my husband and me as their parents. Food will always be something we’ll bond and connect over.

We all live in a world with many deadlines and incessant demands for our time and attention. That inevitably makes us feel rushed and we may feel that we can’t spare the time to be “fully present” with our children. Can you share with our readers 5 strategies about how we can create more space in our lives in order to give our children more quality attention?

1. I don’t believe true “balance” exists. If you are trying to give equal attention to everything in your life simultaneously, you’ll never reach that perfectly balanced scale. It’s important to recognize and accept that sometimes you can’t be everything to everyone at once, and that’s OK. For me, it’s about making sure the unbalanced days with my family where maybe I have to spend more time with work are happening far less than the times I’m showing up for them when they need me.
2. Being intentional with my time to ensure our moments together are meaningful is so important. It can’t be every time, but I try my hardest to make sure from a scheduling standpoint that I don’t have any meetings or calls when dropping my girls off at school or picking them up. At the beginning of every school year, I look at their school calendar and block off their breaks so that I can take time away with my family, and each of my children get to pick a trip so they feel special and involved.
3. Find those connections and bonding moments that you can share with individuals in your family or as a group. This can be anything — taking walks, connecting over favorite TV shows or movies, listening to music. I mentioned this earlier, but meal prepping and enjoying food together is truly a special time for my family. We found something that everyone can get involved in, learn from, and enjoy and we’ve made it our special time to connect. It’s a simple act that we’ve built a lot of joy and comfort around.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. As women, we can feel guilty seeking help managing our personal lives, work, and our family. Lean on any resources available to you that might help you feel more balanced during your week and more present with your family. I’m very appreciative and recognize how lucky I am to have a village that supports me in many aspects of my life, both physically and mentally.
5. We hear so much about the importance of self-care, but the benefits I experience when I prioritize “me time” throughout the week can’t be overstated. For me, this means moving my body every day, even if it’s just a short walk, to clear my mind. Whatever activity helps bring you back to your center each day, honor that and don’t be afraid to say no to things to ensure you’re able to set aside even just 20 minutes to re-focus.

How do you inspire your child to “dream big”? Can you give an example or story?

Helping the next generation dream big is a key focus for us at Banfield — through initiatives like our NextVet internship and Banfield Pet Academy programs. I’m also incredibly passionate about helping my children dream big by showing them what’s possible and leading by example. As my children get older, they continue to gain a better understanding of the work that I do and the impact Banfield has on pets and people. I try to bring them with me on as many trips as possible so that they can witness this first-hand. I’ll never forget bringing them to Banfield’s annual National Fielder Leadership meeting earlier this year, where hundreds of leaders across the organization convene to set the tone for the year and align on our priorities. My 11-year-old in particular watched intently as people came up to me and witnessed my interactions with my peers. I’ll never forget her reaction and how proud she was of me — she said her “mommy is famous,” a person of authority. Maybe she’s not old enough to truly understand my role, but she understands that people lean on me — and it makes those moments where I can’t be there to pick her up from school and times where she has to “share me” with other people a little more digestible for her.

It is always my goal to open up their world and show them everything that’s possible and remove any roadblocks and self-doubt as they continue to learn and grow.

How do you define success in both your career and your family life, and how has this definition evolved over time?

Success changes for me each year and it’s really built off of what my goals are for myself, my family and my work. Personal success for me is fluid — what I may define as success in the near-term might just be helping my family make it through the week.

In nearly every role I’ve held, even before I really considered myself a leader, I had such a passion for helping others reach their goals and be successful.

When I think about my career and the future impact I want to have, success would mean continuing to work alongside the profession that I love so much to support veterinary professionals — particularly women — so together we can continue to make a better world for each other and pets.

If you could sit down with every new parent and offer life hacks, must-have products or simple advice, what would be on your list?

People always told me time is going to go by fast so enjoy it as much as you can, but I couldn’t imagine how true this was until I had children of my own. Slow down and be present as much as possible. There will always be challenges with raising children but try to remember that most of the rocky times that come with newborns and babies — like the never-ending bottles and diapers — don’t last.

I believe that how we show up for our children is how they will eventually show up for others. Being a parent is the greatest honor and opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life — and it’s so important that we remember to take care of ourselves along the way as well!

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

About The Interviewer: Vanessa Morcom is a millennial mom of three and founder of Morcom Media, a performance PR shop for thought leaders. She earned her degree in journalism and worked for Canada’s largest social enterprise. She can be reached at vanessa@morcom.media