Here’s what’s new in retail, tech, and culture.
🌐 OpenAI and AWS team up to reshape Amazon retail, Condé Nast launches another Creator Storefront, Platter releases game changing Homepage library, Yotpo links reviews to GEO ranking, and “Group 7” keeps trending on TikTok.
We’re Janvi, Sylvan, and Nicole - cofounders of Hue and Harvard Business School grads with 30+ years across global brands and enterprise tech.
We’ll keep up with the news so you don’t have to. Think of this as your retail tech industry cheat sheet. 🔮
💗 Surviving Q4: What We Learned From the Women Leading at Home and at Work
As the year winds down, life gets loud. Work ramps up. Family needs increase. Holidays start creeping in. It can feel like we are being pulled in ten directions while trying to keep ourselves upright.
That is exactly why we brought together an intimate group of mothers, caregivers, and family-focused executives for Surviving Q4: A Conversation with Family-Focused Leaders hosted by me, Nicole Clay (Hue.), Verity Hurd (Duel Tech), and Lauren Sawyer ☀️ (Duel Tech) .
And honestly, it felt like a deep breath we all needed.
This was not a webinar. It was a circle. Women talking with women. Friends talking like friends. Everyone showed up with honesty, humor, and the kind of vulnerability we usually save for late-night voice notes.
Here is what we learned together.
💗 Mom Guilt, Mental Load, and the Stuff We Carry Quietly
One of the first things to surface was mom guilt, especially around bedtime. Some people admitted that missing tuck-ins or rushing through a story leaves that familiar sting of “I should have done more.”
And you know what helped?
Hearing other women say, “Me too.”
Someone mentioned that male partners often do not feel the same guilt, and the entire chat nodded at once. Some women just carry emotional labor differently. And that’s okay.
One woman thought that: When boys see their mothers succeed, they grow up with a more positive view of women, and sometimes your ambition is a gift to our kids, not a threat to them.
👭 Friendship, Relationships and the Communities That Hold Us Together
This part felt like a warm hug. The group talked about how important it is to fit in moments with friends, even tiny ones. A quick lunch. A ten-minute walk. A fast FaceTime from the car. Time with people who refill us is essential, not optional.
Someone brought up the Four Burners Theory popularized by David Sedaris: family, friends, work and exercise. Everyone laughed because it finally put words to what they all feel. You cannot have all four burners on high at once. And thank goodness someone said it out loud.
We also talked about communication when we do not have the capacity to be social.
A few women shared messages that they share with their community when they are feeling burned out. Here is an example:
“Hey [Name], I know I have been buried lately, but I did not want you to feel ignored. I really value our friendship, and I am excited to catch up when I can come up for air.”
Honesty is caring.
We also reminded one another that it is okay to find support wherever it shows up. Friends, family, coworkers, online groups. There is no one right way to build your circle.
📅 Routines, Organization and Saving Our Own Sanity
The energy in the chat picked up when we started swapping practical tips. Every mom in the room had a trick, and sharing them felt like passing around a lifeline.
Favorites included:
Using reminder apps like Apple, Google Tasks and Monday.com
Sending calendar invitations to partners to lighten the mental load
Using a magnetic board for weekly tasks that kids can help with
Doing Sunday morning family planning at breakfast
Organizing your day based on your own energy levels
Someone said, “Sacred time is sacred,” and the whole group repeated it. Many moms protect a deep work block in the afternoon and treat it as non-negotiable.
There was also a lot of love for Brené Brown's reminder that partnership is rarely 50 50. A few women shared that they now tell their partner, “I am at 30 percent today,” and it helps set the tone for the whole house.
A few parents also talked about helping kids understand emotions using the cup method. It is simple, visual and surprisingly comforting.
We also shared a Mental Health Tracker that Hue’s founders use, adapted for the realities of motherhood.
🍼 Breastfeeding, Travel, and All the Feelings
This part of the conversation got tender, honest, and deeply relatable. Women shared stories about pumping on airplanes, dealing with stares, joining support groups and navigating shame around feeding.
One mother was pumping during the roundtable.
One mom talked about spilling a bottle of milk and crying in the kitchen. Another mom simply said, “I cried too.” It was one of those moments that felt like a collective exhale.
For travel, someone suggested the Mom Cozy Cooler, which keeps milk cold for around 15 or 16 hours.
🫂 Identity, Confidence, and Learning to Put Ourselves Back on the List
This was maybe the most emotional part of the roundtable. Many women admitted that they stopped prioritizing themselves somewhere along the journey of motherhood. And the group gently reminded one another that we deserve more.
Book the facial. Get the haircut. Buy the outfit that makes you stand taller. Say yes to the hobby that feels like yours.
Your emotional investment in yourself does not take away from your family. It shows up in your confidence, your patience and your joy. Taking care of yourself is not a luxury. It is maintenance.
⚡ Energy, Exercise and Habits That Feel Realistic
20 minutes is enough. A quick workout counts. A short walk counts. Even answering emails on the treadmill counts.
We also talked about protecting your energy by being honest about who drains you. Our time is not infinite. It belongs with people who build us up.
And finally, a simple trick that resonated with so many moms: Give yourself transition time before reentering home life. Ten or fifteen minutes in the car can shift your entire evening.
❤️ A Final Reflection From the Circle
Everything here came from the incredible women who showed up at the roundtable. Their honesty, humor and heart created a space that felt like friendship, even for those meeting for the first time.
Here is what we all walked away with:
You are not meant to do everything alone.
You deserve help and rest and joy.
Your identity matters.
Your boundaries matter.
Your energy matters.
You are doing better than you think.
📚 What We’re Reading and Listening to:
📊 Guide: UGC Video & AEO guide - HERE
📆 Don’t Miss These Events for Leaders in Retail
🏙️ Conference: Retail Summit in Los Angeles for health and beauty brand builders and digital commerce leaders. Thurs. Nov 20th (Message us for complimentary tickets)
🎧 Industry Mixer: Hosted with Roster Radio Roster Radio in NYC. Join us for a fun round of Glossy x Hue State of Shoppable Video Bingo! Connect with founders and marketers who are shaping the next wave of retail through UGC. Thurs., Dec 4th | 6 PM EST (Register HERE)
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