Working Mother magazine and Sam's Club teamed up to honor 30 "Working Mothers of the Year" who adeptly balance career, motherhood and self-development with grace and determination. This extraordinary group of women, made up of high powered executives, IT professionals, a scientist, a banker and a psychologist, were celebrated at Working Mother's 30th Birthday celebration in New York City. The event featured a roundtable discussion lead by a notable panel of working moms and industry leaders on issues that matter most to America's moms who juggle both family and career.

"Working Mother magazine was thrilled to partner with Sam's Club to bring these incredible women together to discuss critical issues, such as access to affordable healthcare, the economy and a how technology moves business forward," said Carol Evans, President, Working Mother Media. "It's about empowering each other to thrive even in times of economic duress."

Sam's Club understands that working moms lead complex lives, as family dynamics shift and unexpected challenges arise. By listening directly to America's time-stretched moms, Sam's Club can better serve their needs and deliver solutions that will help enrich their lives and their families' lives.

"Moms these days are inundated with tips, most of which require additional time demands on top of their already busy schedules," says Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam's Club. "It was great to learn from each other at the Working Mother event and I believe all of the participants came away with an expanded perspective. At Sam's Club, our focus is on providing our members with solutions that simplify their lives and needs versus complicating matters, whether they are addressing what's for dinner to auto buying, healthcare or family entertainment."

Following are the results elicited from the roundtable.

Economic Fears and Opportunities

While many working moms have felt the pains of the current economic downturn, they remain positive that their personal difficulties will improve.

"From the pressure of layoffs and resource constraints to changes in behaviors at home, there is no doubt that we feel stressed," said Susan Sobbott, president, American Express OPEN. "As women, we need to use these trying times as a unique opportunity to have a strong voice grounded in numbers, creativity, and a higher mission."

The panelists also recognize that these tough economic times serve as an opportunity to teach children about financial responsibility and awareness. They suggested that parental financial guidance might be one way to reverse the trend of debt and paltry savings. Educating children to become savvier shoppers and planners might prevent us from passing on the current financial crisis to the next generation.

"We teach our kids how to read, ride a bicycle and unload a dishwasher, yet we avoid one of the most important life lessons -- how to manage money," adds Sobbott. "Serving as positive, money-savvy role models and teaching them the basics early on will help our kids develop responsible spending habits for a brighter future."

Today's Technology & its Impact

Modern technology offers more access and enhanced mobility for working moms and their families, giving them the flexibility to stay connected. And, some women are embracing technology to launch new careers leveraging their "mommy experiences." As mommy bloggers are one of the most active participants in the social media environment, these women have proven their ability to reinvent themselves as a brand, using their at-home experiences as a competitive advantage.

"The lines are blurring specific to the expansion of technology," commented Inhi Cho Suh, VP, IBM Data Server Marketing. "Tools like social media sites and the internet allow you to create an electronic footprint for yourself and your family. A great example is the growing power of blogs, which allow you to share your family news with friends and relatives or provide seasoned or expert tips and ideas with the greater community."

The panel also spoke about the every-day advantages to being connected online. Shopping, travel and recipes are all just a click away. Samsclub.com and workingmother.com respectively offer the latest tips and tools for busy moms, from parenting advice and solutions for combating work/life balance stress to recipes and Click-n-Pull shopping conveniences. With Sam's Club Click 'n' Pull service, a free, convenient personal-shopping option, Members can shop for their merchandise from the convenience of their computer and it's ready for pick up when they arrive.

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