A Working Mother

Andrea Barendregt is the national marketing manager for Research Capital Corporation in Toronto. We talk a little about her career in marketing and her role as a working mother.

Andrea, please tell me a little about you?

I was born and raised in small-town Ontario but always pushed by my parents to get an education and make something of my life.  I went to Wilfrid Laurier University and completed a degree in Communications with the intent of working in marketing.

How did you get into financial services? 

I kind of fell into it completely unintentionally.  I started working for a Credit Union marketing agency and my career progressed and evolved into what it is today.  I wouldn’t say I am very “financially minded” but perhaps my ability to take complex concepts and break them down into more “everyday” terms is what has helped me to be successful in marketing various products and services to the average investor who does not have a finance degree.

Tell me a little bit about your family?

I am married to the love of my life Rick, we have been married for over 2 years now and have a 2-year-old son, Joseph.  Joseph was a big surprise as I was told I would never conceive.  We found out early in my pregnancy that Joseph has Down Syndrome and had congestive heart failure.  At 5 months of age, he had surgery to repair his heart.  We’ve never looked back.  Today, he is a happy, healthy, and very active little boy who keeps Rick and me on our toes.  We both are advocates within the Down Syndrome community.

As a working mother, how do you balance family, food, finance, and faith?

Balance is something that every working mom has struggled with at some point.  I’m blessed that I have a good career and can provide for my family and that my husband is such a great cook.  He’s also an amazing dad who is very active in our son’s life and we complement each other as best as we can where schedules and meals are concerned. Both Rick and I grew up in church-going families and we are doing our best to make sure our son will also have a church family that will embrace him and his unique needs. 

How has motherhood changed your life and you as a person?

Oh yeah!  I often wonder what I used to do with all the time I had on my hands!  Now, every moment at home is centered around my son and what we can be doing with him and for him to nurture his special needs.  It’s also made me much more patient than I used to be.  I no longer live for myself, I always have him and my husband in mind.

Give me some tips on how you keep fun in your marriage?

Remember why you married your spouse — for me, I had fun with Rick no matter what we did.  It’s important to keep that spark and even in the mundane tasks, I try to have fun and keep things light.  Life has a way of making things always seem so serious, keeping a light-hearted approach to everyday things makes it more fun.

Is eating healthy important to you as a working mother? 

Yes, especially now that I have a little boy that I want to be around, for a long time.  Of course, perfection is impossible but I try to keep my diet full of foods that fuel and provide nourishment.

You are a successful executive, give me some tips on how to manage a successful career in the 21st century?

I just saw a quote that Warren Buffet said – do things your way.  I’m so blessed to work for a company that gives me leeway to do things my way and make suggestions.  Success is defined differently by everyone but for me, it’s about being happy at the end of the day and feeling like I moved the puck up the ice.  If I can be myself and use my experience and expertise to make a difference, I feel that I’ve been successful.

Name me some of your favorite restaurants in Toronto?

I don’t go out in Toronto a lot, but I do enjoy the Cactus Club and a great little breakfast spot called Over Easy on Yonge.  

What is the favorite thing you do with the two men in your life?

One of our favorite things right now with our small son is to spend Sunday mornings in bed snuggling, playing, and reading.  That’s our time with Joseph where nothing else is distracting us.  When the weather is nice, we love to get out on the boat in the lake and catch some fish :).