Christine Michel Carter, recognized as “the mom of mom influencers” by Katie Couric, is a dynamic force empowering working mothers through various stages of life. Her advocacy spans crucial issues such as maternal mental health, caregiving challenges, and gender equity, offering tangible support for women before, during, and after pregnancy, well beyond the fourth trimester.
Before pregnancy, Christine promotes accessible healthcare and preconception education through her work on policy advocacy for family and women’s well-being. She champions employer support with her involvement in the Caring Across Generations Business Care Council and Parenthood Ventures, breaking down silos around care issues and advocating for improved benefits for caregivers in the workplace. Christine’s dedication to advancing women is evident through her involvement in initiatives like the PepsiCo Pure Leaf “No” Grants program, addressing wage gaps for female grant winners.
During pregnancy, Christine emphasizes the importance of prenatal care, maternal leave policies, and financial aid. Her impact on lactation support is reflected in her efforts to adjust physical office spaces to accommodate the needs of breastfeeding mothers. Through her influential role in the SeekHer Foundation’s Advocacy Council, Christine actively supports the well-being of families and women.
Right after pregnancy, Christine’s advocacy extends to postnatal care, parental leave policies, and lactation support. She addresses the challenges mothers face in finding quality childcare, exemplified by her creation of Mompreneur and Me events, fostering a supportive community for working parents. Christine is also an angel investor for Lilu, Myavana, and Cradlewise, three tech companies founded by women of color.
Well after the fourth trimester, Christine continues to champion family-friendly policies, healthcare, and education support. She also provides 1:1 online career coaching via MH WorkLife, Wizco, and Women in Negotiation (WIN) and marketing strategy development for small businesses. Her commitment to maternal mental health is evident in her collaboration with influential bodies such as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Christine’s resilience as a trailblazer is seen in her strategic partnerships, best-selling books like Can Mommy Go To Work? and MOM AF. As a senior contributor for Forbes, Christine delves into social determinants of health, predicting market trends and deciphering millennial consumer behavior.
In her role as an advisory board member of Mom Congress and the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Christine actively works towards preventing the suffering of mothers, babies, and families associated with untreated maternal mental health disorders, especially for Black moms and moms of color. Her commitment to community service and recognition from the City of Baltimore and the U.S. Senate highlights the impact of her advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christine Michel Carter’s ongoing efforts include assisting Representatives Underwood and Adams, Senator Booker, and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus with reintroducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Her unwavering dedication to reshaping destinies, breaking glass ceilings, and igniting hope for millennial working women and mothers positions her as a transformative figure in the advocacy landscape.
(Views expressed are her own and do not reflect any entity with which she is affiliated.)