Danielle A. Melton: Empowering Working Moms

Summer brings a flurry of activities for parents, from work commitments to managing various engagements. In the midst of this hustle, we are highlighting a dedicated mom who’s committed to empowering fellow working mothers to reclaim their time, energy and well-being. Tulsan Danielle A. Melton is the visionary founder of MOTHERboard®, a platform devoted to crafting supportive, dynamic and safe spaces for working mothers. Since its inception, the Tulsa company has swiftly gained traction among working moms worldwide. MOTHERboard® emphasizes community support and facilitating access to resources that aid working moms.

Danielle hopes to effect social change by improving workplace well-being for mothers, advocating for work-life harmony and challenging outdated and unrealistic expectations imposed on working mothers. As a member of Mom Congress, Danielle advocates for these causes in state and national government, amplifying the voices of working mothers and pushing for policy changes that support their needs.

TK: Tell us what prompted you to start MOTHERboard®.

Danielle: With my educational background in executive leadership — which included roles as a school principal, director of operations for a school district and university professor in early childhood education — I seemed professionally fulfilled. But the perpetual tug-of-war between work and personal life eventually landed me in urgent care on the edge of a mental breakdown. That’s when I decided to see if anyone else felt like me.

What I found was startling: 54% of mothers struggle more than fathers with work-life balance, 68% experience burnout, and a staggering 92% of mothers feel society doesn’t adequately understand or support motherhood enough. These figures underscore the need for change.

This led to the creation of MOTHERboard®, along with its non-profit counterpart, the MOTHERboard Foundation. What started out as a membership-based community for working moms has since grown into a business-focused initiative aimed at creating nurturing environments. Simultaneously, the foundation seeks to uplift working mothers nationwide through community engagement, events and research.

I would be remiss not to mention that none of this would be possible without my rock, Quinton Melton. His unwavering support, both emotionally and financially, has been critical throughout my journey.

TK: Can you share examples of how MOTHERboard® is supporting women?

Danielle: We have designed a full-service wellness program for mothers who work outside the home. We team up with mission-driven organizations to create environments that support moms in real and meaningful ways. Our whole-person approach includes webinars, wellness programming, goal-planning workshops and personalized coaching. Through these efforts, we provide mothers with the tools they need to be healthy while also fostering healthier work environments that benefit everybody within an organization.

Shifting gears to the foundation, our emphasis is on building community among working moms. We connect mothers who might not have otherwise met so that they can share stories with one another – which is incredibly empowering! Some of our events include networking meetups, retreats, workshops…and of course our signature event called Momsgiving. Specifically, 150-200 Tulsa moms are invited to a beautifully curated dinner at the Tulsa Summit Club where they are recognized for all their hard work before the holiday season gets too busy.

In addition to this celebration-based work, we conduct ongoing research about what it means – and takes – to be a working mother in order to guide our programming as well as advocate effectively around systemic issues affecting this population.

The vision of both MOTHERboard® and MOTHERboard Foundation is two-fold: individual support systems + change maker roles = bright futures! These organizations want nothing more than individual transformation coupled with widespread shifts in culture and policy that will make life better not only for women themselves but also their families by creating communities around them whenever possible.

TK: What can someone expect when they join Motherboard®?

Danielle: Whoever decides to join us — whether it’s through MOTHERboard®, doing wellness with us individually or at your workplace or engaging through events hosted by the foundation— should expect nothing less than comprehensive support. We believe in taking care of everything that matters most so members can take care of what matters most to them.

Our community offers a range of resources that will help them achieve work-life balance, ranging from professional development workshops to mindfulness sessions featured in wellness programs alongside physical fitness classes – all designed toward improving women’s quality of life.

Those who are part of our foundation also become part of an active community where they network with other like-minded people, attending retreats or special events like Momsgiving, which gives them an opportunity for interaction with fellow moms facing similar challenges. We also organize retreats throughout the year for moms who need some time to recharge, focus and reflect.

Essentially what this all means is becoming part of a network which empowers moms, betters their lives and fights for better conditions in workplaces so that everyone can succeed together.

TK: Can you share a success story that has come from someone in the group?

Danielle: There are numerous inspiring stories from the moms who’ve joined us, but Brianna Hawkins’ story stands out. She is a wife, a mother of six and a realtor.

Brianna said, “Joining the MOTHERboard® was transformative for me. Within this community, I found profound connections and unwavering support that became my lifeline. When overwhelmed by mom guilt, I discovered solace in the understanding embrace of fellow mothers, knowing I could lean on them without hesitation. Together, we cultivated an environment of encouragement and empowerment, enabling me to forge ahead with renewed focus and determination in growing my real estate business. Despite the challenges of balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship, the camaraderie and guidance of the Motherboard® fueled my journey towards success, proving that with the right support system, anything is achievable, even with a bustling household of six children.”

Brianna’s story exemplifies the impact our community can have, providing a supportive network that empowers mothers to pursue their professional ambitions while effectively managing their family lives.

TK: You’ve written a workbook about goal setting called, Ready, Set, Goal Setting! For Career-Driven Women. Why is goal setting an important focus of MOTHERBoard?

Danielle: This is fundamental because it enables mothers to take control of their lives rather than feeling like they are drowning in the chaos. I came up with Ready, Set, Goal Setting! For Career-Driven Women when I realized that setting achievable goals transformed my sense of helplessness into empowerment. What this guide does is help moms not just manage their professional and personal responsibilities, but also thrive by being intentional about what they want to achieve. It’s about creating the life you want on your own terms.

We know that one challenge with goals is consistency; therefore, we came up with our goal-setting workshops. Every person who buys a workbook may join us every first Monday of the month to go through the book together, reflecting on the past month, creating goals for next month and supporting each other throughout the process.

TK: I know you advocate for workplace environments to recognize working moms. Can you give an example of how this support contributes to a company’s culture?

Danielle: At MOTHERboard®, we provide holistic wellness solutions designed specifically for mothers, which in turn improves overall corporate culture. For example, we provide professional development workshops and mindfulness sessions, among others, designed to improve quality of life for women with children, and to help meet individual needs while fostering inclusivity and diversity within organizations.

These initiatives not only retain valuable employees but also attract new talents looking for supportive work environments, which benefits not only working mothers but the entire company, making it a better place to work for everyone.

TK: I want to learn more about your heart for fostering kids. Can you share a little about why you decided to be a foster parent and what that looks like for you?

Danielle: Being a foster parent has been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. My parents started fostering when I was in high school, so I got to see their love for these kids. It was inspiring watching my mom give hope to children who had never seen it before – I knew that was something I wanted to do, too.

My husband, Quinton, and I started fostering in 2016, and adopted our daughter Kennedy. Since then, we have had over 30 children come through our home. It has been the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done but also one of the hardest things. For me, building relationships with these amazing children and providing love, safety and all the other things that are needed during such a difficult time in their lives is priceless. We can be a glimmer of hope for them; expose them to positive family dynamics which will help them know what’s possible and strive for it.

TK: Where are some favorite places around Tulsa where we might find you and your family this summer?

Danielle: In the midst of multiple softball practices, drum lessons and a few family trips this summer, my family and I will be spending many days at several of our favorite spots in Tulsa — especially those near or on water. Whether it’s the YMCA pool, floating down the river in Tahlequah or visiting the Blue Hole for a swim to cool off on hot days.

We’re also excited about the Downtown Tulsa Midweek Market on Wednesdays. This is only its second event — it started last fall as an inaugural spring event. It’s so kid-friendly with live music and food trucks along with vendors galore. A great way to support local Tulsans while creating a vibrant atmosphere for families.

And then there’s Ilum — our favorite lemonade spot. Located inside the downtown library, it’s a great place to grab a good book and try one – or more – of their 21 flavors of homemade lemonade.

All these places allow us to make wonderfully unique memories each summer right here in our hometown.

Check out the Sharing Passion and Purpose Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform or directly at SharingPassionandPurpose.com to find out more about Danielle’s secret to time management and MOTHERboard®’s upcoming events!

To find out more about MOTHERboard®, check them out online: JoinMOTHERboard.com.

Nancy A. Moore is a Public Relations Coordinator at Montreau, Adjunct Professor at Tulsa Community College, and has been writing for TulsaKids for almost 20 years.