Simply Maria
Maria Bailey
There was a time when Maria Bailey was a suit. A successful corporate VP working amid a male hierarchal industry, this mother, back then of three, faced and excelled the tough demands that were imposed upon her. Her paycheck was thicker than her spouse’s one and her business trips were frequent. Bailey started learning from other executive women and realized they shared the same issues: issues that uniquely concerned moms who wore suits. She cut it loose, had a mix socio-gender oriented-commercial epiphany, and created BlueSuitMom.com.
That was 11 years ago. Today Bailey is a proud and caring mother of four children and eight pets. She has two beautiful daughters that did not come from her womb but did from her heart. She has two dogs, one cat, two tortoises, a fish, a rabbit, and a bird. Nowadays, BlueSuitMom.com stands as one of the two percent female owned businesses reaching a million in sales. Officially launched on Mother’s Day of 2000, it was a gift to the eight million executive working women who try to balance the many roles they assume as working mothers. The company was built with the talents and personal commitment of a team of 10 people dedicated to helping moms juggle work and family. Success was immediate, and in less than a month the new site was featured on The Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald, The Denver Post, The Chicago Tribune, national magazines such as Self, Smart Money, and many other national and regional publications.
Bailey is the eldest sibling of nine. A devout Catholic whose role model is Tibetan Buddhist leader Dalai Lama, she was named Maria after her Italian grandmother. Tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, and quesadillas prime her gastronomic taste. She loves to fish, run, travel, and she hasn’t had a soda, white flour, or meat in more than 20 years. She leads a healthy life. She listens to country music, reads business publications, and for personal indulgence, she enjoys Outside and Runners magazines.
Born in sunny state Florida, Bailey grew up in Miami Beach and Jacksonville splitting her time between the two cities and her two parents. After college she moved back to South Florida and started working at The Miami Herald. She has been living there ever since. Definitely a doer, this 45-year-old woman hosts a TV show, a couple of radio ones, has an online site, writes books and raises four kids. How does she do it? “I am very organized and surround myself with the right people,” she says. “I have a very supportive husband who doesn’t mind pitching in.”Her latest book, Mom 3.0: Marketing with Moms by Leveraging New Media and Technology, was released last December. It was very well received.
MomTV.com just came out last week. Although she enjoys doing radio the most, basically because of the less exposure the audible medium indulges, “you can do it without make-up” she says, she is very excited about her newest project that would also enable her to free herself from the challenges and perfectionist whims studios, producers, and directors, usually demand. “TV is great,” she says. “But it takes all day to capture a 30 minute show.”
In addition to her media endeavors Bailey is the CEO of BSM Media, a full service marketing and media firm that specializes in marketing to mothers. Her clients include Disney, DaimlerChrysler, Cartoon Network, Nestle, AOL, The Discovery Channel, Chuck E. Cheese, Disney Publishing, Oracle, Microsoft, Clarke American, Dolly, Inc., Tahitian Noni International, and Office Depot.
Somewhat of a visionary, Bailey tends to see the big picture before it becomes main stream. The first annual National Mom’s Nite Out was held last May 7. The idea came to her as a way of celebrating motherhood. It was created intended to bring together today’s moms, physically and virtually. A smashing success, The National Mom’s Nite Out debut united over 150 social media groups, companies, local playgroups, mommy bloggers, and mother social networks in giving moms a well deserved night off.
For the upcoming future she views the growth of her company in Newbaby.com and MomTV.com. She thinks of BlueSuit.com as the architectural vehicle that started it all but she sees the further expansion of her brand in video and new media. In 10 years, Bailey hopes to be fishing and running ultra marathons.
Post by Carlos Wall
| Carlos was born in Venezuela, spent most of his life in Argentina, and is a resident of the United States since 2003. He graduated with a bachelor in journalism and a minor in film at Georgia State University. Currently he splits time in Atlanta as a chef and writer for ToTheCenter.com and MomsWhoBlog.com. He's also currently pursuing a master degree in political science. |
