How Heather Campbell Redefines Success Through Motherhood and Gratitude
From corporate boardrooms to the kitchen table, this Amazing Mom discovered that true success is measured not by titles but by gratitude and connection.
Oct 17, 2025
Gratitude, says Heather Campbell, has become the measure by which she defines success in business and in motherhood.
Her career path included high-powered roles in media — vice president of synergy and brand integration at ESPN, vice president of alchemy at Audacy — and later, co-founding a wellness company. She’s grateful for the professional milestones, the ambitious projects, and the leadership opportunities. But what stands out most in hindsight aren’t the titles or accolades, but the people: the colleagues who became collaborators, the teams she helped build, and the relationships that made the work meaningful.
That spirit of gratitude deepened when she stepped away from corporate life to raise her two children, now in college and high school. Heather began to see success differently as something shaped by presence, purpose, and connection. Gratitude wasn’t just a habit anymore; it was a way of being.
The same focus and empathy that once powered her career guided her as a mother. And when her children grew older, she brought those lessons into her next chapter as an author and the founder and CEO of Ready Set Recover, a company that helps people prepare for and heal from surgery by focusing on the human side of recovery.
“I’ve had huge jobs and made multimillion-dollar deals,” she says. “But stay-at-home mom always wins.”
Heather’s story is one of evolution — from executive to caregiver, from chasing success to cultivating gratitude, and from doing it all to appreciating what matters most.
Leading with realness and respect
For Heather, motherhood became an extension of her leadership style. “I love setting people up to succeed — it’s what I did in my career,” she says. “I realized I had the best setting-people-up-to-succeed job ever: mom.”
Her parenting style mirrors her management philosophy: lead with authenticity, empathy, and trust. She sees herself not as a director but as a guide, giving her children space to navigate challenges on their own.
“When you point things out to people, it can be a gift and an offer,” she says. “I often ask myself, am I saying it in a way where it will be received as such?”
Her go-to conversational tool is deceptively simple: “huh.” It’s her cue to get her kids talking. Once they open up, she listens before responding. “Wow, sounds big,” she might say. “Would you like any suggestions or feedback, or do you just want to talk about it?” That gentle curiosity, she’s learned, fosters connection and trust. It’s a reminder that leadership at home, like at work, starts with listening.
A family grounded in gratitude
Heather’s leadership skills carried over from the boardroom, but it’s her gratitude practice that has most deeply shaped her family. From enjoying how morning light hits the breakfast nook to laughter that fills the kitchen, she finds beauty in small details. And she’s taught her children to do the same.
Teaching children to revel in simple moments
She reminds her children that the best memories often happen when no one’s trying to make them. During playful family moments, someone will call out, “Family photo! One for the card!” — a tongue-in-cheek nod to perfectly staged holiday pictures. In their home, joy lives in imperfection.
Appreciating the incredible in others
Connection is another cornerstone of Heather’s philosophy. Instead of traditional book launches or networking events, she hosts “You Are Amazing” gatherings, where each guest brings along someone who inspires them. “Amazing people should know each other,” she says. Her children have grown up watching her celebrate others’ strengths, and they’ve learned to do the same.
Toothbrush time
Family connection doesn’t have to be elaborate. Heather coined the term “toothbrush time” to describe casual, intentional togetherness — the fleeting but meaningful minutes spent in shared spaces. “You’re in a space, you’re taking a moment,” she says. “That’s what connection looks like.”
Bells
Inspired by Thích Nhất Hạnh, the Vietnamese monk often called the Father of Mindfulness, Heather introduced her children to the idea of pausing to breathe whenever they hear a bell. When the family lived next to a church in New York City, the bells rang daily — each chime a cue to slow down and take a breath.
“It became a thing that every time someone heard a bell, they’d yell, ‘Bells!’” she says. “Then it started happening outside the house too.” Over time, it became a family ritual — an unconscious way to practice mindfulness and presence.
Four I’m thankful for
Each night before bed, Heather writes down four things she’s thankful for — a ritual she calls Four I’m Thankful For. On nights she doesn’t write, she still reflects. “The nights I’ve had to think the hardest are when my list is the longest,” she says. The practice encourages perspective and resilience, which she hopes her children are carrying into adulthood.
Finding meaning beyond titles
Heather’s journey is a reminder that success evolves. After years of building brands and leading teams, she found her deepest fulfillment in raising her children and cultivating gratitude in everyday life. Today, as an author and CEO, she still leads, but with a quieter, more intentional power.
Fulfillment, she says, isn’t found in titles or corner offices but in the moments that make us feel most human. “The real work — and the real reward — comes from nurturing gratitude,” she says. “One breath, one bell, and one ‘huh’ at a time.”
AUTHOR
Bridget Hogue Costello is a seasoned experience strategist and brand leader, currently serving as head of experiences at 1-800-Flowers.com. She brings a people-first approach to customer engagement, blending creativity with operational excellence.
