The Struggle Bubble: Balancing Big Careers, Family, and the Elusive Goal of Being Present
This week on The Struggle Bubble, we welcomed Jackie Pimentel, Sr. Global Director or Ads Product Marketing at Meta. Jackie and I worked together when I was at Facebook from 2010 to 2014 within the product marketing organization. Her 14-year journey is one of resilience, growth, and the constant balancing act of managing a high-velocity career alongside family life. Our conversation was full of valuable insights on what it means to navigate two worlds that don’t often leave much room for compromise.
Finding Purpose in Your Work
When I asked Jackie what keeps her grounded at one of the most influential companies in the world, her answer came down to purpose. She’s driven by a mission to empower creators and small businesses, and this alignment between purpose and profession fuels her through the inevitable highs and lows. Many of our Struggle Bubble conversations come back to the same theme: when the job is more than a paycheck, when your role creates an impact beyond the office, time flies by.
We had a saying at Facebook: "Every day feels like a week." On the surface, it may sound negative with feelings of being exhausting, with long hours and intense stretches. But it also speaks to the sheer velocity of development and the pattern of opportunity—the incredible things that can be accomplished with the right people and a shared purpose. When you find that alignment between what drives you personally and what you do professionally, it gives you a foundation to stand on, even during challenging times.
Embracing Imperfection in Work-Life Balance
As a parent of two kids under 10 years old, Jackie was honest about her family and career balancing act. After her first child was born, she thought about stepping away from her career altogether. Instead, she’s learned to work with the imperfections in balancing family and work. Some days she’s nailing it at work, while others she’s all-in as a mom, and she’s learned to be okay with that.
I think now I'm at the place where I recognize that I have to make hard choices and be happy with those choices and lean into those choices. And I can't be everything to everyone. The first thing I say to a new team is, on any given day, I am failing as a wife, a mother, an employee, and/or a friend. So just know if I'm not showing up well here, I might be crushing it at home.
It was refreshing to hear the honesty in Jackie’s approach, both personally and in how she leads her team. All of us wear many hats every day, and we’re rarely just “Employee,” “Parent,” or “Spouse” in isolation. As leaders, we have an opportunity to build lasting trust by being open about our personal and professional identities. Jackie’s career trajectory is a testament to the values she holds and the work ethic she leads with.
Leaning on Your Village
Jackie also opened up about the value of a strong support network. During one particularly hectic week, she and her husband had back-to-back work trips, and with two young kids at home, they had to rely on family, friends, and neighbors to help keep things running. In a post-COVID world, many parents feel shame or embarrassment when they can’t “handle it all.” We’ve moved away from the community aspect of raising kids and supporting one another through life’s challenges.
Removing the shame from asking for help and encouraging transparency is a core principle behind what we’re building at Gaimplan. Fostering a supportive community is a mission we believe in deeply.
Empowering Kids Through Sports and Letting Go
As a former athlete, Jackie had some thoughts on parenting through sports. Watching her daughter play soccer, Jackie shared her philosophy: practice is when you can be vocal, but game time is a chance for kids to play freely.
Would you scream at the kids if they were taking a test? Would you go in there and start yelling at them? No. Let them experience time together as a team, let them have fun.
Giving kids this space is her way of building confidence and trust, helping them build a love for what they do without feeling the weight of parental expectations.
The Challenge—and Freedom—of Being Present
Finally, one of the things that stood out most in our conversation was Jackie’s emphasis on being present with her family. It sounds simple but can feel like one of the hardest things to pull off, especially in a world full of competing demands. Jackie’s advice was refreshing:
When you’re with your kids, be with your kids. Focus on the laughter, the feel of the sun, the smell of the grass—just be there.
In a world that’s always tugging us in different directions, it’s a reminder that we don’t have to be perfect; sometimes, just showing up and truly being in the moment is enough.
Catch the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Struggle Bubble website for more of Jackie’s insights on balancing career, family, and everything in between.