Question: Describe your morning routine.

Answer: My alarm bell is our two little girls, 11-month-old twins. They wake up between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and I like to spend my first part of the day with them. I have this little ritual. I try to speak French to them in my poor French, and I say, “Let’s make the most of it today, because it’s the only one you’re ever gonna get.” They can’t understand me, but I say it.

What does a typical work day look like?

There’s no average day, in work or with the twins. It very much depends on the project. Consulting projects are event based, and with event-based work, your hair is on fire until you’re done with it, and then it changes. But that’s what I like. I interface with different people every day and there is a lot of diversity. My work is equal parts data collection, communications and psychology. I’m brought in by companies to measure and address things that people don’t really want to think about: what they are sending to landfill, their carbon footprints, resource inefficiencies, all of which have financial impacts and require behavior change.

How do you achieve work/life balance?

It’s changed for me, because, up until I had daughters, the main question was, “What is going to challenge me the most?” Then, if I found a challenging project in China, I’d be in China tomorrow. Now I’m choosy because it can’t just be about me. It’s about this family and these little people.

How do you make time for your daughters?

I’ve had to hone my skills as a director and manager. I like to get my hands dirty and do things myself, but now that I have to assign them, it’s honed my communication skills. Checking in with people and managing people more efficiently is a strategy for a balanced life.

How do you deal with stress?

Since having kids, I’m never not in a rush. My mantra is be here now. There’s a gazillion things to worry about at any given moment, but there’s a choice to be here now.

What are some of the unique challenges that come with raising twins?

You have to be a very good manager of your time and their time, and yet you also can’t have child-rearing just be about management. There has to be joy in it. That’s a delicate dance that I try to do every day. Some days, I fall asleep dreaming of just being on a beach for an hour. In truth, I did it once, and I’d rather hang out with them.