Melissa Grady Dias (Cadillac, MetLife, Motorola) Navigating Motherhood, Prioritizing Self-Care and Building Life's Mosaic #009

In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Melissa Grady-Diaz, former CMO of Cadillac, to explore the complex intersection of motherhood, career ambition, and personal growth.

Melissa opens up about the challenges of maternity leave and the emotional transition of returning to a high-powered role while raising her first child. She shares why bedtime became a sacred ritual, how she learned to set boundaries to protect family time, and why self-care is a non-negotiable for sustainable leadership.

Together, Kevin and Melissa unpack the lessons of parenthood, from navigating exhaustion to redefining purpose, and reflect on how personal experiences shape leadership at the highest levels. Melissa also reveals how she thinks about career progression, exercise as a form of self-care, and her belief that life is a mosaic—where professional milestones and family moments come together to create meaning.

Whether you’re a working parent balancing career and home, or a leader seeking to align ambition with presence, Melissa’s story offers candid insights and practical wisdom for every stage of life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why returning to work after maternity leave is a deeply emotional journey
• The importance of protecting family time—especially bedtime rituals
• How motherhood can transform leadership style and priorities
• Why self-care is essential for balance and resilience
• The value of setting personal and professional boundaries
• How flexibility and adaptability drive both parenting and leadership
• Why reflection on past experiences creates growth and clarity
• How finding purpose in work leads to fulfillment beyond achievement
• Why life is best seen as a mosaic of personal and professional experiences

Top Takeaways:

• Parenthood reshapes leadership in powerful ways
• Bedtime routines and rituals are worth protecting at all costs
• Boundaries are the key to sustaining balance
• Self-care fuels both parenting and career success
• Reflection and adaptability lead to lasting personal growth
• Purpose, not just progress, creates fulfillment in career and family

About Melissa Grady-Diaz: Melissa Grady-Diaz is the former Chief Marketing Officer of Cadillac, where she led brand transformation at one of America’s most iconic companies. A seasoned marketing executive, she has been recognized for her leadership, creativity, and ability to drive results in high-pressure environments. Beyond her career, Melissa is a proud mother whose experiences of parenthood have shaped her perspective on leadership, presence, and purpose in life.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:07:39) - Balancing A C-Suite Role and First-Time Parenthood
• (00:09:31) - The Importance of Presence and Quality Time
• (00:14:21) - Adjusting Back Into Work Post Maternity Leave
• (00:15:54) - Holding Personal Boundaries and Self Care
• (00:20:24) - Transformational Leadership
• (00:24:35) - Growing in Your Career and Staying Present for Family
• (00:28:15) - The Importance of Exercise in Self Care
• (00:33:53) - Defining Moments: Before and After in Life
• (00:36:48) - Building Your Life: The Power of Choice
• (00:42:09) - The Mosaic of Life: Integrating Personal and Professional
• (00:44:59) - Finding Purpose in Your Career
• (00:51:38) - Creating a Lasting Legacy