Be Intentional in Your Life - Bright Horizons Co-Founder and Boston Foundation Chair Linda Mason Reflects on Her Life’s Journey
“I hope that all people can be empowered to follow the path they want and to be the fullest version of themselves.” Today’s woman dreamer, Linda Mason, is the Chair of Boston Foundation and Co-founder of Bright Horizons, the largest world-wide provider of worksite childcare, early education, and education advising. A true trailblazer, she has been recognized as one of Business Week’s “Best Entrepreneurs,” and in Working Mother Magazine’s “25 most influential working mothers in America.” In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win, Linda reflects on her journey and what made her the woman she is today (did you know she was a classical pianist?), and her philanthropic mission. Enjoy her story.
You have had a remarkable journey in both the business world and nonprofit space, from Bright Horizons to Boston Foundation. Tell us more about your journey, and what made you the woman you are today?
I grew up in a small farming village in the Finger Lakes region of central NY. My father was a small town and country doctor. My mother was an active civic volunteer and served as mayor of our village for a time – all while raising 5 children! Although my world was small growing up, my parents instilled in me a sense of adventure and a sense of responsibility in giving back. I had a very happy and secure childhood foundation which gave me the strength to spread my wings as an adult.
I was a serious student of classical piano growing up and throughout college. Upon graduation, I moved to Paris, France to study piano at the Rachmaninoff Conservatory. After a few years there, I realized that I wanted to branch out from piano. I went back to the States to get a management degree at the Yale School of Management.
Growing up, my father took off from his medical practice every couple years to volunteer as a doctor in Africa and Central America so that kind of work was in my bones. Upon graduation from Yale, I moved to the border of Cambodia/Thailand to work in the refugee camps after the Khmer Rouge crisis. That started a path of humanitarian work that carried me to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and finally to Africa where I worked for a couple of years as Co-Country Director, along with my husband, Roger Brown, for Save the Children in the Sudan.
Save the Children had never operated in the Sudan so it turned out to be an entrepreneurial effort. We started the program from scratch, raised money, and built it into a large national program, running two Eritrean refugee camps and serving a large province, Kordofan, in the Sudan that was suffering from drought and famine.
We were bit by the entrepreneurial bug, and upon returning to the U.S., my husband and I decided we wanted to start an organization of our own that served a societal need in our country. Thus, Bright Horizons was born. We ran it as a team for 17 years. We now have 1200 child care centers and 30,000 employees.
2. You are currently the Chair, Board of Directors at Boston Foundation, one of the nation's oldest and largest community nonprofits. Tell us what inspires you to give back. What is your advice to other women looking to give back to your community?
I have always felt a responsibility and a desire to ‘give back’ where I can. It has, frankly, been what has fueled me throughout my life. There are so many people and communities that have so much to offer but are held back by societal barriers and discrimination. I have no illusions that I am truly making a difference but this is where I want to concentrate my time and efforts.
3. How do you define women empowerment in your own life, and who is an empowered woman that you admire?
I admire women who are able to be intentional in their choices in life – whether they want to stay home and be a full-time mother or if they want a demanding career. I hope that all people can be empowered to follow the path they want and to be the fullest version of themselves. My mother was a great role model. She made a difference in so many people’s lives by being authentic, supportive, inspirational, and humble.
Thank you Linda for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Bio: Linda Mason is the co-founder of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, taking it from start-up in her home, raising financing, building the organization, and taking it public. The company is the largest world-wide provider of worksite child care, early education, and education advising. Bright Horizons, now a $8 billion public company trading on the New York Stock Exchange, operates more than 1,200 high quality child development centers for employers in six countries. The company employs over 35,000 people and serves more than 120,000 families. She is the chair of the Board of Directors of Boston Foundation, one of the nation's oldest and largest community foundations.
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