At Ontex, personal growth is fueled by purpose, curiosity, and the courage to lead with heart. Our colleague Hillary McElroy, now leading Baby Care in North America, shares how becoming a mother deepened her connection to the work she does and shaped her leadership journey.
” Becoming a mother has brought new meaning to the work I do each day, especially in a role that touches the lives of other parents and their babies. It’s given me a clearer understanding of what matters most to parents and made me even more proud of the impact we have on families through our work at Ontex.
Early in my career, success meant chasing the next step, the next title. Becoming a mom shifted that perspective. Now, it’s about making a meaningful impact, whether that’s at work, home, or in the lives of those we serve. It’s about showing my daughter that you can lead with heart and strength and that being authentic is your greatest asset.
Over the past three-plus years at Ontex, my passion for bringing innovative, high-quality products to market has only grown, fueled by a personal connection to what we create. I began my journey managing our feminine care portfolio, which felt like a natural fit. I asked myself, “Is this something I’d want to use?” That mindset guided my decisions. When the opportunity to lead Baby Care in North America arose, the timing couldn’t have been more meaningful—I was just weeks away from becoming a parent. That experience deepened my connection to our work and continues to drive my commitment to delivering products that
truly make a difference in people’s lives. Being surrounded by a passionate, diverse team that’s constantly evolving inspires me every day.
At Ontex, I’m not just involved in developing baby care products, I’m using them every day. When I became a mom, I tested every diaper on the market, including ours. I paid attention to absorbency, softness and fit, everything that matters when you’re changing diapers at 3 a.m. After thousands of diaper changes, countless mishaps and surprise blowouts, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what separates a good diaper from a great one. That experience has only strengthened my commitment to our promise of ‘innovation for everyone’—because every parent deserves access to high-quality products.
The right baby care product makes all the difference, and we take that seriously. We understand the value of listening to parents because we are parents. I’m just one of many Ontex moms contributing real-time feedback into our product development process. This real-world insight is supported by data from various testing, research and customer feedback channels, combined with the expertise of our teams in R&D, product development, manufacturing and customer service. This feedback loop helps us create and continuously improve upon products that truly support families at every stage. It’s a full-circle process with real families using real products, informing real improvements.
Balancing leadership and motherhood isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned to see it as a strength. It’s taught me to listen deeply, be empathetic, stay creative and be intentional with my time. As any working parent knows, time is a precious resource! Through this, I’ve built a leadership style rooted in understanding and inspiring growth, not focused only on outcomes. I’m also more appreciative of my team – people who care deeply, innovate constantly and believe in the mission of making everyday life easier for everyone.
My leadership style is only possible in a culture that encourages you to bring your whole self to work. There’s a sense of trust and flexibility at Ontex that allows me to show up where it matters most, whether that’s in a meeting with a customer or at a Mommy & Me class midday with my daughter. There’s no need to compartmentalize who I am; I can be both a committed professional and an engaged parent, and both of those perspectives are valued.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about what we’re building as a company and the future I’m shaping for my family. At Ontex, we lead with purpose and for me, that purpose has never felt more personal. “
