The Fine Line | LANNING ARDENTE

Lanning Ardente is the Founder and CEO of Sorette, an independent product credentialing and content platform helping families and mothers identify products they can trust. With over a decade of CPG industry experience and a science-backed Seal of Approval built alongside doctors and toxicologists, Lanning is changing the standard for what families deserve, starting with the overwhelming, confusing world of pregnancy-safe products.

Motherhood didn't just inspire Lanning to build her brand; it made her a sharper, more decisive, and resilient founder. In this conversation for The Fine Line, she opens up about the myth of perfect balance, the rituals that keep her grounded while building a company, and why she wants her kids to grow up knowing you can deeply love your family while still building something meaningful. We're inspired by her dedication to making motherhood a little less overwhelming, and grateful for the reminder that the hardest seasons can become your greatest purpose.

How has becoming a mother positively influenced your career? What "parent power" has aided you in being an entrepreneur?

Becoming a mother completely changed the way I lead, prioritize, and make decisions. Before kids, I could spend endless hours trying to perfect something. Motherhood forces you to get really intentional with your time and energy, fast. It's made me sharper, more decisive, and honestly more confident in my own intuition. As a founder, that instinct matters so much.

It's also given me a level of resilience and humility I don't think I would have developed otherwise. Building a company is emotional. There are constant highs and lows, and parenting teaches you really quickly how to adapt, stay grounded, and keep showing up even when things feel hard.

Becoming a mom is also what gave me the conviction to start Sorette in the first place. I experienced firsthand how overwhelming it was trying to navigate products during pregnancy and motherhood. That frustration turned into purpose. There's something incredibly motivating about building something that directly impacts women and families during such an important time in their lives.

How do you stay connected with your family while managing a busy career leading Sorette?

I'm not going to pretend I've mastered this, because I definitely haven't, and I don't think perfect balance actually exists. What I've learned is that connection doesn't have to mean quantity of time. It's really about quality and presence.

I try hard to create moments throughout the day that feel grounding for our family, whether that's breakfast together before school, bedtime routines, or just being fully present for an hour without my phone to get on the floor and play with them. My kids are still young, so those rituals really matter.

I've also gotten much better about protecting certain times of day. As an entrepreneur, work will consume every minute if you let it, especially when you genuinely love what you're building. But I always want my kids to feel deeply secure in knowing they come first, no matter how busy work gets.

That said, I also think there’s real value in them seeing me build something meaningful and ambitious. I want them to grow up knowing that you can deeply love and prioritize your family while still pursuing the things that light you up.

FOLLOW ALONG

Follow Lanning’s journey on her Instagram, and explore Sorette’s product recommendations and insightful supporting content here.

Follow Brigade Events and stay tuned for the next iteration of The Fine Line at @brigadeevents.

We’d be honored to include you — or a woman you admire — in this series. If you or someone you know has a story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at carly@ingoodcompanypr.com. Together, we can uplift, support, and redefine leadership for the next generation.

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