Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Care.com Founder Sheila Lirio Marcelo: How a Struggling Mom Built a Million Dollar Caregiving Empire | E140
Jan 13, 2026
Sheila Lirio Marcelo, founder of Care.com and Ohai.ai, shares her inspiring journey from a struggling mom to a successful entrepreneur. She discusses the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career and how those experiences shaped her drive to create Care.com, which revolutionized caregiving for families. Sheila dives into the importance of testing ideas in building her business, the value of leadership and mentorship, and how her new venture, Ohai.ai, aims to simplify household management with AI-driven solutions.
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Childhood That Built Compassion
- Sheila grew up moving between the Philippines and the U.S., attending local Catholic school to relearn Tagalog and understand economic differences.
- That year taught her compassion, respect, and closeness to grandparents which shaped her empathy for families.
Hiding Motherhood At Work
- Sheila hid being a young mom during interviews because she feared judgment and felt she couldn't be her whole self at work.
- That secrecy and stress shaped her early career anxiety and drive to overwork to prove herself.
Hospital Stay Led To Meditation
- After traveling intensely for work she collapsed and spent three weeks in the hospital, which prompted her to start meditating and get an executive coach.
- Meditation helped her manage stress, anxiety, and expectations of perfection over time.
