Her Story
About Lyss
Lyss Stern is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diva Moms, a direct-to-mom marketing platform she launched more than two decades ago that today connects millions of mothers worldwide with top brands and with one another. After completing her undergraduate studies at Syracuse University, she went on to earn a master's degree in communications from New York University while working under renowned entertainment publicist Peggy Siegel, laying the foundation for a career built on public relations, event production, and authentic storytelling. She later served as lifestyle correspondent for Cookie Magazine before channeling her passion for community-building into Diva Moms, which grew organically through genuine word-of-mouth among mothers seeking connection and shared experience.
In addition to leading Diva Moms, Stern founded The Lyss & Kat Collective, a women's accessories brand, and has established herself as a published author with two books to her name: If You Give a Mom a Martini and Motherhood as a Beach. Her influence extends beyond publishing and marketing into the entertainment world, where she played a role in connecting author E.L. James with the publisher behind the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Her entrepreneurial achievements have been recognized with an award from Dan's Papers and acknowledgment from Entrepreneur Magazine.
Beyond her business ventures, Stern is deeply committed to philanthropic work, lending her time and platform to children's cancer organizations, Susan G. Komen, school organizations, and initiatives such as Super Saturday for ovarian cancer research and Camp Divalicious. She lives in New York City, where she runs her company while raising her three children alongside her husband, and remains a sought-after voice on modern motherhood, marketing, and community-driven entrepreneurship.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lyss
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the hands-on experience I gained early in my career through internships and entry-level work, which taught me the fundamentals of this industry from the ground up. Staying authentic in how I show up for other women has also been essential, along with a persistent, tenacious mindset that keeps me moving forward. Much of my growth has come organically, built mom-by-mom through genuine word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to prepare themselves for the ups and downs that come with being an entrepreneur, because the journey is rarely a straight line. Don't let naysayers get in your ear, stay tenacious, and keep following up even when it feels uncomfortable. Take advantage of tools like AI, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to help scale your efforts, and don't be afraid to reach out to people. The worst they can say is no. Keep pursuing your goals, be resourceful, and remember that everyone has to put in the work. I'd also add: don't expect perfect balance, learn to delegate when needed, and teach the next generation the value of giving back.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities I see today is technology, particularly AI, which gives entrepreneurs new tools to build their businesses more efficiently and open doors that once felt closed. At the same time, one of the ongoing challenges in my field is the pursuit of balance. Entrepreneurship comes with real emotional highs and lows, and frequent setbacks are simply part of the process.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity, tenacity, community, giving back, and family are the values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally. These principles guide how I build relationships with the women in my community and how I run my business every day.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.