Working Mother of the Year: Kristy Earley-Murray, Regional Strategic Veterinarian – Midwest Region

I always knew I wanted to become a mom. I faced difficulty getting pregnant but thankfully, when I joined Zoetis, I joined a company with amazing benefits. And after reading Perseverance by Kristin Peck, Zoetis’ CEO, I felt inspired to continue trying to grow my family knowing it was going to be an extremely difficult journey. I was able to go through IVF, and via a generous egg donor, am now a mother to three beautiful children. Although confident in my decision to become a mom, when I was pregnant, I had a lot of fears. Was I going to be able to balance my busy travel schedule with all the responsibilities that come with being a parent? Would I be able to achieve the career growth I aspired for? With the incredible support of my husband, family, colleagues, and Zoetis, I eventually gained confidence that it would all work out.

Becoming a mother has changed my entire perspective. I have a new appreciation for the sacrifices my single mother working three jobs made for me growing up. And it’s her inspiration that compelled me to help those I see in need. Whether it’s being there for a colleague who is struggling to find balance as a working mother or supporting a mother I saw nursing her child on the street while experiencing homelessness, I understand the importance of community in motherhood and strive to make a difference wherever I can—big or small.

Becoming a mother has also provided me with the experience to learn about special needs and advocate for my neurodivergent child. When the opportunity arose to join the Zoetis Colleague Resource Group, The Differently-abled & Neurodiversity Alliance (DNA), not only did I leap at it, I sought a leadership role. This was another opportunity to contribute to an outstanding community, learn from other parents and provide support for each other. Connecting with peers who have similar experiences has provided me much comfort during times of uncertainty and I hope my involvement in DNA can provide other parents with the same.


Working Dad of the Year: Chip Dorsey, Sr. Director, Business Development

Growing up, my parents were doctors who owned a medical practice close to our home. My brothers and I were always surrounded by work. Whether it was spending time in the office, getting phone calls from patients at home, or as we got older, even being the receptionists, my parents continually modeled a comfortable overlap between parenting and working.

My mother passed away at the beginning of the pandemic. What was already an intense time for families was compounded by our family working through the grieving process. In the time I had to reflect and celebrate my mother, I looked back on how my parents were able to balance their dedication to their patients and their three sons. From my childhood, I was always comfortable with the intersection between parenting and working. But the pandemic, especially with my wife and two young boys living in a Brooklyn apartment, took the definition of overlap between work and home to a different level. It is what ultimately led our family to relocate to California to be closer to my brothers.

The support of my colleagues and the Zoetis culture has made this shift as smooth as possible, reinforcing that it was the right choice for my family. Zoetis provided me with the opportunity to work fully remotely, which has allowed me to spend so much more time with my two sons. I get to watch them learn and grow, while still pursuing a fulfilling career with growth and development potential. The balance my wife and I have created between work and life is very reminiscent of the balance my parents were able to create as doctors.

Working with my wife to embrace the uniqueness of my career and optimize our time with family has been a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience. As I continue to settle into my new life in California, I have brought this experience into my mentoring relationships. I encourage young fathers to be transparent about what they want to accomplish and speak to them about prioritizing their values in order to find balance in their own life.





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