From the Stage to the Homefront: Three Women Share Their Lessons on Motherhood and Mentorship

For Issa Litton, Anne Gauthier, and Jackie Go, the heart of parenting and hosting have their parallels—both require showing up with love, presence and purpose.

How Issa Litton Leads with Heart

Talking to Issa Litton felt less like an interview and more like catching up with a mom-friend who just gets it. She’s warm, present, and unafraid to share the real parts of her journey—how her upbringing shaped her, how her daughters inspire her, and how she balances being a mother, a mentor, a host, and manager.

Wearing multiple hats, Issa is a mom of two, event host, and founder of 1LitCorp, where she trains and manages hosts while offering workshops on communication and confidence. On 1LitCorp’s mission? Issa shares, “To set the standard of and professionalize hosting.” But she also helps non-hosts, “anyone who wants to improve public speaking and communication skills across diverse applications, instilling a sense of service and value when one speaks up.”

At the heart of everything she does is a simple thread—raising people well, whether they’re her daughters or the young hosts she guides.

Motherhood as Her Compass

Issa admits that when she started mentoring about six years ago, she asked herself: “Can I transfer my skills to other people?” She remembers those early days when she worked with her first few talents. Just like a mother with her first baby, Issa was figuring things out.

And just like parenting, no two people are the same. “They’re not cookie-cutter. How I would speak to one is not how the other will receive it. It’s really personalized, just like being a mom. Same standards, but different language, different connection.”

Where Her Fire Comes From

When asked where her passion and fire come from, Issa’s voice softened and tears welled up in her eyes. With her voice breaking, she said, “I want a good future for my kids.” In that moment, her love for her daughters—Bella, 20, and Chacey, who turns 16 this October—was so palpable, I physically felt it in my heart.

That, she says, is what keeps her going in every role she takes on. It’s what steadies her when she’s tired, and what gives her courage when challenges come.

Now, she passes the lessons she’s learned to her kids and her hosts: confidence rooted in competence, and humility rooted in honesty. “Confidence is putting in the work. Humility is keeping myself in check. I know I do have my off days, and I am honest with myself.”

Finding Joy in the Unexpected

Even after 26 years of hosting, she loves the unscripted moments. She believes that a successful event is a result of 80% planning, and 20% execution—but that 20% is where the magic comes alive.

Life is the same. You plan, but sometimes you flow with the moment, embrace the surprise, and trust your instincts. It’s a reminder we all need: sometimes letting go is how the best memories are made.

On stage, she explains, there’s a constant 360 awareness—eyes on the crowd, the flow of the program, and the energy of the room—while at the same time, a sharp 180 focus on the stage director’s cues.

She admits that as a young host, she was pressured by praise—wanting to prove herself and hold on to being the best. “But eventually, I learned it’s not about what Mama and Papa wanted for me, it’s about what I’m capable of.” She realized it’s not about being number one all the time.

The Audience She Cherishes Most

For now, she’s holding on to the joy of doing what she loves while preparing the next generation—whether they’re her daughters at home or the young hosts she mentors.

And while she’s still busy hosting and training others, Issa also looks ahead with acceptance. “Eventually, a chapter will close. Someone should be better than me. Having my children taught me that. You have to make way for others. That is life.”

These days, what keeps her grounded is her audience of two. “My most important audience are Bella and Chacey. I know they’re watching.”

How Anne Gauthier Hosts and Parents with Presence

As a host, Anne Gauthier has learned that true communication goes far beyond words.

“Being a great communicator isn’t just about speaking clearly—it’s about connecting. It’s listening not only to words, but also to tone, body language, and all the unspoken cues. And it’s about flexibility. You can prepare as much as you want, but life (and live events!) will always surprise you,” she says.

That same principle guides her at home. “With my kids, it’s never about doing everything perfectly—it’s about showing up, listening deeply, and adapting to their needs as they grow.”

Beneath the Words

Anne’s theater background taught her the value of active listening, a skill she treasures as a mother. She has learned that listening is more than just hearing words.

“My son doesn’t speak yet, so I watch his movements, his expressions, and even the environment he’s in to understand what he is trying to communicate.”

Her four-year-old daughter, while articulate, sometimes struggles to match words with big emotions. “I have to really pay attention to what’s beneath the words. When I give them my full attention and practice active listening, I can respond with more empathy. And that always leads to calmer, more connected moments.”

Through hosting, she has learned that confidence is something you develop through practice. “Competence builds confidence. That’s the message I want to pass on to my daughter. Every time you show up and practice, you strengthen your courage. 

From Behind the Scenes to Center Stage

“Issa [Litton] actually drew me to hosting. We connected over our shared love of theater, and she encouraged me to give it a try. At that time, I already had (and still do have) my own events company, Behind the Scenes, where we produce and manage events. So stepping on stage felt like a natural extension—like moving from behind the stage to the front,” Anne explains.

Over time, she realized hosting is about more than holding a mic. That truth stayed with her during one unforgettable event—the French Film Festival, where survivors of child abuse shared their stories. “The energy in that room was sacred—you could feel the compassion, the love, the solidarity. It was unforgettable.”

It was also personal since Anne was going through something very difficult as a mom. “Issa even offered to step in for me or find another 1Lit host, but I chose to show up because the cause meant so much to me. And Issa still came, just to stand by my side. That night reminded me of the strength of women, the power of community, and the importance of showing up—even when it’s hard.”

Showing Up With Love

Offstage, Anne carries lessons from hosting. “Instead of thinking, ‘How do I look?’ I ask, ‘Why am I here? What message am I meant to deliver?’ It’s the same in life. When we focus less on ourselves and more on our purpose—on how we can serve, uplift, or help someone else—it becomes less about fear and more about meaning.”

Parenting, too, grounds her work. “My kids remind me that we were all kids once. At the end of the day, no matter what clothes we wear or what professional titles we hold, we’re all human.” 

Anne’s kids have also taught her how to be truly present. She believes that you can’t fake presence with children—they know instantly if you’re not fully there.

Her philosophy is simple: “It’s not about perfection—it’s about showing up with love and presence, again and again.”

How Jackie Go Stays Anchored in Self-Care

Wife, homemaker, and hands-on mom to two teens, Jasmine, 15 and Juro, 13, Jackie Go has always been comfortable in front of the camera. “I can say I’ve been exposed on-cam at a young age,” she shares. What started as TV commercials in college to send herself to school eventually evolved into blogging and social media, as she sought to fill a gap for new moms: “Back when I was a new mom, there weren’t a lot of reviews about mom-baby products.”

Today, she’s active on Instagram @gojackiego, sharing only what she genuinely uses or loves. “I dislike being called an ‘influencer.’ I feature products and services based on two things—if I like it and use it; if I want to try it and think my audience would be interested in it.” Jackie says she also applies this to hosting.

Hosting as a Service

Speaking of hosting, Jackie officially joined 1LitCorp in late 2023, shortly after moving back from Dubai. During a shoot with Issa, she was casually asked if she hosted events. “I told her I did online hostings, like Lazada Live, and had appeared as a panelist or guest—but never as an events host,” Jackie recalls.

It felt serendipitous that Issa asked, since Jackie had always been open to trying new things. Hosting, she realized, was perfectly aligned with that openness.

Jackie elaborates, “To be of service. This is what drew me to hosting. I don’t know if it’s a mom trait I’ve cultivated over the years but the feeling of satisfaction every time an event or program ends well is so fulfilling. Since I’m fairly new to hosting my motivation stays the same, to be of service to others. Maybe hosting is just the start?”

Beyond Likes and Shares

Jackie’s teenagers have seen her life as a creator up close. “They know who I am online is the same as who I am offline. I’m not changing my lifestyle, the way I dress or who I am just so I can take a photo or video of it to gather likes and validation.”

She makes sure they understand the realities of social media: everything online can be captured through screenshots, and authenticity is what lasts.

“My husband and I have always reminded them that it’s easy to create a fake persona, with AI on the rise. Yes, I am that mom who would every now and then remind my kids of how the digital landscape is ever evolving and it won’t hurt to be aware and mindful about it.”

Balancing Self and Family

Jackie believes that self-care isn’t optional; it’s necessary. “Balancing both means prioritizing myself. I advocate for moms not feeling guilty taking time for themselves. You can’t give what you don’t have and for me putting myself first isn’t selfish, it is necessary.”

Her mornings include running, Lagree, Pilates, and lifting weights, keeping her energized for both family life and work, despite not having a helper and driver since chores are shared within the family.

For Jackie, parenting and work aren’t about pushing yourself to exhaustion, but about choosing what truly matters. She inspires us fellow moms to manifest our dreams, try new things, while still keeping our family at the center of it all.

Words MAWI FOJAS DE OCAMPO
Photography STANLEY ONG
Makeup THIRDIE OCTAVO for Issa Litton, TWINKLE BERNARDO for Anne Gauthier, and LEVENY DAMIAN for Jackie Go
Hairstyling ANGELI ALFONSO for Anne Gauthier, ARVIN MALBAS for Jackie Go, THIRDIE OCTAVO for Issa Litton
Styling SIYA DARYANI of The Closet Culture
Shoot Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Sittings Editor MARGA MEDRANO-TUPAZ

Shot on Location FASHION INTERIORS BY PAUL CORNELISSON

More about moms in the spotlight

Issa Litton: Walk the Talk
Janice Villanueva: No Mom Left Behind
Jackie Go: One Day at a Time