"Get your Plan B ready before you leave Plan A" is the advice Tory Johnson, "Good Morning America’s" workplace contributor and CEO of executive recruitment firm Women For Hire just told a roomful of working mothers at today’s Spring 2009 Executive Moms luncheon.  wowOwow’s own Cynthia McFadden headlined the panel, which included a lineup of high-profile moms such as author and frequent "Today Show" financial guest Jean Chatzky; Dr. Gail Saltz, the health, sex and relationship contributor who is often seen on "Andersen Cooper 360," "Oprah" and "Today"; web entrepreneur Sheila Marcelo, whose Care.com pairs families with qualified caregivers.

What Plan A and Plan B you ask? The dual plans today’s panel of experts says you must have to make sure you stay in the workforce during this recession. Because while motherhood was the theme that brought the group together, it was today’s treacherous economic times that fueled most of the discussion.

While in past years groups of working mothers might have discussed job sharing, flextime, on-site daycare and other family-friendly workplace benefits, at today’s luncheon the discussion and audience questions were about strategies to keep the jobs these women currently have … with an eye to rapidly building up an emergency fund as well as making concrete plans for income generation if the pink slip arrives.

According to Cynthia in remarks after the panel, "It’s all about the economy now … but it’s also about how we behave in this new world. But with a community of women like this, you realize that though these are treacherous waters, women are looking out for one another." And then there’s the love and support from the kids of these executive mothers. "I have a son who nurtures me. He’s so wise, and an old soul," said the ABC "Nightline" co-anchor, whose son is ten years old.

What else was different this spring than in years past? According to Executive Moms Founder Marisa Thalberg, "There was some real searching this year in terms of the kinds of questions asked of our panel. The women who came out to support one another at this lunch were clearly looking for expert guidance. Their questions were more specific this time. They spoke with candor about specific issues. And there’s clearly a new evaluation of priorities."

Thalberg continued: "Still, our mission is clear: being confident and happy as an Executive Mom is a great way to overcome fear and uncertainty."

wowOwow was the media sponsor for the Spring 2009 Executive Moms Luncheon. Visit their website at executivemoms.com.