Tell us about Mums & Co.
Mums & Co is the movement empowering Australian business-owning mothers. We advocate for women to harmonise their ambition, livelihood and wellbeing. With a focus on networking and upskilling, we equip working mums with the resources, emotional support and introductions to achieve their personal and business goals. We have around 23,000 members and growing.
What inspired you to start Mums & Co?
I started Mums & Co when I was pregnant in 2016. With the support of IAG – Australia’s largest general insurer, I wanted to create a safe online community for business-owning mums to realise their dreams in business and in life. As a second time founder, I realised business doesn’t suit business owning mothers. I am passionate about mentoring female business owners in the early days of their business journey and I love that we’re providing women with a space to connect, grow and learn together. I strongly believe that we all have a duty to make our families and communities stronger, and impact lives in positive way.
Tell us about your career and background.
Prior to Mums & Co, I founded Daily Addict, the popular insider’s digital lifestyle guide established in 2008. Before that, I worked for 10 years in corporate marketing and communications, five of them in London, including State Street, Cap Gemini and Ernst & Young. I hold a UTS Bachelor of Business degree and serve on the Macquarie University Global MBA Advisory Council.
Describe a typical work day for you.
I am the proud daughter of Malaysian Chinese parents, a sister, wife, mother, community leader, entrepreneur and mentor. At Mums & Co I work with our passionate startup team and national community to advocate the needs of business owning mums, such as more investment in women-led ventures. I’m an avid people connector, so I’m always making introductions and connecting our members with each other and our 35 experts that provide advice on a range of business and wellbeing topics.
We’re continuously working on new features to add value for our members. Last year we launched an award-winning Chatbot and this year we’re working on a new business introductions feature. We have a strong focus on our digital and social strategy, so we regularly engage with our social audience of 23,000 and seek online opportunities to reach new members and champion issues that are important to us.
I share my own journey as a business owning mother harmonising ambition, livelihood and wellbeing as a speaker and host of events, such as our annual conference Be MPowered on 2 June, which we’re currently busy working on. I also host regular Mums & Co sessions, such as our ‘Practice your Pitch’ sessions and monthly member meet-ups.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
It is challenging and risky to establish a new business and it takes courage and determination. You are unsure of the market, reception to your product and what lies ahead. The demanding tasks of motherhood and business ownership are a daily challenge, so I’ve learnt to rely on routines and rituals and identify transferable skills in managing business and home life.
I would like to say to aspiring business mums that you don’t have to choose between career and family, just go for it, embrace what we call #Mumbition: the unapologetic blending of motherhood and ambition.
Embrace the community of support and advise around you. That’s why we’re called Mums & Co, for that network effect. Ask for help and recognise the important role your family and the broader community can play.
What’s next for you, and Mums & Co?
We are excited for the return of Be MPowered 2021, our annual signature event on 2 June. We have a dynamic speaker line-up of inspiring business-owning mums, including Turia Pitt, Australia’s loved mindset coach, athlete and humanitarian, and Grace Brennan from Buy from the Bush. The event is an immersion into the values of Mums & Co and truly blends business and professional development with individual and family wellbeing. Business events traditionally don’t suit business-owning mums, so our new hybrid digital and face-to-face conference format will be broadcast nationally.
