Successful Sistas is an interview series featuring successful women pursuing their dream careers.
Title: Writer, Author, Co-owner of Voz Visual, Founder of Execumama Enterprises
What is Execumama Enterprises?
Taken straight from the “About Us” page, this describes us in a nutshell: Execumama Enterprises serves women in general, mothers in particular and young mothers (ages 21-35) to be even more specific. As a network resourcing entity, we provide intense creative networking via workshops, group and one-on-one coaching and professional collaborations. Our resource tools provide professional and personal resources designed to increase the quality of life for women who dare to define themselves outside of the societal parameters of good mother versus good businesswoman.
How did you become interested in this line of work?
I’ve always studied writing, and I am a natural speaker. I enjoy speaking to groups even more than I enjoy one-on-one conversation (super-weird, I know!), and most importantly, I needed an outlet to express my views on embracing working motherhood. I started by writing “Execumama: A Pocket Guide for the Twenty-something Mommy on the Move” (Wheatmark, 2007). The meat of the book was the side-effect of me not being able to find women who felt they could be great mothers and excellent business women in the same breath. I knew there had to be women out there who would embrace the imbalances and create a life that suited their needs, and so I set out to find them and interview them for the book. Thankfully, I found them, and that quest evolved into Execmama Enterprises, LLC.
Why did you create a business?
To remind young mothers (myself included) that we absolutely have the right to want to be commited mothers without losing sight of our personal and professional goals. I realized that the pages of my book weren’t enough to keep the conversation going month after month so the business includes workshops, freelance articles, professional blogging and guest speaking to consistently remind women to embrace their FULLEST selves, particularly when motherhood is a part of their journey. Too often, we buy into the idea that we have to lay our goals on the line to be considered “good mothers.” That is a myth that can be dismissed with exposure to the right resources, and that’s my job– to connect the women to the resources that help them define, design and live their fullest selves.
What do you love most about owning your own business?
That’s easy: the capacity to govern my time. I’m on my family’s watch, not some random person to whom I’m giving my energy to fuel their dream. I’m the trusty assistant of two girls, ages six and four; I’m a great wife to a brilliant guy, and, of course, I get to explore all aspects of the creativity that flows through my head. I can’t do that when someone else dictates my schedule so that’s definitely a huge perk of being a business owner.
What’s the most stressful aspect of it?
Getting the message out there in such a way that people truly get the value of what I offer can be a challenge at times. Sometimes, people just don’t get the challenges we face as young mothers who dare to be self-employed and/or career-driven. I remember doing an interview for a Web TV series, and when I explained the premise behind Execumama Enterprises, the host said, “Yeah, but how is that a job? I mean, why would people need somebody to tell them that for a living?” Um, yeaah…I maintained a professional demeanor (because that’s how I roll– LOL), but I remember wondering how many other times people felt that way but chose not to communicate that to me.
What’s a typical day like for you?
Hmmm…I really don’t have a “typical” day, per se. My schedule varies significantly, and that works very well for my personality. Overall, I walk between co-schooling our daughters, working on projects for my site and in-person projects, writing/editing articles and site copy for my clients and working as the Grammar Cop and Social Media Management arm of Voz Visual, a creative branding company co-owned by my hubby, Kris, and me. Believe it or not, amidst all of that, I exercise relatively often, I spend a lot of time just hanging with Kris, and I make time for “me time,” too. I get so inspired when I hear women say it’s impossible because all that does is remind me that what I do is important, and I get the opportunity to inspire by my own example every day.
What advice or tips would you give someone who wants to do what you do?
I’d offer three main tips:
1. Trust that you are enough. Just as you are, even with what you don’t know, you are enough. If you take an approach of learning, being attentive and committing yourself to your work, you will always be enough.
2. Partner with women and men who inspire you. Collaborations are a great way to reach new people, learn new approaches and practice your skills.
3. Remember the “why” behind what you do. Sometimes the “how” and the “when” gets foggy, but if you keep why you do what you do in mind, it eases the potential “bumps and bruises” significantly.
Finish this sentence: This career is for you if ____
This career is for you if you define yourself as a person with a very specific mission that relates to empowering women.
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