Mum’s the word mother’s day
Mother’s Day is a special day for all mums around the world. We talk to three women who seized the opportunity to run their own business while being a mum at the same time.
Sarré Guille, Her Hands You left your corporate career to start your own business. Can you tell us more? Her Hands has been born from my dream to create a ‘global village’—one where mums can buy beautiful products for their little ones that support another mum from a vulnerable population to provide for her children. I had the idea for the business a few years ago while on maternity leave. I spent my 20-year corporate career growing businesses and I really wanted to use those skills to grow a business that levels the playing field, even if just a little. But I didn’t actually launch it until early 2021—initially Covid forced me to pack the idea away (who in their right mind would leave a stable income and start a business during a pandemic?!). Ultimately it was the lockdown, and the forced focus on ‘the things that matter’, that was the push that I needed to make it happen.
How do you balance work and family with (small) kids at home? To be honest, I am probably less ‘balanced’ than I ever was when I was working in corporate, in terms of the long hours I work at nights. But I feel so passionate about, and committed to, what I am doing that it really energises me—rather than drains me, as it perhaps did in the past. My husband is also an incredible support both in terms of supporting me through the constant challenges and wobbles that come with a new business, and in his support at home.
Can you share some tips for other mums who want to start their own business? I think it’s to get really clear on why you are looking to start and what will that mean for you in terms of time and financial investment. Is it really a creative outlet you are looking for, rather than a business? In which case, would you enjoy it more if you build it as a side project? For me, I want to provide ongoing and sustainable employment to our
female artisans, which they have commented is so important to enabling them to provide schooling, healthcare, etc, for their children. In order to have that impact it needs to be a business, so I needed to get really clear at the outset on what that means financially and in time spent away from my daughter.
What makes mums successful in business? While there is still a long way to go, I think we’re coming into a really exciting new era where women generally are recognising the importance of bringing their whole selves to business. We have realised that we don’t have to fit in to the previous way of doing things and that bringing—and embracing—our feminine to the table is critical for the change we are all working towards for our world. And that’s really powerful.
What’s your ideal Mother’s Day and what’s the best advice your own mum gave you? My little girl is only four, so it’s definitely a hand drawn card and morning cuddles in bed. My mum always said, when in doubt, put on a big smile. It’s true, a smile shifts you into the right space to tackle even the biggest problems. 32 giftguideonline.com.au