5 Brilliant Mumpreneurs: The Women Who Balance Motherhood With Entrepreneurship

These powerful, ground-breaking and leading founders, directors and innovators are not only balancing parenthood with growing a company, but also have a genuine passion to support and celebrate others taking on the role!

We've rounded up just some of the amazing Mumpreneurs on our roster to celebrate and feel inspired by their  entrepreneurial  successes, and learn from all of the bumps along the way.

Annabel Karmel

The UK's No.1 children's cookery author, Annabel Karmel is a Mumpreneur who talks about balancing business and parenting. As a best-selling international author and expert on devising delicious, nutritious meals for babies, children and families, Annabel built her own enterprise from her kitchen as a self-employed mum raising a family.

We asked about her amazing entrepreneurial journey and the key lessons that she discovered:

"I’m proof-positive that anything is possible with passion and determination," says Annabel. "For over two decades, I’ve blazed my way through challenges and setbacks whilst juggling family life to make it as the UK’s No.1 children’s cookery author."

She continues: "Britain is booming with ‘Mumpreneurs’ and as childcare costs continue to rise, building a business with a family in tow has never been more attractive. Having children doesn’t mean a full stop at the end of your CV. Far from it."

"The great thing about running your own business whilst raising a family is that you have the freedom to work to your own schedule. Juggling the dual demands of work with family life is no mean feat by any stretch of the imagination; I remember completing my first recipe book in between the children’s naps, managing a busy toddler group and running a house. It’s difficult keeping all the balls in the air without dropping one occasionally!

But I loved being a self-employed mum. I did, and still do, feel empowered by being able to make my own decisions and follow a truly worthwhile passion.

My top tip would be to find your guilt threshold. Of course everyone feels guilty about leaving their children to go to work but some mums wouldn’t be good mums unless they had a career as they would be miserable and frustrated so never be too hard on yourself.

Persistence and focus, rather than regret, got me to a good place. If you want life to be magnificent, you can’t expect it to be easy.

I work very hard and I can often be found sending emails late into the night, but I do take time out to enjoy the things I love. There is nothing better than sitting down to dinner with my three children – Nicholas, Lara and Scarlett. Now they are in their twenties, you have to grab these opportunities when you can."

Thanks, Annabel!

We’ve put together a collection of other wonderful Mumpreneurs to learn from...

Julie Deane

Founder & CEO at The Cambridge Satchel Company, Julie Deane OBE is the unlikely fashion entrepreneur who invested just £600 to idea to get her idea—to make traditional leather satchels for the schoolchildren of Cambridge—off the ground. What makes Julie's story even more special is that her entrepreneurial drive was inspired by a determination to send her children to a good school.

A brilliant keynote speaker, Julie inspires audiences with her story and her commitment to preserve British manufacturing.

Tamara Lohan

One-half of the Mr. and Mrs. Smith team, Tamara Lohan is another Mumpreneur who has taken a business idea and turned it into one of the UK’s most successful ‘aspirational but still accessible’ accommodation brands, earning her an MBE for services to the British travel industry.

Her astute, honest speeches enthuse and inform budding entrepreneurs looking to turn their ideas into functioning businesses.

Holly Tucker

Holly Tucker has many strings to her bow - mother, MBE, founder of Holly & Co, UK Ambassador to Small Creative Businesses, Chief Inspirator and co-founder of notonthehighstreet.com. But Holly simply sees herself as an imagineer – someone who believes in the impossible and the power of creativity.

She is well-placed to discuss business, e-commerce and innovation in retail.

Laura Tenison

A highly innovative entrepreneur, Laura Tenison's enormously successful company JoJo Maman Bébé is one of the UK’s most prominent retail outlets. Laura has grown the company organically from its start-up in 1993 to become the UK’s foremost niche multi-channel who specialises in the pregnancy and baby market.

An inspirational business speaker, Laura addresses women's groups, business conferences and networking events to help audiences understand concepts around retail, CSR and entrepreneurial mindset.

Looking to book one of these speakers, or a speaker on entrepreneurship or business?

For further information call us on   or email  info@speakerscorner.co.uk .

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