My Journey From Imposter to Empowered
I’ve been going through it with imposter syndrome, and after a tearful conversation with my husband, Kier, I decided to put in more effort in shifting my perspective in how I view my new role as a mompreneur from a defensive and pessimistic stance to one that felt more empowering. I brought myself back to January 2021, right after Kier quit his full-time government position in DC to pursue social media full-time. We laid out a long-term plan, putting me in a position to leave my career within the next 5 years and build our business together. Two years later, I had the opportunity to leave, and I finally did it, three years earlier than we had originally planned. Reminiscing on those moments, Kier and I decided to repost the video of me quitting my job on camera last year. I needed the reminder of the vision that I had for my life. I had to remember how bad I wanted this, what my “why” was, and reassure myself that while this life isn’t as soft as I had hoped, it’s still the beginning of what I believe will be life changing for our family.
The comments and questions that poured in response to the repost not only fed that part of my soul that felt like I lost my purpose when I let go on my job title, but it also made me realize how confused I think we all are about the term, “mompreneur.” I know we’re recovering from a season of cute online phrases and mottos due to the creativity boom on social media following the pandemic. However, as a collective, I think we need to put some respect on the name. So today, I want to dive a bit deeper into the essence of what I do and love as a mompreneur.
Mompreneurship is a lifestyle, a challenge, and a dance between being a full-time mom and a full-ON entrepreneur. I’m more than a multitasker who spends her day getting her lashes done and wears cute matching sets to the pick-up line at my kids’ school, although on some days, that’s exactly what I do. I am actually the co-owner and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a multi-6-figure company, which means that I am a senior executive responsible for turning the vision of our company into an actionable and executable business plan. My day-to-day responsibilities include (but are NOT limited to) forging relationships with brands and other influencers to bolster our name and recognition in the field, conduct data analysis on market trends, and come up with creative solutions to finicky algorithm blocks that keep our audience from seeing our content. I’m also the second in command to reviewing and putting out every single piece of content you see with my or Kier’s name attached to it. And that’s just 1/2 of my job.
On the other side, I am a mom who, aside from being a lawyer, was a Reading and ELA teacher and Teach For America alumna. I have a degree in Educational Studies with a pretty extensive background in educational pedagogy and research, so you can imagine how I leverage my expertise to incorporate tried and true educational strategies to enrich the learning environment of my two daughters. My biggest flex is that I can create engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote literacy and critical thinking, and then differentiate the lessons so that my 2 and 6 year old get exactly what they need on their level. All of this, partnered with my commitment to what I think gentle parenting should entail, make me more than equipped to handle my responsibilities at home as a mom. In other words, I’m a highly qualified and well-decorated domestic engineer, okay?!
The point I’m trying to make it that your girl knows how to turn life’s lemons into a thriving lemonade business, baby on one hip, laptop in the other, and teaching ABCs in between. I’m not saying I’m an “it girl,” but sis is definitely on my vision board.
My vision for my family and business extends beyond our perceived success. I’m also dedicated to making a tangible impact in our community by aligning the family and company’s goals with sustainable and socially responsible practices, while maintaining the importance of promoting harmony, healing, and peace. My leadership at home and on the field is not just about building a successful business. It’s more about creating a legacy that resonates with and uplifts the overall community as it relates to business, motherhood, and marriage.
My message to my fellow mompreneurs is this — Cheers to you! You are bold, brave, and unbalanced in the best of ways. You are the proof to those who say that we can’t have it all. You are redefining what it means to pursue your dreams and build your own future. Your journey is a true testament to the strength and creativity of women who lead with heart AND hustle. You’re not just making it happen right now, you’re doing it every single day. Those babies see you, and you’re laying down a foundation that I’m sure will make an impact on their lives.
Let’s dive deeper with a thought prompt:
Reflect on your own journey as a mompreneur or in any dual role you navigate daily. What myths have you had to dispel about your work-life balance? How do you integrate your professional skills into your family life? Share your stories of how you manage to wear multiple hats and the lessons you've learned along the way.
