The six most important words women can say to each other!

The 88^th academy awards brought up many issues about diversity. One of the points that host Chris Rock brought up was, “Why do we have separate categories for men and women in acting? This is not track and field”

It raises many questions. Would women not win as much? Are we doing enough to create a level playing field for women and men?

But this post is not about the Oscars, or creating better gender diversity. It is simply about what we can do as women to encourage each other.

One of my favourite stories is from the book “Lean in” bySheryl Sandberg.

Imagine that career is like a marathon- a long gruelling and ultimately rewarding endeavor. Now imagine a marathon where men and women arrive equally fit and trained. The gun goes off. The men and women run side by side. The male marathoners are routinely cheered on. “Looking strong!” On your way!” But the female runners hear a different message. “You know you don’t have to do this!” or “Good start- but you probably won’t want to finish” The farther the marathoners run, the louder the cries grow for men. But then women hear more and more doubts about their efforts. As the women struggle to endure the rigors of the race, the spectators shout, “Why are you running when your children need you at home?”

This is a powerful story, and true. But, not all the voices that we hear come from men. A lot of them come from women. These are our well-wishers; our mothers, sisters, friends and so on.

I see many discussions in Mom’s groups, where a woman will express confusion about her dilemma in going back to work after maternity, and 90% of the responses will be,” Stay at home with the kids. They need you.”

I have been on the receiving end of such advice and mostly from women. Some advising me to take a part time job, or some telling me that I could afford to stay at home, so I should. On the contrary, not one man including my husband has ever told me that I shouldn’t go for what I want.

Let me add, there is nothing wrong in dropping out of any race. Am I dropping out of it for lack of encouragement? Or an abundance of discouragement? That is the issue at hand.

As women, we need to cheer each other. Remember the marathon. Be a cheering spectator and say,

“Keep going, You can do it”

As women we empathise with each other, and get how difficult things are. But we still owe it to encourage each and every woman around to keep going!

Say it loud and clear, and then say it some more.

Say it to your sister, mother, daughter, colleague, friend as often as you can. They turn to you in moments of confusion for clarity. And these may just be the six most important words that you can say to them.

And if they choose to drop out of the race, know that it was a very difficult decision for them. Those six words will come to your rescue once again.

“Keep going, You can do it”

No matter what I choose as a woman, to know that I have other women inspiring me, and encouraging me is powerful and cathartic.

So, the next time an amazing yet slightly unsure and scared woman comes to you for advice. Hold back. She probably already knows what to do, and only needs some encouragement.

Just tell her the story of the six most important words she is going to hear from you!

“Keep going, You can do it”!

A Mother's Guilt...

For as long as I have been a mom, guilt has been my companion.  When I worked full-time, I felt guilty for leaving my four month old baby at a day-care. When I came home early, I felt guilty for leaving my work.  

The years went by, but the guilt stayed. As I grew older and probably wiser, the intensity went down, and I knew how to handle it. But it never went away.

It resurfaced today, as I dropped my child off to day-care.  I am in the U.S where three year olds go to childcare and not a pre-school. Childcare is expensive, and primarily geared for working moms.

I don’t work (as of now), and I send my three year old to a child care centre. He spends the day there, and goes 5 days a week. This helps me stay sane, do my writing, focus on what I might want to do going forward, and just gives me some breathing space.

But today, as I dropped my son there, he cried. He didn’t want to go. I felt my heart break. That’s a familiar feeling for every mom. But my heart broke more, because, I wasn’t going to work after dropping him. I was going to go back home, go for a walk, and then do my writing.

I know all the reasons why I do so, and my family supports me. But still it stung. I felt incredibly selfish. My head screamed that getting a job would make this worthwhile. But then, I realized, this vicious circle has no end.

Whenever guilt rears its ugly head, I find solace and advice in Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean in. She urges women to lean in, and not look at child care expenses as merely an expense. It is an investment in yourself. It is a seed that you sow, to reap benefits in the future. And those benefits could be a job, your own venture or just a calmer, better you, which makes you a better parent.

With guilt comes a choice, to be consumed by it, or to be energized by it…

Consumed by the blame that it lays, OR energized by the possibilities that exist ahead…

With guilt comes a choice; Are you holding back or do you lean in?

Hold back on all your dreams, OR lean in towards your life’s purpose….

I have spent a lot of time leaning away from all that I truly wanted to do. It’s time to lean in. 

And You?

Interviews with Momtrepreneurs- The Artist behind- Indian Ocean by Shailly

Keeping in tandem with the theme of this blog, I am pleased to kick off a series of interviews with momtrepreneurs. Each month, this blog will feature a woman just like you and me, who is doing a balancing act of managing her own venture and her family. I do hope you enjoy reading and getting inspired from these wonderful women. If you are a momtrepreneur and would like to be featured on this blog, write in at momtrepreneurishere@gmail.com and I would be happy to interview you!

“Art is a creative process, but it’s more about problem solving!” 

This is just one of the interesting nuggets; one gets in a chat with Shailly Gupta- our featured Momtrepreneur for this month.

An MBA turned artist turned creative traveller, is what I would like to call her, but she doesn’t get caught in the labels. She just enjoys her journey too much to get bogged down in the details of what she does.

I first met Shailly, when she attended my Meditation circle. I didn’t have the chance to talk to her at length then, but was later intrigued by her Facebook page- Indian Ocean. She is an artist, and I fell in love with her clutches /purses that were inspired by her own wearable art. That’s when I decided to go down to her studio, and take a closer look at her designs.

I loved her contemporary take on art, and the fact that she didn’t take herself seriously. She loved what she did, and that was that.

She calls this her secondlife.com. Her first avatar was in the corporate world in the field of MBA and Marketing.

The path hasn’t been easy. Her quest for learning art appreciation led her to paint, and the rest as they say is history! She overcame many obstacles such as language barriers in classes, spending the whole day in hot studios, and the fact that her institute wasn’t even ready to give her a certificate.

Read on to know more about her, as we chat with this creative Momtrepreneur, about her life, art, and her journey.

When someone asks you, so what do you do? What are you most likely to say?

I am most likely to say that I have fun. I am busy trying to keep myself busy. It’s only if the conversation gets longer that I say, “Oh by the way I paint and have this small studio where I am trying to experiment with some other stuff too!”

Is there a story behind the name of your venture (Indian Ocean by Shailly)? If yes, please share

I wanted to have a name that represented colour, earth, nature (geography is my favourite subject).

I researched, toyed with some names, took feedback from friends but I was not in love with them.

Then somehow Indian Ocean came along and I just stuck to it. I didn't even ask anybody. It made total sense to me. It had geography, it had India, it was international enough, it was grand and it had all shades of Blue- my favourite colour.

How long were you a stay at home mom or working before getting into your new venture? Was it easy or difficult to make the transition?

Post our shift to Kuala Lumpur, I had already taken a break from work and then we were blessed with Ananya -my daughter. There was no room, time, and need for anything else. I used to take her to a play gym and there is where I found this studio which taught painting. I decided to give it a go while she played.

I painted my first painting- it was absolutely my first creation...  well second... And it gave me an immense sense of being. 

During the same time I even worked for an International company for a year but I realised that I was having much more fun painting and so I got back to it full time. I joined school for a course in Art. I went there for 2 years. The average age of the class was 17, but the teachers were great and I had an absolutely great time- learning and creating. It was like a second life- totally different from what I had done so far.

It was never really difficult as I took things at my pace and girls grow up very fast. At 7, Ananya already checks with me how many paintings I made and how many bags got sold.

What was the turning point when you decided to launch Indian Ocean?

No turning point as such, I just kept walking... 

A school mom bought my first painting. I was thrilled. I always thank her for that.

Luckily I found a studio close enough to my home and it gave me the space, confidence and Need to try more things. 

So what happened next?

One thing I was sure of was that I wanted to do something which was related to Art. Things which I will like to use/carry myself. The bags are an extension of my art as they carry prints of my painting and I even hand-paint some of them.

Luckily I found a great team to deliver them. I experimented with few bags, my friends liked them, and got some more, joined the bazaars, and went online. Things kept happening. Bags have also helped me to spread the word about my Art and lot of my clients visit my studio for them.

What is your core qualification? And is your venture related to that? If not, what learnings did you take from it to implement in your own business?

I am a commerce graduate from JMC DU and PGDBM from IMI Delhi. I believe everything is related so I am sure I am consciously or sub consciously am using what I learnt there. It might not be the studies per se; it could be learnings from the environment, friends, teachers anything. We learn continuously and we implement effortlessly.

Did you have any fears while starting your venture after a break/ salaried job? What were they? And how did you get over them?

Not really. I took it as a new phase in life something that gave me a chance to explore experiment and create. Moreover it suited my lifestyle and gave me time and flexibility. 

I did miss work a lot, especially when I met my old colleagues, but it really helped when they told me that they would any day trade work with what I was able to do with my time.

How do you manage your home and the venture?

I don’t take either too seriously... and that works!

Who/ what inspires you?

Learning... Thinking... Talking... Walking.. Seeing... Being Alive... 

One secret you would like to share which can make another Momtrepreneurs journey easier.

There will moments of self-doubt. There will be criticism. Don't be too sensitive. Show commitment and things will fall in place.

One business mantra you would like every Momtrepreneur to know?

Be professional, be receptive, be organised, maintain journal to record ideas, appointments, and money dealings. Follow up!

What's your vision for your venture?

My vision is for myself and not for my venture as such. The venture is a part of it. I want a multifaceted life which room for everyone. I want to create an ambience which promotes new ideas and encourages experimentation.

Your motto for yourself: 

Raah pakad tu ek chala chal, mil jayegi Madhushala.... 

(Stick to your path- you will find what you are looking for)

And 

Think! There must be a better way!

What’s your advice for someone who wants to do something different, but is unsure of taking the first step?

First of all take the first step... you will be 0nly 50% unsure of taking the second step- take the second step- you will be only 25% unsure this time... Taking steps is a progression of getting Sure!

Next Destination for Indian Ocean?

I want Indian Ocean to become even more International, and I want to learn Art in Paris. For me, the destination is to learn continuously, and create opportunities. Who knows, I may even give up painting and experiment in something else!! (Laughs)

Thanks Shailly for taking the time to chat with us- unplugged and for sharing your take on creativity, art, and Indian Ocean. We hope you keep adding colour to our life, our walls and our wardrobes, and more power to you!

Shailly is the Founder and Artist of Indian Ocean by Shailly.

She is currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

You can know more about her by visiting her pages below:

https://www.facebook.com/indianoceanbyshailly?pnref=lhc

http://indianoceanbyshailly.com/

Conversations with Momtrepreneurs....

As a Momtrepreneur, the best part of my life is getting to interact with many resourceful entrepreneurs, and exchange notes with them. I love listening to how passionate they are about their work, and their journey always intrigues me.

Today I had two conversations with 2 momtrepreneurs, and both left me energised.

The first Momtrepreneur was someone who I was interviewing for my series on this blog, “Interviews with Momtrepreneurs”. I usually send across a list of questions, which the person has to answer and write back. However, this momtrepreneur insisted that she wanted to talk to me.

As we spoke, she told me, how no pre-set list of questions would be able to capture the essence of her story. It’s important that you and I have a chat. That’s how you would be able to understand my journey better, and put it across in the best way possible to inspire many!

I paused, and was amazed at this idea. Why hadn’t I thought of this before? I loved the idea of a personal connect. We had an insightful conversation, and came away with tons of insights. Keep watching this space for a brilliant interview with this MBA turned artist!

My next meeting was with someone, who had reached out to me for inputs on Coaching and Facilitation. She was looking to reinvent her career from digital marketing. I didn’t know her personally, and had responded to her query on an expat forum. As I reached, I found a pleasant eager face, a 3 month baby in her arms, with loads of enthusiasm and questions about this field.

I loved the fact, that she wanted to spend more time with her kids (her toddler was at home with her helper), but at the same time was concerned with carving a niche for herself. She called herself the self-doubting type, but she seemed so sure of each question she asked. 

And as we discussed about Coaching, many related things, I came away inspired with her focus, and determination to move ahead.

We can all inspire each other, and these two women did just that to me. I came away with a changed perspective on myself, my business, and how I can approach my work. And I am sure that they didn’t intend to do any of that. But that’s the power of these interactions. And I am so grateful for them.

More Power to these and the many Momtrepreneurs around!

Interviews with Momtrepreneurs: Meet the dynamic duo behind Rashee!

Keeping in tandem with the theme of this blog, I am pleased to kick off a series of interviews with momtrepreneurs. Each month, this blog will feature a woman just like you and me, who is doing a balancing act of managing her own venture and her family. I do hope you enjoy reading and getting inspired from these wonderful women. If you are a momtrepreneur and would like to be featured on this blog, write in at momtrepreneurishere@gmail.com and I would be happy to interview you!

This month, I am pleased to interview the dynamic duo behind the label Rashee; Rachna Sagar, and Sheela Wadhwa. 

What happens when two friends with a passion for all things beautiful, come together? You get Rashee- a label that represents clothes for the modern contemporary women. Reach them at http://www.therasheeblog.blogspot.com. Having known them as friends, having worn their designs, and finally having worked with them on their blog write-up, I can say they are at their passionate best when they talk about clothes and art! They know how to have fun, and yet run their venture with complete professionalism. But, most of all they are amazing people , always ready to welcome you with a hug and a smile..

Read on to find out what makes them tick, and how they manage it all….

If I ask your kids, What does Mommy do? What would they say?

Rachna: My boys would say she is a designer. They might not narrow down to just apparel though.

Sheela : My kids would probably say she's an artist and a designer. 

When someone asks you, So what do you do? What are you most likely to say?

Rachna : We run a design studio and put together styles.

Sheela : I feel lucky to have made my passion my profession. I'm an artist and I run my own fashion label as well. 

Is there a story behind the name of your venture?

Both: RAchna n SHEEla....RASHEE

How did you choose each other as partners for the business? What should other Momtrepreneurs keep in mind while choosing the right partner?

Rachna: I am not sure if this is sound advice, but I tend to always just follow my heart. When I chose my life partner, it was a quick decision and took me 15 minutes. Something inside told me that my journey with my husband Sashi would be interesting and fun. When I met Sheela it again took me a very short time to ask her to join me in the RASHEE journey. Just follow your heart is my answer. It never lies. We normally have the answers within ,but fail to hear them. 

Sheela : it was something as simple as "...she asked n I said YES ..." over a cuppa. 

That being our story... I believe that a good working partnership must have trust, shared passion  and complementary skills. 

How long were you a stay at home mom before getting into your new venture? Was it easy or difficult to make the transition ?

Rachna: Hmm actually it's been off and on for me. For a few years I took off for both my boys and then went back to work, till we moved to kl and then RASHEE happened. 

Sheela: It's been 10 years since I left the software industry. I took this as an opportunity to do all the things I've always wanted to do like paint, dance, yoga and much more... And then RASHEE happened. 

What is your core qualification? And is your venture related to that? If not, what learnings did you take from it to implement in your own business?

Rachna: I am a commerce graduate and then did my masters in finance . Designing might not be what I studied but since it's a passion it comes from within. My education has shaped my personality into what it is. So that what takes me ahead in my area today and makes me complete. 

Sheela: I'm a software engineer. Design was very much a part of my profession albeit a different type.  The processes involved like requirements, design drafts and finally implementation have helped us here too. 

How did you reinvent yourself ?

Rachna:  Hmm reinvent not so much, but yes heeded to my passion. And am having fun while at it.  

Sheela: Doing what I like most brings out the best in me... So I guess I'm still seeing a new me everyday.

Did you have any fears while starting your venture after a break/ salaried job? What were they ? And how did you get over them?

Rachna: Yes, once you get use to a fixed amount every month and annual bonuses, one does tend to miss it. But the sheer joy of creating covers up. Every event we now go to and see women wear our creation is a very satisfying feeling. Seeing the confidence and smile on our clients’ faces makes up for any other feeling of loss. 

Sheela: Not really.. There were no fears. Besides having a friend as a working partner makes it easier and a lot more fun. 

How do you manage your home and the venture?

Rachna: Thankfully this came at a time when my boys are a little grown up and  we have excellent staff and support at home. 

Sheela : I've been lucky to have a very supportive family and an excellent helper. Also working from home gives a lot of flexibility. 

Who/ what inspires you?

Rachna : Different things that inspire me like a nice and cheerful day, listening to lovely music or something as simple as a walk can lead to a design, cut or a beautiful garment.  

Sheela : Beauty in everything around me...colors, textures, randomness, patterns, expressions, the list can go on ...

One secret you would like to share which can make another Momtrepreneurs journey easier?

Rachna : I can't stress enough on "follow your heart it takes you to your dreams". If you live your dream the rest all falls into place . Take one step towards it and it will come to you. 

The road might not be all easy but if you look at the hurdles and smile and tell yourself that you will soon have a solution, you will !

Believe in yourself and your dream no one else will :) 

Sheela : If you believe ... you can make it happen. 

Your pick- me - up song  for inspiration?

Rachna: Love Josh Groban's "brave"

Sheela : Whitney Houston's "one moment in time"

One business mantra you would like every Momtrepreneur to know?

Sheela : Well I guess we are still very new to the business scene.So far what we've learnt is that happy customers make the best advocates.  

What's your vision for your venture ?

Rachna: A "Rashee" in the wardrobes of all those women who want to discover their inner self,  want to have a family and a career and yet not lose themselves in it.

Sheela: A "Rashee" in the wardrobes of all those who want to discover their true spirit and express it in style.

If your venture were a colour, what would it be and why?

Rachna: Yellow since it's an instant pick me up and I  want to believe that whoever wears a Rashee has a smile on her face . 

Sheela: Magenta ..it's vibrant , free spirited n full of life... That's what Rashee is all about. 

Your motto for yourself : 

Rachna : Smile into my fears and tell myself that they are just that and not me  

Sheela : Nothing is impossible!

One thing you want your children to remember always? 

Rachna: Mom is fun and a happy soul, they can come and share their fears and seek words that will not give advise but just thoughts from someone who journeyed on this planet a few more decades than them. They can make their mistake and that will not diminish my love for them. 

Sheela: Gratitude

How would you want to be remembered as?

Rachna : A confident and happy person who could light up people s lives even though for a flash of a second .

Sheela : A compassionate person who made a positive difference to the world around her through her art and creativity...

How would you want your venture to be remembered as?

Both in unison! : Boho chic  

THANK YOU Rachna and Sheela for that inspiring chat! Lots of best wishes to Rashee, and May you both keep adding colour and happiness to our lives through your love and creativity!

Momtrepreneur, what’s your Elevator Speech?

Soon after I quit my job, I used to be at a loss of words, when someone asked me, “So, What do you do?”

Umm, I’m currently on a break, or I’m starting my own venture now, Or I’m just taking a break, were some of my replies.

However, I felt none of them did justice to what I was really doing. I was following my passion and launching my own venture in the field of Life Coaching and Transformational Workshops.

That’s when I decided, It was time to make my Elevator speech.

Whether you are a Mommy or a Momtrepreneur, you can have your own Elevator speech.

What is an Elevator speech? Well , for discovering the meaning, we simply have to look at the two words. Elevator and Speech.

Imagine, you had a high profile meeting with a client, on whom depended a lot of business. But he/she was a busy person. So he/she only gives you 30 seconds of his time, in which to make a pitch. Or the time taken to go from the ground floor in an elevator till the top. What would you say to him/her so that they would say the three magic words,

  “TELL ME MORE”

Imagine, you happen to meet someone at a party, and they ask you,” So, What do you do?

Your reply could provide fodder for a very interesting discussion or just turn into a boring rambling talk.

We surely can’t encompass what we do in a mere 30 seconds, but we can give a powerful preview which can generate curiosity in your prospective client.

A good elevator speech gets the other person to say , “WOW, Tell me more!”

My first elevator speech was something like this:

I am an Executive and Life Coach. I help people transform their lives by tapping into the power of their thoughts, to achieve their highest potential.

It still evolves every day, and I have landed many a workshop assignment or a training/teaching job by having my elevator speech ready.

Your Elevator speech can enhance or decrease your own feeling of Self-Worth too.

Now, If you are thinking, But I am a stay at home mom, and how can I make an Elevator Speech.

I’m a stay-at-home Mom, I’m a housewife, Well, I don’t do anything, I am at home.

These are some the replies one commonly hears, when one talks to a Stay-at-home Mom. Again, none of them do justice to what Stay-at-home Moms do. Here’s an example of an elevator speech of a Stay-at-home Mom.

I help shape my children’s lives, by instilling in them, the values of honesty, independence, and self-discipline. I love being a Mom 24X7, and multitasking is my second name!

 I am in no way asking you to glamourize, or romanticise what you do. But Say it like it is.

An elevator speech gives other people a true glimpse of what you do. It not only inspires you, but it also inspires others.

So, Are you ready to make your own elevator speech??

Read ten tips to make an excellent elevator speech here.

Interview with Momtrepreneurs- Meet Swapna Patel

Keeping in tandem with the theme of this blog, I am pleased to kick off a series of interviews with momtrepreneurs. Each month, this blog will feature a woman just like you and me, who is doing a balancing act of managing her own venture and her family. I do hope you enjoy reading and getting inspired from these wonderful women. If you are a momtrepreneur and would like to be featured on this blog, write in at momtrepreneurishere@gmail.com and I would be happy to interview you!

This month, I am pleased to interview Swapna Patel. I have had the privilege of knowing her from school, and it was back then that she fell in love with the series , The Bold and the beautiful, and announced to the world in general that she would be a fashion designer. True to her word, she made a successful career in fashion design. Two kids and a mini break later, she has evolved and re-invented herself as a Stella and Dot Stylist. (www.stelladot.com/swapnapatel) When I liked a piece of Stella and Dot Jewellery, she moved mountains to ensure that I received it even though they didn’t deliver in Malaysia. That’s how passionate about her work she is.

But Mommy hood is indeed her top priority…..

Read on to find out what makes her tick, and how she manages it all….

If I ask your kids, What does Mommy do? What would they say?

I am pretty sure, my daughter would say Stylist for Stella & Dot. Jewellery + parties; What's not to like? She gets it !

When someone asks you, So what do you do? What are you most likely to say?

I am a full time mom and a part time stylist! The latter is the glam part of my life, which I am so blessed to have. 

How long were you a stay at home mom before getting into your new venture? Was it easy or difficult to make the transition ?

I was home for five years, I dabbled in things on and off, trying to find my bearings. Being a mom is a full time job, yet  I couldn't wait to start working outside again. I wasn't ready for corporate America, and I really wanted lots of flexibility, relatively low risk and investment. When my path crossed with Stella & Dot, it was absolutely the thing I was waiting for! I make my own hours, pick up my daughter at the bus stop each day, take them to all their activities. feed my son his lunch in the backyard. I work when they are asleep and schedule my work around what works for my family. When I am working, my husband is home with the kids. So the transition has been rather seamless.

What is your core qualification? And is your venture related to that? If not, what learnings did you take from it to implement in your own business?

My education is in Fashion design and Merchandising. So, being a stylist fits in perfectly although I did not have any prior experience in jewelry. This is by far more glamorous than what I did before. Because I actually get to style people in the latest trends. I love to see women light up when they put on a bracelet or try on a necklace. And even though I had nothing to do with the design or manufacturing of each piece, I have this immense sense of satisfaction from adding sparkle to a friends life. 

How did you reinvent yourself ?

I wouldn't really say I reinvented, but I did evolve. I relearned some of my old skills and am very excited to apply them to my new business.

Did you have any fears while starting your venture after a break/ salaried job? What were they ? And how did you get over them?

I definitely was a little nervous, but that's always better than being over confident.I was worried that I didn't have the kind of network I needed to build this business. I was also worried about how successful I would be. The beauty of Stella & Dot is, that it offers excellent coaching, amazing team to support you and really a sisterhood. You are all in it together! I have learned so much in just a few months! I have also met some amazing women who are my mentors, customers and friends and ALL because I stepped out of my comfort zone.

How do you manage your home and the venture?

I learned to manage my time better. Learned to prioritize. My number 1 priority is my family. So I put them first and really work around their schedules. My husband has been super supportive of my venture. So when I am working he is always home with them. And more importantly, to ask for help when I need it and try not to sweat the small stuff.

Who/ what inspires you?

Personally, my own mother. After having two kids, I realize how many challenges and sacrifices a mom makes for her kids. And what a tough job it is. 

Professionally, I adore the CEO of Stella & Dot, Jessica Herrin. She has truly created a company which gives women the means to succeed. One of the reasons I decided to pursue this is because I had read about Jessica many years ago. I was impressed with her resume and career path. 

One secret you would like to share which can make another Momtrepreneurs journey easier?

I don't know if it's a secret really...but one day it dawned on me that my kids are not going to remember every single, organic, made from scratch meal that I slaved over in the kitchen for them. They are not going to remember whether the house was clean or messy. However,They are going to remember, whether mom played with them, and whether she was cool or cuckoo. So remember, pizza night didn't kill anyone and a sane, happy mom is a great mom! So do what needs to be done to stay sane and be happy!

Your pick- me - up song  for inspiration?

Eye of the tiger!! 

One business mantra you would like every Momtrepreneur to know?

What's your vision for your venture ?

My vision is to gradually build it to a full time gig for myself.

If your venture were a colour, what would it be and why?

Yellow. It is the color of joy and happiness

Your motto for yourself : 

 "Have you explored all your possibilities today?" words spoken by my daughters Strawberry Shortcake teapot!

One thing you want your children to remember always? 

I want them to remember that they are at the heart of everything I do. And I wouldn't be half the person I am today without them. You know that Johnson & Johnson commercial "Having a baby changes everything"...So true!

How would you want to be remembered as?

As someone who brings out the best in others...whether its personally or professionally. 

How would you want your venture to be remembered as?

Something that touches and changes , for the better, life of every woman in it's path!

THANK YOU Swapna for taking out the time to chat with Momtrepreneur! More Power to You, and Keep adding sparkle to our lives!