13 Aug Can You Be A Mum And A Successful Business Woman?
Can You Be a Mum and a Successful Businesswoman?
It’s a question I’ve asked myself more times than I can count. Can you be a mum and a successful business woman?
Being present for my children has always been my biggest priority. School drop-offs, homework, home cooked meal, cuddles after a difficult day—those are the moments I never want to miss.
But the reality is that when you’re building a business as a mum, something has to give. I’ve made a conscious decision that it won’t be them.
Like so many women, I often feel like I’m trying to fit two full-time jobs into one life. There are days when I wonder whether it’s really possible to have both a thriving business and the family life I’ve always dreamed of.
Before Neon Army
Long before Neon Army existed, I spent years travelling the world as a professional songwriter. Music was my career, my passion and my creative outlet.
But becoming a mum was always my biggest dream.
Perhaps because my journey to motherhood wasn’t straightforward, I’ve never taken it for granted. I know how fortunate I am and I never lose sight of those who are still hoping for their own miracle.
For a while I managed to balance songwriting with pregnancy and early motherhood.
Then Covid changed everything.
Like so many people, my career came to an unexpected stop overnight. Suddenly I found myself at home with a one-year-old and a four-year-old, navigating lockdown like every other parent.
My music had paused.
But my creativity hadn’t.
Finding Creativity Again
Once the children were asleep, I’d head downstairs and start transforming my wardrobe.
I’d always struggled to find clothes that felt unique or reflected my personality, so I began upcycling old jackets and experimenting with colour.
I’ve always believed in the power of colour, positivity and the law of attraction. Slowly, without even realising it, my own style started to emerge.
When lockdown restrictions lifted, strangers began stopping me to ask where my jackets were from.
That was my lightbulb moment.
Maybe this wasn’t just a hobby.
Maybe this could become something more.
Building Neon Army
Neon Army was born from those late-night creative sessions.
From the beginning, I knew I didn’t want to build another fast fashion brand.
Instead, I wanted to create colourful, individual pieces that people could treasure, producing in small batches rather than mass quantities.
Today, we work closely with our Sedex-certified manufacturing partner to create jewellery and accessories responsibly, following a slow fashion approach that prioritises quality over quantity.
It’s a business built around creativity, individuality and positivity.
The Reality Behind the Business
People often see the finished product.
They see the jewellery, then accessories, the rare social media posts or the pop-up events.
What they don’t see are the hundreds of emails that go unanswered.
The pitches that are rejected.
The constant balancing act between running a business and raising a family.
As a founder, you wear every hat imaginable.
Designer.
Buyer.
Photographer.
Website manager.
Customer service.
Marketing.
Social media.
Bookkeeper.
And somehow you try to fit it all into school hours or find pockets of time during school holidays, constantly asking yourself can you be a mum and a successful business woman?
Learning That ‘No’ Isn’t the End
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that success rarely happens overnight.
When Neon Army secured a pop-up in Fenwick and later became stocked in Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, people saw the achievement.
What they didn’t see were the countless conversations, follow-ups and setbacks that came first.
Persistence really matters.
I was recently in discussions with a luxury retail store for months. I created bespoke samples at the price point they requested, and the buyers loved them.
Ultimately, they decided my brand didn’t yet have enough awareness to move forward. It’s like a vicious cycle. The opportunities create the brand awareness but the opportunities don’t always end with a yes. You just have to keep going and not give up.
Years ago, that would have crushed me but now, I see it differently.
Sometimes “not yet” is simply part of the journey.
If I’ve learnt anything through music, motherhood and business, it’s that timing matters just as much as talent.
After all, Fenwick and Atlantis the Palm started off at no’s!
Why I Keep Going
Running a business has never been about replacing motherhood. Nothing could. My children are my greatest purpose but Neon Army gives me something different.
It gives me a space to be creative. To challenge myself. To build something that reflects who I am outside of being “Mum.”
I don’t think those two identities compete.
I think they strengthen each other.
So… Can You Be Both?
The honest answer?
Yes.
But it isn’t easy.
Some days the to-do list wins.
Some days the washing pile wins!
Can you Be a mum and a successful business woman?
Building a business while raising children is messy, emotional and exhausting but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
To every mum trying to build something for herself while raising a family, I hope you know this:
You are not failing because your journey looks different.
You’re doing something extraordinary.
And every small step forward is something to be proud of.
For me, Neon Army has never just been about fashion accessories.
It’s about creating something with purpose, embracing individuality and proving that dreams don’t have to end when motherhood begins.
Sometimes, they simply take a different path.
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