Hello Geeta, tell us a bit about yourself.
I am the CEO and Founder of Nosh Detox, the UK’s first Health and Wellness delivery business and I’ve had this job for nearly 12 years having worked originally as a corporate lawyer. My children are now so old I lie about their age (not mine!). My son is 24 and my daughters’ 21 and 18. When I am at work they are extremely busy lying around, sleeping, eating, gaming and generally trying to get their hands on my credit cards!
1. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BEING A WOMO MAKES YOU FEEL?
Determined.
2. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD JUGGLING KIDS AND WORK?
I took my 8 year old daughter to an investor pitch because I had nowhere to leave her. The room full of men had literally no idea what to do. They eventually gave her an orange juice (after I turned down a coffee on her behalf......) and a pen and some paper. She, on the other hand, was completely composed and had a great time. We swapped notes over doughnuts after!
3. WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD OFFER ANOTHER WOMO?
Change is inevitable, suffering is optional.
4. WHAT’S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU’VE GONE TO WORK ON AND HOW DID YOU COPE?
My first born had eczema and asthma and didn’t sleep for over 2 years so I just got used to being a really mean cow as lack of sleep makes me exhausted and irritable. I think I shouted at everyone for those 2 years unfortunately.
5. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WOMO?
Being bloody minded is in my DNA. Being bloody minded whilst dressed in Prada, Chanel and Manolos is just part of my personality. I work as hard as I do because I am my children's sole source of everything including money. But I have always believed that they deserve the very best I can give them and luxury is a huge part of that. Survival is not enough.
6. IF YOU HAD A WORKING MOTHER’S ANTHEM OR MANTRA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Self care is your ultimate priority. Again and again I see women coming in my door who look after everyone but themselves. I got ill very early in this journey when my kids were still young and it brought it home to me that I was literally their only support. From that moment on, I made my physical and mental health my absolute priority. I spend the most money on looking after myself, then clothes, etc etc. And when professional overwhelmed women come to me, this is what I LOVE coaching them on. Leadership is totally an inside game. How good a CEO/Manager/Leader can you be if you are feeling ill, down, exhausted?
7. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TO COMBAT WOMO GUILT THE BEST?
Honestly I understand the point but my brain just doesn’t work like that. I don’t do ‘treats’ or guilty pleasures. I have an extremely healthy diet for about 80% of the time and then 20% is full of cake and margaritas etc. In terms of my time, I work really hard then take time to regenerate. I pretty much live what I teach and preach.
8. WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEALING WITH A TANTRUM OR PRESENTING IN A BOARD MEETING?
Ha! Board meeting all the way. I teach CEO’s how to manage their boards and I have to say there’s not always a massive difference between the two!
9. IF YOU ASKED YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOUR JOB IS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
Make people thin. (sigh)
10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOU BECAME A WOMO?
Nothing. I am so glad I had zero idea what it would be like as it would have probably terrified me!
11. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST WOMO ACHIEVEMENT?
We were the first business in the UK to delivery gluten and dairy free food, first to delivery juice fasts, first to put cold press juices in supermarkets in 2012 when you could only get nasty heat treated ones. I am deeply proud of that every time I see a green juice, a cold press juice, anything in that space.
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS?
Lol nothing. They’ve lived with me doing this their whole lives. I’m pretty sure they have a really good handle on whatever they need to know. Oh having said that I should have celebrated wins with them a lot more. I do that now, but I had to learn that.