Hello Lauren, tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m the owner/founder of The Milky Tee Company, which is a breastfeeding clothing and baby products brand. I have two daughters aged 8 and 5.
1. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BEING A WOMO MAKES YOU FEEL?
Grateful (I get to work but I also get lots of time with my kids so I feel grateful for that)
2. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD JUGGLING KIDS AND WORK?
Probably the time when I was trying to do a video call with a journalist and my daughter kept wanting snacks throughout it so I just kept handing her yoghurts. I think by the end of the interview she’d eaten 5 of them!
3. WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD OFFER ANOTHER WOMO?
Believe in yourself and rather than think ‘oh I could never do that’, think ‘well why couldn’t I do that’. If you have a passion and belief for something then what makes anyone else any better?
4. WHAT’S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP YOU’VE GONE TO WORK ON AND HOW DID YOU COPE?
Absolutely no sleep! My daughter didn’t sleep through the night for two years and I struggle with insomnia so I’ve had many days of working on no sleep. I’m not sure how I get through the days with no sleep but you have no choice so you just find the strength to keep going.
5. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WOMO?
That I can be much more assertive than I thought. I was always the sort of person who hated any confrontation or awkward situations, but when you run a business you have to make hard decisions and you have to learn to get a tougher skin. I’m definitely much stronger in that way than I was 3 years ago and I am much better at standing up for myself and for now asking to see results for whatever service people are charging me for.
6. IF YOU HAD A WORKING MOTHER’S ANTHEM OR MANTRA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”
7. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TO COMBAT WOMO GUILT THE BEST?
Music and dancing! I love having music on and I love dancing either at home or going out at the weekends (now that we can). I find music helps me to switch off and I love just dancing around with my kids in the kitchen!
8. WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEALING WITH A TANTRUM OR PRESENTING IN A BOARD MEETING?
Definitely presenting in a board meeting. Weirdly although other things make me anxious, presenting in a meeting is something I feel ok with, as long as I’m prepared. Whereas tantrums are something I never feel prepared for and I never quite know the best way of dealing with them.
9. IF YOU ASKED YOUR CHILDREN WHAT YOUR JOB IS, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
My five year old said I sell T-shirts and sort out boxes!! Which is pretty accurate!
10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN BEFORE YOU BECAME A WOMO?
That there is help and support out there. Many of us try to do everything on our own but there is support available through your local council and through government schemes. There are start-up loans, grants and employee schemes such as the Kickstarter scheme which can really help a small business so it’s definitely worth looking into what help is available in your local area. Also if you start a business on your own (like I did), it can be very hard, lonely and overwhelming. Having a team or an assistant can really help and also I’d recommend a
business advisor or coach. I have one now and he’s fab and keeps me in check - and I need that sometimes as it’s easy to become overwhelmed and lose focus.
11. TO DATE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST WOMO ACHIEVEMENT?
Winning the Paypal International award was one of the best achievements. I genuinely never in a million years thought I would win so it was a huge shock. After collecting my award I was invited to a winners lunch with Richard Branson which was pretty cool and we got huge amounts of national and international press coverage as a result. It’s certainly a day I will never forget!
12. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WORKING MOTHERS?
Having two girls I really want to show them that you can be a strong and independent woman and that it’s not just daddy who can own and run a business (as my husband owns a business too). I also want to show them though that being a mum and being there for your kids is also important and should be valued. It’s very hard for anyone to ‘have it all’ and it is a juggle but you can be a mum and still have a successful career. My own mum inspired me as she juggled two jobs and a degree while being a single parent so I hope to pass on some of what I’ve learnt from her to my children.