I’m so in awe of the mumpreneurs around me and thought it would be fun to chat with a few. I uncovered how their dual roles help them to slay at both, and several more great insights. Let’s go…

I asked Karishma Kasabia, marketing & strategy guru and founder of inclusive colourful fashion label Khòlò, how she’d describe her relationship with her son, 10-year-old Aru (himself a budding entrepreneur).

"I read somewhere: Having a son is akin to having the slowest break up of your life. That is what it feels like to be the mother of a son. Secretly I am scared there will come a day when he doesn't come to me for cuddles or doesn't want to cook for me on the weekends, or the worst of all things: I fall in his esteem. Perhaps on some days, these things will all occur and bounce back."

The Only Label’s Net counts her blessings

Independent Australian womenswear label, The Only, recently added Oh Ramona to its stockist list. Founded and helmed by Net Chantarawaree, the label leans into a retro, nostalgic aesthetic and caters to women of petite to average height.

Net considers herself "blessed with two girls. Yara who is turning 5 in June (not pictured here as she is too cool for that 😁) and our new addition, 6-week-old Mina." Indeed, Net was emailing with me very closely before and after Mina was born to coordinate the delivery of our first The Only drop. I guess small business stops for no one, not even a baby!

Net feels especially bonded with Yara, born right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. "Multiple strict lockdowns in the first year of motherhood allowed me to slow down and indulge in just being a mum. We have a very strong bond as we’ve never spent more than an hour apart til she was almost 3."

Mums make great entrepreneurs

One of the challenges of small business is simply the load. The wearing of so many hats and the endless to-do list of tasks that rely on you. But this is where mums come into their own.

"So many people will say - if you want something done, give it to a (single) mum." says Karishma. Those who have less time quickly learn how to up their efficiency and become GSD (getting sh!t done) machines.

Net agrees. Her mum status has really helped her work more efficiently.

"With restricted time, progress over perfection has become my new motto. I used to be a perfectionist and either spend way too long on a task or end up procrastinating. As a mother I feel more purposeful with what I do, I hope to be a good role model to my children to take risks and follow their passion."

Karishma also observes how motherhood changed her perspective.

"Being a mother gives you a softness - your whole body is blown apart, suddenly, you're frail and pathetic. It took me straight down from my throne. It gave me a softness towards everyone going thru their own trials. So much more compassion. We need more of this, not just in the workplace, but everywhere."

  …And entrepreneurs make great mums!

Net has found that her motherhood benefits from running a business.

"Apart from the freedom to spend time with my children, running my own business has given me so many invaluable lessons and experiences that I can pass on to my children."

Karishma also revels in the flexibility and freedom she finds in being her own boss, and sees the benefits it brings to her son.

"Being able to pick [Aru] up from school, being able to attend his school events (half of which I avoid because I'm an introvert), being able to connect him to people (side effect of being an entrepreneur is the network you build), being able to let him watch what I do and come for the ride. His world is vaster for it."

On balancing motherhood and business

According to Net, "It’s a real juggle sometimes but I try to embrace the chaos." She’s found an ingenious way to satisfy both work and family demands.

"With my first, I used to drive to my stockists on a weekly basis. We would spend our morning at the zoo or museum and then let her take her nap in the car while driving to my stockists. I bookmarked all the playgrounds, farms and nice cafes (for hubby) on all the routes to my stockists / events so we can plan our day around it."

Net runs a pop-up shop at South Melbourne Market to build her brand, and has found it possible to work family into this endeavour as well.

"Yara loves spending time at my shop, watching me chatting with my customers. She recently made hand written flyers for my customers saying ‘i hope you like my mummy shop’. The juggle between family and business is hard but I tried my best to make it fun for us."

As a shop kid myself, I identify. My parents were both teachers in the small town where I spent my first 10 years, and every day after school, we were shuttled to their giftware and sporting goods store (yes, random combination!) where my sister and I would sometimes be given jobs, but mostly we just played out the back and tried to stay out of the way. In a roundabout way, I’ve been in retail most of my life! Looking back, although it was sometimes a drag to be at the shop, I admire how my parents hustled to provide for us.

My mum has always been a great example to me of taking career risks and challenges. While she’s recently retired from a 40+ year career as a passionate and talented teacher, she also had stints in the corporate world, as well as running small businesses. She showed me it was okay to try different jobs and industries, and that it was possible to overcome setbacks and pivot when things weren’t working.

Which is something Karishma knows about all too well.

"Before Khòlò, there was Kish+Co, which was a design & marketing agency I ran - at full capacity, I ran a team of 5-6.

When I gave birth to Aru, suddenly, I didn't have the capacity to ‘people’. I didn't understand then, just how empathic I was. I wasn't just carrying a workload, I was carrying people's emotions. That was some heavy sh!t. That is the one time (and hopefully the last) - that my career decision was impacted by my motherhood."

She spent the next decade establishing Khòlò as a juggernaut of colourful, size-inclusive, ethical fashion with a bona fide cult following. But "the headspace of running a business, particularly a fashion brand, was a lot." As for so many women globally coming out of the pandemic, the burnout was real.

Says Karishma, “I learnt in counselling, we need to prioritise in this order (because $hit will crumble if you don't):

1. Self
2. Partner
3. Child(ren)

So as long as I'm putting food on the table, the career I choose is up to me.

Aru was probably sadder than me when I decided to leave Khòlò but I couldn't stay for him."

It was a tough call, but ultimately, the choice to move on paid off.

"After my second pivot - I became a whole new Mum. Within days Aru was getting more cuddles. Within weeks I was running a lemonade stand with him. Within months I became his confidante. That was my proudest moment.

The wildest thing: I was mentally prepared to be making a lot less money. But it simply wasn't the case. In short - being a mum didn't influence my latest pivot and I'm glad. Because I am here firstly: for me."

Celebrating our mums

So, when is Mother’s Day? For those like me who struggle to keep track of the many important dates throughout the year 🤪, Aussie Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday in May (in 2025 that’s 11 May). It’s the same date in the US and Canada, while in the UK it’s celebrated three weeks before Easter.

Here are a few easy Mother’s Day gift ideas to make the day special for the mum or maternal figure in your life. OR… drop these in the family group chat as a not-so-subtle hint to the gift givers in your home. 😉

Mother's Day gifts across Australia

Flowers are an absolute classic and won’t fail to please. Bonus points if you can be mindful about where your flowers come from and their impact.

There are some fantastic brands across Australia doing great things in this space. 

In Melbourne, we love The Beautiful Bunch – a non-profit that employs and trains women from refugee backgrounds, while being committed to ethical and sustainable blooms. And Sydney’s Little Flowers specialises in local, fresh, in-season flowers delivered by bike,  with a zero waste policy and leftover bunches being donated to Meals on Wheels – isn’t that sweet? Hot tip: Native bunches dry easily, further extending the lift of your gift. 

Alternatively, get Mum some lasting flowers with our gorgeous Rose Studs in 925 sterling silver from our Soli Studio collection. Soli’s pieces have been popular in-store for their versatile, classic designs and high quality at an approachable price point.

If she likes her jewellery a little more chunky and colourful, check out our recently restocked range of laser cut wooden earrings from regional Vic studio Ironton Cole Designs. We love their clever combos of natural Australian wood and bold, hand-painted colour! 

Another great gift for any mum are our cosmetic bags from a sustainable, women-owned social enterprise, Kokki Eco. They come in three sizes (sold separately), made from 100% natural cotton, with a waterproof plastic lining to avoid any leakage disasters. With five fun prints to choose from, there’s an option to please everyone.

For more gift ideas, explore our online range of jewellery and accessories, sourced from local artists and creators, or visit us at our Hawthorn store. We’d love to help you find that perfect gift for the mum or maternal figure in your life!

Whatever you decide, I wish you a wonderful Mother’s Day with your loved ones and hope to see you soon!

Cara xx