How Becoming A Mother, Inspired And Ignited My Entrepreneurial Journey

Mumbai-based #Mumpreneur Dhara Mehta recalls how she reinvented her career plan, and reached her goals,  in this guest blog.

It was 2008, I was a postgraduate, and worked as a media manager in a multinational media house I had a promising career ahead. That’s when I bagged one more qualification, one that needs no college or formal degree, ‘Motherhood!’  From a corporate working woman, I became a stay-at-home, hands-on-mommy, very content with my new responsibility. Little did I know then that the sabbatical taken to enjoy motherhood would eventually turn out to be my final goodbye to the corporate world!

Motherhood for me has been, and still is, an overwhelming experience: I was completely in awe of the wonderful surprises my little K would have for me every day. ‘Get a helper for your son’ was the most clichéd piece of advice given by most of my ‘well-wishers’. However, I decided to go against it. With each passing day I was convinced of not getting back to the ever-demanding corporate world.  However, the question ‘Where am I heading professionally?’ kept haunting me.

I reinvented myself, and re-mapped my career path: An indoor-loving child that he is, K and I would often spend our noon’s playing board games or creating ‘robots’ with blocks, or cracking jigsaw puzzles! That’s when I picked up a very important insight: ‘play is the work of childhood, and the highest form of education’. This thought that ignited a spark in me: to reach out to pre-primary kids with a service, which would bridge the gap between play and learning.

When K turned three years old, I took up a job in a day-care-activity-center for kids with only one condition from my side, that my son shall accompany me there after his school.

My second baby, The Kids Company, was born in 2013: I founded,  The Kids Company, an intelligence building activity center catering to children in the age group of 3-7 years. Shifting gears, and industries from being a media professional to an entrepreneur in the education industry, starting my own venture, and raising a child in a nuclear set up needed a lot of self conviction. My journey so far has been fulfilling and an enriching,  along  with some challenges.

Here’s how I dealt with the roadblocks:

No Workspace: I started The Kids Company from my house, and dedicated a room for it. It wasn’t as easy and convenient as it sounds. To have a workspace at home, and with a growing toddler around all the time was taxing and challenging. Setting professional standards and overcoming clients’ (parents’) perception, who would misinterpret it as ‘just another tuition class’ was a herculean task. I’ve made a clear demarcation between my personal and professional space though they co exist in the same premises.

Juggling professional and personal roles:  A strict routine is needed to strike a balance between professional and personal commitments. Work starts when I kiss bye to K and my husband at 8:30 am. I have an action packed day, juggling emails, planning sessions, filling up on groceries and all the chores, till 3:00 pm when I make it a point to pick K up from school. It’s K and mom time, connect with –  and once he’s settled I shift focus to my second baby! I wind up The Kids Company sessions around 7 pm and am in mommy mode till I tuck K in bed!

Tackling uncertainties: Initially I got anxious and nervous as uncertainties crept up, but I guess motherhood’s made me stronger, and more open to accept surprises that come along! There have been days when my house help took an unplanned leave, or K’s school declared a half-day, and once my husband ended up with a fracture playing soccer! Nonetheless, my work continued seamlessly.

This is a new me: Today, I am a hands-on-mommy and a hand-on-passionate entrepreneur. My inspiration is and will always be my inquisitive and very demanding son! If it weren’t for K, I would have never explored this career path. Being a full time mommy to him has taught me lessons that help me shape my second career. This is the thought, that inspired me in my journey: ‘Organize your life around your dreams – and watch them come true.’

Do you have an inspirational story to share, from your own life, or of someone you met, and felt inspired by? Please do email Karuna@sheroes.in, or leave a comment below, and we will reach out to you, to help share that story with the world.