We met so many dynamic and diverse women at this year’s Mamas Making It Summit. Mamas from all walks of life, mamas with dramatically different career journeys, mamas who are all writing their own rules to making it happen. Here, meet seven Mamas Making It Summit VIP ticket-holders that we’ll be watching for the rest of 2019, and how they stay organized.

NAME:

Johnnita Bros

CAREER:

Founder, Lily Kyi

BABES:

Ki, 5 years old and Z, 1 year old.

CAREER JOURNEY:

I left my corporate career of 10 years to stay home with my little ones and to nurture my business Lily Kyi. I started Lily Kyi out of my own challenges to find stylish, comfortable, and affordable nursing clothing. Lily Kyi's mission is to help breastfeeding moms increase their sense of self-confidence as they navigate motherhood. I am very excited about my future of helping other moms through a rewarding yet challenging journey of breastfeeding.

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

I end each day with gratitude and a review of my goals for the upcoming days, weeks, and months. This helps me stay centered and focused on my personal and professional growth strategies.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

I am excited about expanding Lily Kyi’s nursing clothing line. Eventually, we will have a full line of nursing wear!

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

I enjoyed Nyakio's inspiring story on her African roots and how she started Nyakio Beauty during "The Lightbulb Moment" panel.

NAME:

Gwynn Wasson

CAREER:

Founder & Designer, POP parties Ink

BABES:

Dashell, 11 years old and Beckett, 8 years old.

CAREER JOURNEY:

II used to be an executive producer for commercial companies. I would go in and rebrand them and search the world for new directors to bring to the attention of our clients. I LOVED helping my directors reach their greatest potential. It brought me so much happiest to see them shine! While I was still producing I started an Etsy shop as a hobby / creative outlet because I loved helping people create the party of their dreams and seeing how much joy it brought them. My Etsy shop eventually morphed into a full time job, after the birth of my second son, and when I started getting an overwhelming number of requests for pre-made party decor, I started POP and it has been an amazing rollercoaster of an experience ever since! Our products are all made and packed in the US (super proud of that fact!)

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

Time-blocking. Shooting one day, then designing another, and dealing with legal issue on yet a different day, instead of trying to where all my hats at the same the time.

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

Cultivate an email list. I was able to speak with Ariel Gordon after her panel and she had some fabulous advice about maintaining long-term clients.

NAME:

Adine Le

CAREER:

Owner & Event Planner, The Coop SF

BABES:

Seraphina, 5.5 years old.

CAREER JOURNEY:

After 15 years working in tech and legal, my creative side was yearning for more of an outlet. Once I became a mother, that led me to event planning for children. Now I put together custom birthday parties for kids (and adults!) at my kids party and play space, the Coop SF, as featured on Shark Tank.

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

The strategy that keeps me organized and efficient is always setting aside the same time every day to organize my schedule, return phone calls and emails, and do any office work (signing checks, ordering supplies, etc). That way when there's a day filled with meetings, or work, or everything between I know I have designated time set aside so that I can do all the little things I couldn't do while working, and driving. I then also know that my family time is uninterrupted with work so I can truly be present as a mom.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

Nothing I can divulge the exact details on yet, but I'm working on some exciting collaborations with some well known bloggers — can't wait to show you the details of those parties!

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

I enjoyed the keynote with Tiffani Thiessen the best — she is so gracious and down-to-earth, and it was good to be reminded that all moms, no matter where they are in life, have the same challenges, and the same joys, and that we are all in this together.

NAME:

Whitney Goodman

CAREER:

Branding & Marketing Consultant

BABES:

Inez, 5.5 months.

CAREER JOURNEY:

I started out working in PR at top agencies in NYC before moving in-house for Mara Hoffman and then Lucky Brand, managing a wide range of responsibilities. I then moved back to my hometown of Portland to open up WM GOODS, a women’s lifestyle boutique. While I was running that I started consulting on the side, and when I got pregnant I decided to close the store and focus on helping other brands grow.

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

I love the Edison app for email management as well as Asana.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

I’m working with a cool range of independent designers like Bridge & Burn and Voloshin!

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

I enjoyed connecting with other mamas with similar interests. So many inspiring and driven mamas!

NAME:

Pri Hae Kim

CAREER:

Owner, Olive & Pique

BABES:

Isaiah, 4 years old and Josiah, 1 year old.

CAREER JOURNEY:

Hatmaking has been in my family for three generations and as much as I tried going for something new (at one point was set out to become a first grade teacher!) I couldn't ignore my love for fashion and manufacturing. Inevitably, I gravitated back to my roots and since then have been giving it my all in this journey. It hasn't been easy, but a challenge that I've always been drawn to and feel passionate about.

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

Moleskin notebooks, FTW.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

Launching a new label 2020!

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

As busy as we are, as chaotic things can get— not to fall into the "you're missing it" moments with our little ones. Our time with our littles is so precious, these moments won't come again but work will.

NAME:

Kimber Brown

CAREER:

Photographer, Kimber Collective

BABES:

Hera, 5 years old and Atlas, 2 years old.

CAREER JOURNEY:

I worked for years in the fashion industry as a textile designer and loved the creative field but when my daughter was born the thought of going back to my 60 hour work week just didn't feel right. I began photographing friends and family as way to just stay busy and my keep my creative juices flowing -- while raising my baby. My hobby began to flourish year after year and six years into the game, my passion is now my full time career and I feel incredibly blessed.

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

I am in love with Dubsado! It's a client management software and complete game changer! It's essentially a virtual assistant and has not only increased my productivity but my revenue as well!

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

I'll be headed out to Houston in the next week for a fun shoot with an amazing children's company! Any Fashion Mamas out there with any recommendations on places to eat or shop in the Houston area, let me know!

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

Tammin Sursok told me "You can have it all, but just not at the same time" and that really resonated with me. As a mama of two littles I've been constantly dealing with finding the balance between work and motherhood and her advice really soothed my soul. Thank you, Tammin!

NAME:

Valerie Welebir

CAREER:

Co-Founder & CEO, Bacabuche

BABES:

Joaquin, 3 years old.

CAREER JOURNEY:

I worked in women’s luxury fashion in New York for more than ten years. During that time, I identified a white space in the US baby market as I looked to give gifts that fit my style to my many friends having children. It was difficult to find pieces that resembled my own aesthetic and that a mom could use as quality staples. With that goal in mind, I started pulling together a team to bring Bacabuche to life.

PRODUCTIVITY HACK:

I still like pencil and paper, so making a daily task list every morning and structuring my day till I check all the boxes, works every time.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

We are excited to be planning Pop-up shops in LA and several other cities.

BEST MMIS MOMENT:

"Your time is your empowerment" ...capturing the moments you have to invest fully in your objectives, while never losing site of the aspects of your life that require you to pull back.

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