Mummy And Daddy

MummySG’s Supermom of the Month: Giulia of Mamma On The Move

28/05/2015

2258

Her businesses: Knowthybrand and Mamma On The Move

Let’s get to know Giulia:

Hi! My name is Giulia (the Italian for Julia), and my very old friends call me Giulietta (=little Julia), which is very sweet but also a bit funny as I’m 6 foot tall!!

I’m the proud mum of 2 little boys (almost 4yo and 2yo) and at 35 I’m expecting my third one, another boy! I run my own Brand & Marketing consultancy, Knowthybrand, and I’m the owner of an online shop, Mamma On the Move.

I was born in Italy but I left my country in 2000 to live in Spain first and then UK, Belgium, Australia, and Singapore, where we moved more than 5 years ago. Needless to say, I love travelling and exploring new cultures!!

I’ve always been working in marketing and communications but the arrival of my babies completely changed the way I perceive work. I’ve to admit that before kids I was a bit of a workaholic, but since I became a mother my priorities have shifted. Now I work flexi-time for my own consultancy so that I have the time to bring the kids to kindergarten and pick them up (the time of the day I love the most, when they run into your arm shouting ‘mammaaaaa!!!!’). Also, after having my first son I realised that mums-to-be face a very big challenge: getting a seat on public transport! At the time of my first pregnancy I was commuting every day to work and most of the time it was impossible to get a seat. That’s why I came out with the idea for Mamma On the Move. This is my little side project, I sell clothes and accessories to help pregnant women let other follow passengers know that they are pregnant and that they would really appreciate a seat! My products are also very popular as baby shower presents, as ultimately they celebrate pregnancy!

So, between working, being a mum, being a wife, and Mamma On the Move, I don’t have much time left for anything else. Oh, but I used to be captain of a soccer team is Sydney, many many moons ago…

Interview:

1. Are you a working mother or stay-at-home mother?
I work, almost every day but I’m flexible with my time as I work as a consultant for my own company,Knowthybrand.

2. What influenced your decision to both work and stay at home?
I grew up without a father and with my mum working long hours. The TV was my best friend. I’m extremely grateful to my mum for all the sacrifices that she made for me, but when I had my first baby I knew I didn’t want the same for him. At the same time though, I knew that I didn’t want to give completely up my career that I worked so hard to build; I also think that I’m one of those mums that are better mums when they work. That’s why I chose to look for a middle ground.

3.What sacrifices did/do you have to make to be a work at home mum?
Initially, I went for part-time jobs, which is a bit of a career killer: salary is frozen, no promotions, temporary contract positions. Then recently I started my own consultancy, which is very rewarding but you don’t make as much money as you used to in a fixed job.

4. Do you feel that your child is missing out on anything because you choose to work from home?
I don’t think so. Sometimes I’m very tired after working all day and I have less patience, but I want to think that I’m doing what’s best for the family.

5. How do you think your relationship with your child would differ if you worked outside or you stayed at home full-time?
I suppose that I would know them better, as I would spend all of my time with them. At the moment I have only an idea of what they do while they’re at school.

6. What would be your ideal situation (stay home, work part-time, work full-time)?
Either- a flexible full time (ie starting at 8am and finishing at 5pm) or a part-time for a company that understands it.

7. Since you are working at home- with your businesses, how do you balance domestic responsibilities and your career?
With my husband at work all day until late home management falls fully on me, but I’m very lucky that I have a helper. In general, I try to schedule as much as I can in advance so things are easier to manage.

8. What advice would you give to a parent who is struggling with the decision to work or stay home?
It’s never easy. You will always wonder what’s the best for the family, but deep inside your hearth you know what works for you. The important thing is to share your thoughts with your husband and make sure that you are both on the same page. I feel extremely lucky that my husband fully supports my choice.

9. Being a mother, what other skills would you like to master?
Calm, not trying to do it all!

10.What’s the one thing you would have done differently as a mum (in terms of raising your kids and running the household)?
I would have enjoyed more the time I spent not working after the kids birth instead of stressing about finding a new job as soon as possible.

11.What is the best piece of advice that you can give to all mums out there who do like you do?
Be kind to yourself. There is only so much you can do and you are trying your best. Your husband and your kids know that.