Meet these Chief Family Officers

Two years later, when the engineer was carrying her second child, she realised it was difficult to juggle a corporate job and kids who tend to fall sick very often. She resigned to take a two-year break for her children, now aged three-and-a-half and one-and-a-half years.

But it wasn’t an easy decision for Bhavani to leave her 10 years of corporate experience to devote herself full-time to her growing sons. “After returning from a stint in the U.S. we were in search of a CBSE school for my son, where my parents’ knowledge was outdated. Neither friends nor relatives could give me a concrete picture. That’s when I decided to connect with other moms through the virtual world,” she says about her enterprise.

Bhavani channelised her software knowledge to start www.chennaimoms.com, where she is the product designer, administrator and manager. She only incurred the server cost, while the base was developed by her husband. “It is a different experience, though I miss my corporate job, the fat pay cheque, the perks and coffee breaks.”

Like Bhavani, an increasing number of moms have taken to starting their own businesses, a majority of which are drawn from personal experience and are in the children niche. Flexible working hours, support of family members, need-based investment and, above all, getting to spend quality time with their growing kids are some of the pros of being the mompreneur. And for many, a home-based venture is the ideal way to start off.

Juggling roles

Yifat Agam along with Pindi Karra conceptualised Vanilla Children Place four years ago. “I was pregnant with a third baby. That gave us a lot of doubts, but we took a decision and trusted our instincts that this project would make a difference,” recalls the interior designer. Two weeks after her third daughter, Tsoofi, was born, the partners were at the site renovating.

Today, the venture is one of the most happening places in the city, catering to the needs of parents, parents-to-be and children, with an environment for one to learn, play and shop. How has her experience been? “It is a constant challenge that keeps pulling you from heights of fulfilment and joy to moments of questioning whether it’s worth the sacrifice,” says the director.

However, the major difficulty for Yifat was to cope with the basic needs of her children. “They want to see me at home when they are back from school; be like other moms, drop and pick them from friends’ homes or attend to school activities.”

Challenging task

However, running an enterprise and a home is a tightrope that one has to balance intelligently and smartly. Garima Agarwal, a self-made design entrepreneur, took around seven years before fulfilling her creative urge with a professional set-up, Peek-a-Book Patterns.

“I wanted to enjoy my married life, plan my babies, send my children off to school and find some breathing space before starting my venture,” says the designer. “A commitment is a commitment whatever be the nature of work. The biggest advantage I get here is freedom and the happiness that I have fulfilled my creative urge, plus get feedback from customers.” Bhavani will also vouch that running the business meant double the responsibility.

“At HP, I had seniors who were ready to guide me when I go wrong. Here, I am on my own and all the decisions rest on me, though I am happy I found a playmate for my son from the next street and made many friends for myself, which I could never make in a fast-paced job,” says the 31-year-old mother.

She next plans to introduce the concept – a platform that allows mothers to search, address, laugh or rant about anything concerning them – in Bangalore and Delhi. “I am looking at it going commercial.”

Sharing and learning

Jothi Priya was working as a teacher in the U.S. when the couple decided to return to India to bring up their growing children. Apart from being the chief family officer at home, Jyothi takes care of her husband’s business as Managing Director of Ennovasys, an RFID technology business.

“For the last one year I have also been learning the ropes of running a start-up. I am more inclined towards starting a pre-school and this exposure will help me,” says the mother of two. Above all, giving these ventures a backing is the support, trust and goodwill of the family.

This is a weekly column that celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship.