Community Spotlight - Anna Stelmaszewska

From Passion to Success: A Mompreneur's Journey

Welcome to the first installment of the MumsFounding Community Spotlight series!

We're thrilled to kick off this series by featuring one of our own - Anna Stelmaszewska, co-founder of MumsFounding. In this spotlight, we'll explore Anna's journey as a mompreneur, diving into the challenges, triumphs, and insights she's gained along the way.

Anna Stelmaszewska, co-founder of MumsFounding

In today's world, more and more women are breaking barriers and redefining what it means to be both a mother and an entrepreneur. Anna's story is one of determination, balance, and the power of following your passion - a perfect embodiment of what MumsFounding stands for.

The Roots of Entrepreneurship

Anna's entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured from an early age. Growing up in a modern family with a strong business mindset, she always felt drawn to carve her own path. "I'm a very independent person," Anna reflects. "In any project I was involved in, whether during school or my career, the ones I excelled at and derived the most joy from were those where I had the freedom to operate."

However, Anna's journey wasn't without its challenges. Like many of us, she initially found herself pursuing paths that she thought she ‘should’ be following, rather than what truly resonated with her. "Unsurprisingly, they brought me neither joy nor satisfaction," she admits.

The Turning Point: Motherhood

For Anna, pregnancy became the catalyst for change. While many might assume that having children would limit one's entrepreneurial aspirations, for Anna, it had the opposite effect. "Getting pregnant was a major turning point," she shares. "At first, I thought I would have more time and space, but having kids is actually the opposite of that! However, it motivated me to pursue the kind of life I wanted for myself and my family."

From Idea to Reality: The Power of Starting

When it came to turning ideas into reality, Anna's approach was refreshingly straightforward: just start. "I had many ideas! In fact, I still have too many ideas," she laughs. "Some were better, some were really good, and some were... not good at all. But the key was just starting—taking that first step, no matter what it was, and then figuring out the next one along the way."

Anna is quick to add that this approach led to its fair share of mistakes. However, she views these as an essential part of the entrepreneurial journey. It's this perspective that makes her such a valuable mentor within the MumsFounding community.

The Mompreneur Challenge: Balancing Business and Family

Like many mompreneurs, Anna faced the constant challenge of balancing her business aspirations with her family responsibilities.

"The biggest challenge was dealing with guilt," she reveals. "When I was working, I felt guilty for not being with my family, and when I was with my family, I felt guilty for not doing enough at work."

Her solution? Razor-sharp focus. "What helped me was becoming razor-focused on what I wanted from my work-life balance—how much life and how much work I wanted. The more focused I became, the better I got at spending quality time with my kids and making the most of the time I had for my projects."

Looking to the Future

When asked about her future plans, Anna's entrepreneurial spirit shines through. "It's hard for me to say what I will think of next week, not to mention in 5 years!" she jokes. "I'm sure I'll come up with some exciting challenge, proving impossible possible - that's my favorite kind of challenge."

On a more practical note, Anna's current goal is to develop her business to run independently. "At the moment, I'm still 100% involved, and the next step for me is to grow my team and delegate more tasks," she explains. As for MumsFounding, Anna envisions it growing into a thriving global community that empowers and supports mompreneurs worldwide.

Advice for Aspiring Mompreneurs

Anna's advice for women considering starting their own business is beautifully simple:

"Just take the first step - don't think about it too much, just do it! Unless you do it, you won't find out if it was worth it."

She also emphasizes the importance of community support, reminding aspiring entrepreneurs that networks like MumsFounding are there to support them every step of the way.

Conclusion: The Power of Community

Anna’s journey from a young woman with entrepreneurial inclinations to a successful business owner, mother, and founder of several businesses is truly inspiring. Her story is a testament to the fact that while the path of an entrepreneur is never linear and full of unexpected curves, it's also incredibly rewarding and one worth taking.

As we conclude this first MumsFounding Community Spotlight, we're reminded of the power of perseverance, the importance of following one's passion, and the invaluable support of a strong community.

To all the aspiring mompreneurs out there: take that first step, stay focused on your goals, and don't be afraid to learn from your mistakes. Your journey may be challenging, but with communities like MumsFounding, you're never alone.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our MumsFounding Community Spotlight series!