In Conversation with Ingrid Read of Working Momkind

Describe your business in a few words?

Working Momkind is a community on a mission to empower momkind to achieve their personal and professional dreams.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

My passion for empowering moms came right after my son's birth when I realized the importance of community within motherhood and set off to build it. Motherhood is so beautiful but can feel so lonely at times, especially in the early postpartum stage. When I had my son, I had a reliable support system, but I still felt lonely. I knew there was no way I was the only mom feeling this way, so I decided to build a community of support for moms in all walks of life.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I've been working in the EdTech industry since before graduating from college, and I am still juggling a full-time job to this day.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Yes! Ever since I was very young.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I didn't have a marketing strategy when I first started Working Momkind because it all started on Social Media. My strategy was to focus on mastering Instagram and finding a way to make a huge impact in the daily lives of moms, so they could feel empowered and supported, and in return tell their family and friends about us. Spoiler alert: it worked! :)

We always learn the most from our mistakes, share a time with us that you made a mistake or had a challenging time in business and what you learned from it?

I am not sure that I would consider this a mistake, but I would say one thing I regret is not committing to my business 100% from the very beginning. Since I started my business right after my son's birth, it was hard for me to consider leaving my full-time job to commit to my business without guaranteeing that things would work out. It's now been three years since then, and Working Momkind has grown so much. I have great things planned for 2021, and I am proud of the roads I have traveled to get to where I am now.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

There are two things I am the proudest of to date. The first one is becoming a Postpartum Doula, and the second is being able to grow my team to help expand Working Momkind's reach across the globe.

When hiring for your team, what is your go-to interview question? Please share any hiring tips you can share from your experience?

Hire those who genuinely love and support your mission. As an entrepreneur, there is nothing better than working with a team that believes in your mission so much that they want to see your business take off as much as you.

How has your business or industry been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Given that Working Momkind is a virtual community, it has not been impacted by COVID-19 negatively.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

There are a few things I am working on for the near future. This coming year we will focus on expanding our blog, continue to grow our community, and expand our offerings to provide the right type of tools and support for our members.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in 2020?

The biggest lesson I have learned in 2020 is that you are not too old, and it is not too late to follow your dreams. If you are passionate about something, if you have an idea that you can't shake off, or if you want to learn something new, do it! Time will pass anyway, so you might as well spend your time doing what you love.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business?

Don't be afraid to ask for help and network! Successful entrepreneurs did not get to where they are on their own. Ask for help and reach out to people. Your next mentor could be only a DM away!

How have you managed to stay grounded this year?

By reminding myself that some days I won't be able to tackle every item on my to-do list, but that does not mean I am not doing a good job. This year has been tough on all of us, and I've been able to stay grounded by doing what I can and leaving the rest for tomorrow.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

In my opinion, finding the perfect balance is impossible. For me, it's all about prioritizing and being realistic in the fact that I might not be able to get everything done, but as long as I know what needs my urgent attention, I will manage to take care of the top priorities on my list.

What's something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

• I am a proud Latina que habla español!

• I still work a 9-5.

• My son inspired me to build Working Momkind

What are your top 3 tips to stay productive each day?

• Wake up before my son (at least 30 minutes) so I can have some time to myself and calmly prepare for my day

• Be flexible (especially as a mom with no childcare, anything can happen, and flexibility is key!)

• Set realistic goals for the day, so you don't feel frustrated if you don't manage to meet every goal at the end of the day

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

Being an Entreprenista means so much to me, but if I had to choose one word, it would be: resilience. Building a business and chasing your dreams is not easy, especially at the beginning. It is scary to have no guarantees of success and still have to give it your all, not knowing whether your business will succeed or fail. As entrepreneurs, we deal with so much uncertainty from the moment we launch our business, but no matter how many falls we take, we always manage to stand up.