Motherhood and Entrepreneurship Journey: My Unfiltered Story

Motherhood and Entrepreneurship Journey: My Unfiltered Story

Beyond the Bio: My Unfiltered Journey Through Motherhood, Entrepreneurship & the Beautiful Chaos That Shaped Femmeprenista

Ever look at someone’s glossy CEO bio & think, "Right, but what’s the *real* story?" I get it. We all present our most polished selves, especially in business. But honestly? Today, I want to pull back the curtain a bit, especially for all you Foundation Builders out there just starting on this windy path. Because behind Femmeprenista, behind the MBA, the PhD research, & the business strategies, there’s just… me. Carlene. A mum of four, juggling school runs & strategy calls, navigating the beautiful, bonkers chaos of family life while trying to build something meaningful. & honestly? It’s the messy, unfiltered bits of that journey – the stumbles, the lessons, the sheer bloody-mindedness – that have truly shaped who I am & what Femmeprenista stands for. Isn't life about the quality of it, not just how much you've got in the pocket?

So, grab a cuppa (or something stronger, no judgement here!), & let’s have a real chat. This isn’t just my story; it’s a testament to the fact that the path to building a business you love, especially as a mother, is rarely a straight line. & that’s more than okay – it’s where the real magic happens.

From Feeling Failed to Finding My Fire: The Early Sparks

If you’d told my younger self I’d be running a company dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs, she might have laughed. Or cried. Probably both! School, in the early days, wasn’t my happy place. I vividly remember that feeling of being lost in a system that wasn’t working for me, my confidence shrinking with every unanswered question I was too scared to ask. It’s a horrible feeling, isn't it? To feel like you’re already behind.

A mid-year move to a private school was a lifeline, but it came with its own challenges – that feeling of always trying to catch up, of needing to find my voice in a new, & at times, intimidating environment. I’ll never forget my dad, bless him, literally standing up & shouting at teachers who were essentially telling me to shut up & sit down. He was a force of nature, & seeing him advocate for me like that planted a seed: the importance of having a voice, & using it. It’s a lesson that’s stayed with me, & it’s a huge part of why I’m so passionate about helping other women find & amplify theirs. As Lisa Nichols would say, “Don't allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses.”

University was another turning point. My first attempt at one uni felt… off. The course wasn't quite right, I hadn't found my tribe, & I was miles from home. Listening to that niggle of intuition, I took a gap year, re-evaluated, & found my way to the University of East London. It was like night & day. The multicultural environment, the course structure (Fashion Design with a hefty dose of Marketing – who knew that would be so pivotal?!), it just *fit*. What I learned about consumer behaviour at UEL has shaped my entire approach to business. I thrived there, even becoming a mother to my eldest daughter during my studies. It taught me the incredible power of the right environment & trusting your gut – lessons that are foundational to how we approach things at Femmeprenista today. You can explore more about my background on our .

The Corporate Detour & The MBA "Lightbulb" Moment

Like many, I ventured into the corporate world. I learned a lot, worked with some big names like Apple & Electrolux, but that feeling of being a "replaceable cog" often lingered. There were times I’d pour my heart into projects, only for my name to be conspicuously absent when the metaphorical (or actual) spotlight shone. & the inflexibility… let’s just say the standard two weeks holiday doesn’t quite cut it when your kids have about 12 or 13 weeks off a year, does it?

The real catalyst for change came after my second daughter was born. The thought of returning to a corporate role where I often felt micromanaged & undervalued – delivering work I knew was worth far more than my pay packet – filled me with a sense of dread. "Honestly, there *has* to be a better way," I remember thinking. That's when I decided to pursue an MBA at Cranfield University. Initially, I saw it as a way to get a "better" corporate job. Oh, the irony!

The MBA taster day was like a series of mini-explosions going off in my head – new ideas, exciting concepts. I was hooked. But the biggest revelation from that intense, demanding, & brilliant year (juggled with a baby, I might add!) wasn’t that I needed a more senior corporate role. It was the crystal-clear realisation that even climbing higher up someone else’s ladder wouldn’t give me the quality of life, the autonomy, or the direct impact I craved. This made me reconnect powerfully to that little girl selling sweets in the playground, to the young mum who co-founded a fashion accessories business, Nisbett and George, during her final year at UEL (a venture sparked by a "now or never" feeling & the E-Factor competition, which taught me so much about partnerships & the unique dedication required when you're a mother in business). This perfectly aligns with Sinek’s teaching: People don't buy WHAT you do; they buy WHY you do it.

The MBA powerfully reaffirmed that my path was entrepreneurship. Because, as I often say, "Isn't life about the quality of it, not just how much you've got in the pocket?"

The "Beautiful Chaos": Building a Business Alongside a Growing Family

So, I took the leap. & let me tell you, building a business while raising four children (including a teenager, a six-year-old, a toddler, & now an infant son!), pursuing a PhD, & often without a huge local family support network… well, it’s a journey. It’s what I affectionately call the "beautiful chaos." It’s not easy, but as I often say, if it was, everybody would do it!

There are days when I’m trying to finalise a marketing strategy while negotiating who gets the last biscuit, or attempting a moment of quiet reflection only for our hyperactive younger Miniature Pinscher, Espresso, to decide it’s zoomie-time around the living room (much to the apparent disdain of her calmer mother, Cappuccino). I tell you, the dogs in this house provide constant comic relief!

There are mornings where, despite best-laid plans, I’m dabbing glitter glue off a school uniform minutes before we need to leave, or trying to decipher what vital piece of information my toddler is trying to communicate through a series of elaborate gestures & one-syllable pronouncements. It’s a constant reminder to be present, even when my to-do list is screaming at me!

It’s real, it’s messy, & it’s often hilariously unpredictable. Last week, I was on a crucial call with a potential Momentum client (talk about needing to bring my A-game!), & mid-sentence, my toddler decided my leg was the perfect climbing frame. Cue me, trying to maintain a professional demeanour whilst simultaneously preventing a small human from using me as a mountaineering exercise. It’s all part of the juggle, right?

& yes, my path is probably "harder" & "slower" than someone without these commitments. According to a recent study, women are 15% less likely to scale their business than men, often citing challenges balancing family commitments. As the Federation of Small Businesses puts it, "Women face unique barriers when it comes to scaling their businesses, often stemming from the juggling act of balancing work and family responsibilities.” I did my undergrad with my first as a baby, my MBA with my second as an infant, & now my PhD with my two youngest. But you know what? I’m not giving up. I’m still here. I’m still learning. & that, for me, is the essence of it. It’s about personal responsibility. It’s about saying, "Okay, this is my reality. How do I make it work? How do I work *smart*?"

Speaking of making it work, I recently helped Sarah, a "Foundation Builder" in our Femme:Connect community, who was struggling with tech overwhelm. She was spending hours trying to DIY her website, getting nowhere, & feeling completely defeated. Using the systems we teach in the Launch Program, she streamlined her setup, focusing only on the essentials, and actually launched her site in a weekend!

This deep, personal understanding of the juggle is why Femmeprenista is built on a holistic foundation. It’s why we talk about integrating your business with your life, about creating systems that give you back time & energy, & about prioritising your well-being so you can show up as your best self, both at home & in your business. These aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re essential.

Lessons Forged in the Fire: What My Journey Taught Me (& How It Can Help You)

My winding path hasn’t just been a series of events; it’s been a masterclass in resilience, intuition, & the power of taking ownership. It reminds me of Jim Rohn’s quote: Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day. & these are the lessons I pour into Femmeprenista:

Here's a quick checklist for building a thriving business (your way!):

* **Your Voice Matters (Hugely!):** From feeling silenced in early school to finding environments where I could thrive, I learned that your unique perspective is your superpower. It's so important that you trust the vibes you get. We help you find it, own it, & use it to build a brand that’s authentically YOU. This is why what Adrienne Weimer calls an "unhinged content era" is so powerful: it's about saying what *you* want to say in *your* way! Challenge: What's *your* unique perspective? What's one thing you can share this week that's 100% YOU?

* **The "Right Fit" is Everything:** Just like my first university wasn’t the right fit, generic business advice often isn’t either. You need support & strategies tailored to *your* life, *your* values, & *your* vision of success. Challenge: What kind of tailored support do *you* need right now? What's one area where you know generic advice just isn't cutting it for your unique situation?

* **Personal Responsibility is Your Launchpad:** External circumstances, systemic challenges – they’re real. I’ve navigated my share. But ultimately, progress comes from what *you* do. It’s about asking, "What can I control? What smart action can I take today?" This belief in proactive adaptation is at the heart of how we empower you. It’s not about blaming the system; it's about figuring out how you can navigate it, & often, transcend it. Or, to put it another way, I’m the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. Challenge: What's one small, smart step you can take *today* to own your progress? Commit to it! Schedule it in your calendar RIGHT NOW!

* **Systems Create Sanity (& Success!):** When you’re juggling a million things, robust systems are your best friend. They create the space for you to focus on what truly matters, to streamline your processes, & to move away from that constant feeling of being overwhelmed. As I often say, "It's the system that's going to help us." Challenge: What's one system you can put in place this week to reclaim some sanity? What's the VERY FIRST step you can take to set it up?

* **Well-being Isn't a Luxury; It's Fuel:** You can’t pour from an empty cup. My journey has taught me (sometimes the hard way!) that prioritising your energy & well-being is non-negotiable for sustainable success & avoiding burnout. Your business should energise you, not drain you. Or, as Lisa Nichols would say, your job is to fill your own cup, so it overflows. Challenge: What one small act of self-care will you commit to *today*? Even five minutes can make a difference!

* **Embrace the "Beautiful Chaos":** Life, especially with kids & a business, is rarely neat & tidy. Learning to find the joy, the humour, & the lessons in the midst of it all is key. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress & presence. I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened! Challenge: Can you find one moment of joy in the chaos today? What's one thing you can appreciate RIGHT NOW?

These lessons, born from my own experiences – from the corporate grind to the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, from academic challenges to the daily realities of motherhood – are woven into the fabric of Femmeprenista. They are the "why" behind our , our holistic approach designed to help you build a thriving business that truly aligns with the life you want to live.

You Are Not Alone in This

If my story resonates with you – if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, doubted yourself, or wondered how on earth you’re going to make all the pieces fit – please know you’re not alone. So many of us are right there in the trenches with you, figuring it out one day, one smart decision, at a time. As Barack Obama has so wisely said, "We are the change we have been waiting for."

My experiences led me to build Femmeprenista as a dedicated space for support, strategy, & genuine connection. It’s the kind of space I wished I’d had at various points in my own journey.

Ready to build a flourishing business & a fulfilling life, without the hustle? Explore Momentum here to start scaling sustainably.

Feeling understood & connected was crucial for me, especially in those early days of finding my feet, both as a mother & an entrepreneur. It’s why community is so central to what we do.

P.S. If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my slightly unfiltered ramblings, it’s this: your journey, with all its unique twists, turns, & beautiful chaos, is valid. Embrace it. Learn from it. & never, ever underestimate your own strength & resilience. As Paulo Coelho said, "When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

P.P.S. Feeling like you need a tribe of women who just *get it*? A place to share the wins, navigate the wobbles, & connect with fellow ambitious female entrepreneurs? Our is a warm, supportive space created for exactly that. We’d love to welcome you.

Carlene Nisbett

Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista

(Coach, Mentor, Speaker)

Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall

Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift…

www.femmeprenista.com

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