Mothers in business: raising future leaders

Stella Simona, 33

Mother of two boys, aged five and one
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Location: Los Angeles

Noah and Liam,

Life is beautiful and I want you to always see it that way. There will be joy, there will be laughter, there will be mourning, there will be pain, there will be excitement, and all of it can be beautiful. Choose every day to allow life’s hurdles to show you something new about yourself and the strength and tenderness you have within you. Life isn’t meant to be perfect, it’s meant to be a journey.

For me, pursuing a career and being your mother was meant to be – I would not have it any other way. I wanted to be a better mother and a better individual, and I’m so incredibly grateful for these two experiences for having shaped me into the person that I am today. Always choose the path you know is for you and know that life is what you make it. Don’t ever settle for less. I love you both.

Mommy

Marina Khorosh, 34

Mother of a four-month-old baby boy
Occupation: Writer, copywriter, brand consultant (“your basic multihyphenate”)
Location: Los Angeles

Alexandra,

As your mother, I want to tell you about all the mistakes I ever made so that you avoid repeating them, but I have a feeling I would be doing you disservice. What I want is for you to have the inner power – and the inner freedom – to go out there and make your own mistakes. Try a million different things and see what drives you. Fall down and get back up tenfold. Be determined, yet don’t be afraid to pivot or change your mind. Listen to opinions and advice, but always make your own decisions – and your own mistakes. Hold yourself accountable and don’t blame others (this includes your parents). By the way, we are complete pushovers and will always be there for you when you need us.

Love from your obsessed mom (and dad)

Tsitaliya Mircheva, 44

Mother of a nine-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl
Occupation: Writer, content manager, creative director of Mums in Heels, journalist
Location: Switzerland

Dear Boris and Raina,

First of all, I feel very excited for you both, for all that awaits you on this amazing journey of life.

I know at times it might feel scary and overwhelming, especially the unknown, or perhaps knowing too much. But my only advice to that is to practice curiosity and courage and trust that something good will come out of it! And with that I want to say that life without some enthusiasm and lots of curiosity seems to me a little wasted. So don’t be afraid to say the words ‘I don’t know’, don’t be afraid to express your feelings and to shed tears. Don’t be afraid to ask questions until you are 100 years old. Don’t be afraid to interact with people who are different than you. Always challenge what you think if you want to eventually become an independent thinker!

When I was little, as the only child, my parents wanted to desperately protect me from everything and everybody. They made me become very critical and suspicious of everything and everybody. That part of my character has both a good and a bad side. Even today, I still find it hard making friends, but at the same time I don’t always trust what I see or hear, no matter the source. I take everything with a little grain of salt. Critical thinking, especially nowadays, can save your life.

One thing that I’ve learned only now, in my 40s, is essential to know: the sooner you get to know yourself, your true passions, your value system, your soul’s desires and what drives your decisions, the sooner you will discover true fulfilment and true joy! This will help you attract the right people in your life too, because once you learn how to master the relationship you have with yourself, you will be able to improve the relationships you have with others. Remember to be creative, courageous and open-minded, to try a lot of things until you find out what really brings you the feeling of purpose and gratification. That’s really the most important thing that I want you know.

Mum

Ella Delancey Jones, 29

Mother-to-be
Occupation: Freelance journalist and creative copywriter
Location: London, UK

Dear Baby,

I am very much looking forward to meeting you. Up until this point, it was just about me and my needs, but having another life to look forward to sharing has changed my perspective. I am spending my days, while you grow and unfurl inside me, working really hard, writing into the early hours, to be in a position to spend as much time with you as possible. I don’t know who you are going to be yet, but I am learning day by day who I am and how resilient I can be. I want to continue to work when you arrive and I want to create a life where I can do the things that make me happy, while being present and there for you and your needs. I won’t always be able to be there – words are hard enough when you’ve got silence and time – but I hope you understand.

They say it’s hard, but I think all you can do is your best. If you’ve done your best, that’s enough. I want you to be proud of me. I hope you will see the things I create through my work and follow my example, knowing that you can express yourself in the way you choose, too.

Mama x