5 Successful Mompreneurs You Can Look Up to

Motherhood is a full-time job that is never done. Moms like you are busy 24/7, attending to your children's needs and preparing them for their future.

These achievements already make you a superwoman. But some mothers take nurturing to the next level, harnessing it to reach their financial goals. In time, these women learn to run not only their households but also their own businesses.

This Mother's Day 2021, Jobstreet brings you such inspiring stories from amazing women. Whether they are in the celebrity spotlight or not, all these moms have one thing in common: a can-do attitude that helps them reach their dreams.

Sharon Cuneta

Image source: Sharon Cuneta's Instagram account

Her claim to fame: Known as the country's MegaStar, Sharon's showbiz career has thrived for over 40 years. Her skills in acting, singing, and hosting have landed her many awards and product endorsements.

Businesses: A mom of 4, Sharon makes business investments with her husband, Senator Francis Pangilinan. Their ventures include residential real estate properties, a restaurant, and a 3-hectare farm in Cavite, which offers tours and fresh produce.

Business sense: Sharon learned the value of real estate from her dad, former Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta. Because she lost income during the pandemic, Sharon sold some of her properties, which helped fund her other businesses. Recently, she set up her own YouTube channel, Sharon Cuneta Network. Here, she shares recipes, tips, and a peek into her private life.

Anna Meloto-Wilk

Image source: BusinessMirror

Her claim to fame:  After 4 years of corporate work, Anna decided to follow her father's footsteps by helping the poor. Her dad is Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga, whose projects include building homes for the poor.

Business: With her husband and sister, Anna founded Gandang-Kalikasan, Inc. (GKI). Its Human Nature brand creates personal and home-care products that are pro-Philippines, pro-poor and pro-environment. Raw materials are all local, sourced directly from farmers trained by GKI. Human Nature aims to help poor communities while promoting world-class Filipino products.

Business sense: A mom of 6, Anna is committed to uplifting the lives of her employees. She prioritizes this over profit. In fact, when the pandemic hit, Anna and her co-founders gave up their salaries for the sake of their employees. This leadership by example inspired workers to help keep the business afloat.

Judy Ann Santos

Image source: Judy Ann's Kitchen YouTube Channel

Her claim to fame: Judy Ann is a critically-acclaimed actress, TV host, recording artist and film producer. She entered show business when she was 8 years old, and has starred in popular dramas and movies. When she was still single, she adopted her first child. She has two more kids with fellow-celebrity husband, Ryan Agoncillo.

Businesses: Aside from restaurant franchises, Judy Ann put up her own food business, which has two branches.

Business sense: Due to her busy career, Judy Ann was not able to finish college. During her first pregnancy in 2006, she decided to enrol in culinary school. She graduated with honors and went on to publish a cookbook. Three years ago, she began her YouTube channel, Judy Ann's Kitchen, which has over 1.5 million subscribers.

Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera

Image source: Nina Ellaine YouTube Channel

Her claim to fame: In her early 20s, Nina started selling soap scraps. Later on, she developed her own soap formula, expanding her line to include lotions and facial care items. In 2015, she created her cosmetic brand Colourette.

Business: Colourette is known for its quality, affordable and multi-purpose products. For example, the brand's lip tints can also be used for the eyelids and cheeks. This was because Nina wanted to make products compatible with the Filipinos' weather, skin tone and budget. Currently, the brand has over a million followers on Facebook.

Business sense: Last year, Nina trended on Twitter after speaking up on political issues. Though this move earned detractors, she also gained more supporters. Last November, she donated over a million pesos from Colourette sales for Typhoon Ulysses survivors. Colourette's online community, Boss Babes, promotes women empowerment and inclusivity.

Regine Tolentino

Image source: Regine Tolentino's Instagram account

Her claim to fame: Regine, an actress, and TV host, entered show business in 1995. Aside from being the first Filipino VJ of MTV Asia, she is also known as TV's “Dance Diva”.

Business: Because she loved dancing, Regine trained to become a licensed dance fitness instructor. Soon she opened her own dance and workshop studio. While pregnant with her first child, Regine made baby dresses. But when she found out that they were too small for her baby, she sold them to a department store. She continued supplying babywear until she opened her own boutique. Eventually, her line expanded to wedding gowns, dancewear and costumes for celebrity performances.

Business sense: During the start of the lockdown last year, Regine gave birth to her third child. At the same time, her clients called off costume orders for canceled events for the rest of the year. To get her business back on track, Regine changed her strategy. She worked with designers to come up with stylish PPE apparel. This includes posh face masks, bunny suits, coats, and jumpsuits available online.

Do you also have your own business? Check out these tips on how to successfully pivot during the pandemic.

From these women, we learn that running a business can be as hard as raising children. But it can be just as fulfilling. When these moms hit a bump, they do not give up; they adjust right away. They always find ways to improve their businesses. With hard work, these mompreneurs are able to succeed.

Going out of your comfort zone may be scary at first. But you will never know what you are capable of if you do not take that first step. Like these business-minded women, you can discover happiness in being a mom and beyond.

Happy Mother's Day!

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