Supporting Entrepreneurs in the Fullness of Who They Are
Coralus Ventures have been having a baby boom! Here are the Ventures we know of who have recently become (or are soon-to-be) parents:
- Elisha Watson, Nisa
- Lulu O’Connor, Clothes Doctor
- Christina Hobbs, Verve Super
- Ally Watson, Code Like a Girl
- Chloe Van Dyke, Chia Sisters
- Sandhya Murali, Solstice
- Emily Johnson, StrongerU Senior Fitness
- Sandra Kwak, 10Power
- Kate Pepler, Tare Shop
- Hafeezah Muhammad, Youme Healthcare
That’s almost 10% of our portfolio — and the list keeps growing!
“We’re proud to support entrepreneurs in the fullness of who they are, as both business owners and parents,” says Coralus Development Guide MJ Ryan. “Each Venture has juggled having two ‘babies’ in their own way–some taking mat leave with someone else stepping in to run the business, others working (almost) right away with the help of a partner. We’re excited to see the lived experience of our core value, ‘on your own terms.’”
To commemorate this boom, we asked Chloe Van Dyke of Coralus Venture Chia Sisters to share some insight into what it’s been like to have children while running a business.
“I’ve had 2 children while running Chia Sisters, one is now 4, the other is 8 months old. On both occasions having a good team that I trust in place has meant I have been able to take the time off that I need to focus on my children. book meetings as audio calls in the morning. After breakfast we go out for a walk in the hills, my baby sleeps in a front pack while we walk and I put in my ear plugs and have audio meetings. I call them my walking meetings and I find they are great for any conversation that requires creative thought or brainstorming.
“It’s not easy though, and sometimes it can feel like you are doing a bad job at both; checking emails while playing with the kids, or not being able to respond to something urgent at work because it is at nap time. On the positive side, when things are going smoothly it’s great as I have the flexibility to stimulate myself with work and focus on family.”
On the best advice she’s ever received, Chloe says, “Make a plan but don’t expect it to happen. The best thing I have done is make work fit around me and my family, rather than the other way around.”
Thank you to Chloe for sharing your story with us! If there are any new parents in the community, we’d love to hear more from you about your experience. At Coralus we show up as a community, listen deeply, and find ways to help you remove systemic and personal barriers that are stopping you from reaching your goals.
If you’d like to learn more about what it’s like to be in community with us and experience this support for yourself, there’s still time to apply as a Coralus Venture. Applications close October 16.
