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Ever heard of “Mumpreneur”? This term captures the essence of being a mum and entrepreneur.  At the forefront of inspiring Mumpreneurs in Kenya is Supamamas, founded by Christine Khasinah-Odero.

At first glance, Supamamas is a marketing and events company but when you look further, you find a company that inspires mums. Through events and their website, Supamamas encourages mums to remain in business by imparting the skills needed to thrive.

An award winning entrepreneur, Christine created this platform specifically for mums to let women know that they can continue to move towards their dreams even as mothers. If you’re looking to be a flawless Mumpreneur, this one is for you!


What makes a woman a Supamama?

What makes a woman a Supamama is living your life with intent. To live out the best version of you as a human, as a woman, as a mum and as a professional, whether in business or employed.

It is also about striving to be the best version of you. Just because you have become a mum, doesn’t mean that you cannot live out your purpose or dreams.

Being a Supamama is about giving your family, your children and society the best of you but not forgetting to invest in yourself. A Supamama continuously learns and strives to achieve her goals.

She is also that mum who accepts that she cannot be a super woman. She knows that it’s okay to ask for help and accept help.

Tell us, how do you inspire mums in business?

When it comes to mums in business, there are specific events we put together that provide an opportunity for Mumpreneurs to come and learn from notable speakers who have been there and are thriving.

Our speakers share their personal journeys from which mums are able to learn from. Our invited guests also share practical business tips gained from their experience running businesses.

At Supamamas, we also inspire mums in business by sharing their journey on our website. This gives them an opportunity to share how far they have come, while at the same time giving their businesses visibility and connecting them to possible customers.

What do young mothers get wrong when it comes to raising children?

  1. Helicopter parenting: This means hovering over our kids and being there at their beck and call. We want our kids to have it easy and not fall in any way. So, instead of letting them experience adversity, we clear the path. We remove obstacles to make their life easy, forgetting adversity is a part of life. Only by facing it can our children build life-coping skills they’ll need down the road. So while it seems like we’re doing them a favour, we’re really stunting their growth. We’re putting short-term pay-offs over long-term well-being.
  2. Compensating for what they didn’t have as children: Some parents provide over and above the basic needs of their children. Whenever the child asks for something, they give in, literally to everything. This way the kids never learn the value of delayed gratification and not getting everything now.
  3. Not spending enough quality time with their children: This is because our lives have become so busy. We either spend many hours working or when at home, get easily distracted by other things. Mums need to make a conscious effort to be present when with their children. It’s best to realize that it’s not the quantity of time we spend with them but the quality.

christine-4What makes Supamamas stand out from other marketing and events companies?

What makes Supamamas different as a company is that we have created a platform that provides an opportunity for companies to connect specifically with mums. Providing an opportunity for companies and brands to engage and have meaningful conversations with their customers or potential customers.

Our events are also different in that they are conversational, experiential and interactive. This provides an opportunity for brands to go beyond selling and marketing but also to receive feedback and meaningfully engage.

Our events are personal and intimate. Mums who attend them feel special because they can be heard and express themselves. It’s like being part of a big family of mums where we all have a common goal to be the best we can be. The warmth that mums experience at events organized by Supamamas is exceptional.

Beyond business we also are keen on mentorship and community service and have organized numerous initiatives mobilizing mums and corporates to give back. One of our notable CSR was a red carpet event for cancer survivors.

In 2013, you were a finalist in the “Most Influential Women in Business in Africa SME” category in South Africa’s CEO Magazine. In 2015, you were Country Winner 2015, what do you think changed at Supamamas to cause this win?

It was an honour being selected as one of the Country Winner 2015, CEO Magazine Africa’s most influential Women in Business.

I believe what played a big part is staying consistent and continuously learning. I’m always looking for what I can do to improve and grow the events, as well as grow our online following and engagement.

As an entrepreneur you need to continuously improve, knowing that there is always room to do better.

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What four skills do Mumpreneurs need to master to avoid burning out?

  • Make your well-being a priority: Setting up a business and growing it is tough. It can really take a toll on you, not only physically but mentally.  Mumpreneurs need to make a conscious effort to take care of themselves to push through and prevent burnout. That means eating well, exercising and getting adequate sleep.
  • Nurture friendships and create a support system: For instance, your support system can be with other entrepreneurs. With them, you can share your experiences, frustrations and celebrate the little gains. Being around like-minded people helps to ease the pressure and gives you a sounding board and room to exhale.
  • Creating focus and having a plan: This gives you an idea of what you want to achieve without running around in circles. It prevents you being always busy but never effective. Allocate time to what needs to be done. When need be schedule a break or mini vacation to step away, reflect and come back refreshed.
  • Delegating: This is a skill that Mumpreneurs struggle with. They are so much attached to the business they they find it hard to let go and tend to micromanage. In the formative years of the business, Mumpreneurs need to create a mental picture of growing a business that will grow beyond them . This way, you begin to accept that you will need to have a team and equip others who will complement your skills and even do better. Delegating helps ease off the work load and having an effective team is good for growth.

If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.

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