The Coffee Chat (#3)
My conversation with Manali Kulkarni - An Art Director with a leading Canadian Ad agency, founder of the moms-wear brand Mom-Bod and mommy to a baby girl
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My initial plan was to publish an original essay and an interview every month. But see that is the thing about plans, we make them and then life happens.
I have had a whole bunch of thoughts brewing in my head however in the last two weeks the ups and downs of life have kept me occupied that I have not found the time and the headspace to put pen to paper. Covid 19 has hit home. Some close family members are down with the virus. My current mental state is a mix of anxiety and helplessness.
What has however kept me sane (and distracted) during this time has been a bunch of conversations I have had with some very inspiring people for this newsletter. These conversations fill me with optimism. And optimism is the antidote I currently need.
One such conversation that filled me with optimism is the one I had with Manali Kulkarni. Manali is an Art Director with the ad agency Zulu Alpha Kilo who during her Maternity Leave launched her own moms-wear brand (all while taking care of a little baby in the middle of a pandemic)!!
Below is my conversation with Manali..
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
After graduating from OCAD, I spent my working life making my way up the ranks of Canada's top tier ad agencies, creating awesome campaigns for brands big and small, and picking up an award or two on my way up. Currently, I'm on maternity leave from my role as an Art Director at Zulu Alpha Kilo.
I married 'outside the industry' (advertising is notoriously incestuous), my husband Tomas is Ontario's Sales Representative for SSI SCHÄFER, a leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions
Most first time parents are overwhelmed and sleep-deprived, in the middle of all that you started a business! How did the idea of Mom-bod come about? What prompted you to start a business during your maternity leave?
Back in March when the world was sent to work from home, I was just entering my third trimester. Although stressful to be pregnant and expecting in a pandemic, working from home allowed a lot of time to 'nest'. The idea for The Mat Leave Project was born. It's a series of personal creative projects that I've always wanted to do and thought I could do while on Maternity Leave (with the buckets of time a new mom has HAHA!).
I've tried to keep track of them on my personal Instagram. So far I've embroidered, made a mobile for my daughter's nursery, gave our home's entrance a revamp, am in the middle of refinishing a vintage dining table and, my most ambitious achievement: launched a "momswear" brand called Mom Bod.
I saw a space for creating a brand that spoke to new mamas where they're at. So far I've created apparel that are both tongue-in-cheek and well-designed, aimed at the urban mama. The aim is to add one item to my store every month I'm on Maternity Leave. I'm trying to be realistic about the time I give to my passion project(s), because yes, I am sleep-deprived and overwhelmed. But these creative projects have been a little oasis, a port of calm on this unpredictable, at times rough sea that is motherhood. Mom Bod has also given me the opportunity to connect to other new moms, which has been especially tough to do during a pandemic.
After becoming a parent did you adopt any new beliefs, behaviors, or habits that have most improved your life?
I've started checking in with other new/soon-to-be mamas in my life. Motherhood is hard. I'm learning that the adage "it takes a village to raise a child" rings true.
I try to put some of my (limited) time into my side hustle/creative projects, I try to do this once a week. But I'm not hard on myself if I don't have the time.
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investment you have made after becoming a parent? (this could be anything from a product for yourself to getting child care support)
Pelvic floor physiotherapy - it is a godsend!
The biggest challenge that working parents with young kids have is a lack of predictability in their schedule. How have you managed this?
My husband and I trade off on responsibilities, there's a lot of scheduling that happens around my daughter's naps/ doctor's appointments etc.
Since my husband has been working from home, it's all been made easier. (Thank you pandemic?!)
You are part of a dual-career household. What choices have you and your partner made that has helped you become a dual career household with kids?
This was an understanding we came to at the very beginning of our relationship.
In terms of juggling a career and having a child, there are some things that will be helpful down the road in terms of child care - my parents will be helping out with the baby the year following my Maternity Leave.
What advice would you give other working women who are on the cusp of motherhood / recently became moms? What advice should they ignore?
- Find a support person before you have your baby. Just one person who has been through this before - a 'mom mentor' if you will. Because believe me, it can be tough. Check-in with them often.
- Also pre-cook yourself some meals, freeze them. You will thank yourself later.
- Ignore anyone (usually it's yourself) that tells you that you're not ready to be a mom. No one is ready.
- And read this book: Darling You Can't Do Both, and other noise to ignore on your way up
Quick-fire Questions:
What’s the best thing you have watched recently?
40 Year-Old Version on Netflix
What’s the best thing you have read recently?
People News article about Mindy Kaling's new baby, and how she kept her pregnancy a secret! I am a sucker for anything Mindy Kaling
What’s the best thing you have listened to recently?
- My daughter's giggle
- 99% Invisible podcast episode about the Freedom House Ambulance Service
I would love to hear from you, feedback is always welcome!
And if you happen to know an inspiring working parent who should be featured in a future edition (or if you yourself are one) - please do get in touch.
Disclaimer: All views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.