OC business owners share their stories of mom and work life.
Theresa Vuong
Family: Husband, Kris; Audrey, 6, Davin, 8; corgi, Hiro, 10
City: Irvine
Business: BubblePOP in Mission Viejo
Origin story: “BubblePOP was born out of a deeply personal journey with my son. He was 20 months old and had a speech delay — he could barely say two words. As a mom and a healthcare professional with a doctorate in pharmacy and a background in biomedical engineering, I was used to problem-solving, but in this case, I felt helpless. We tried different programs, but nothing seemed to work with my son. Then, I was introduced to bubbles as a therapeutic tool for child development. It was a revelation.
“One day, I took a simple bubble wand and spent just five minutes with my son, blowing bubbles. To my amazement, it wasn’t just fun for him — he started using muscles around his mouth that were too weak for speech. That day, he went from barely saying two words to speaking 10! It was this moment of hope that inspired me to take action. I realized if bubbles could help my son, imagine what they could do for other children. That’s when the idea for BubblePOP really took shape.
“Now, BubblePOP isn’t just about playtime. We host field trips, support homeschooling groups, conduct off-site events and hold fundraisers for local schools and charities. We’ve become a space where education, therapy and joy meet. It’s incredible to see how much the community has embraced our vision and how far we’ve come.”
Work-life balance: “Candidly, balance is something I work on every day, and it’s always evolving. For me, time management is critical. I rely heavily on a color-coded calendar and priority lists to keep things organized. During the day, I work and carve out time for my family, but there are definitely nights where I’m working until 3 a.m. to catch up on business tasks. I’ve come to accept that balance isn’t about splitting time evenly — it’s about giving my best to what’s needed at the moment.
“There are times when work takes precedence, and there are times when family comes first. As a mompreneur, I’ve learned to embrace the ebb and flow. On the days when family needs more of me, I’m fortunate to have a business partner who understands. And when work demands more, I lean on my incredibly supportive husband and mother to help with the kids. It’s not perfect, but having that support system makes all the difference.”
Challenges: “One of the biggest challenges has been managing the internal struggles — doubts about success and financial drain on the family, the guilt of trying to balance motherhood with running a business and the vulnerability that comes with learning things I’ve never done before. It’s hard to always feel confident when you’re constantly stepping into new territory, whether it’s franchising, manufacturing or marketing.
“Externally, there’s the perception of being a mom in business. People don’t always take you seriously. Plus, there’s the juggling act of managing my children’s schedules while trying to meet the demands of the business. Time management becomes an art form, and I’ve had to become very strategic with how I use my time.
“But I’ve worked through these challenges by reminding myself that every step is a learning process. I’ve embraced being vulnerable and leaned into the support from my family, business partners and community. It’s never easy, but it’s always worth it.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “My biggest advice is to live with no regrets. Don’t let fear or doubt stop you from pursuing your idea. When I first started talking about BubblePOP, some people didn’t understand what I was trying to do. I even had people think it was a boba tea shop because they didn’t get the bubble concept! But that’s OK — you have to believe in your vision even when others don’t.
“Smiles and laughter go a long way, and I’ve found that joy is such a powerful force. It’s not just about business success — it’s about the impact you can have. If you’re passionate about your idea, let that drive you forward. Commit to your dream fully, and don’t let anyone’s lack of understanding make you second-guess yourself.”
Katie Miller
Family: Husband, Tim; Ella, 7, Charlotte, 6, Noah, 3
City: Costa Mesa
Business: Mama Bijoux, located at Paseo 17 in Costa Mesa
Origin story: “I started Mama Bijoux in late 2019. I come from a jewelry retail background — my family had four retail jewelry stores located on the west side of Los Angeles growing up. But I never wanted or expected to be in jewelry. I was in sales and marketing for consumer packaged goods. I left corporate life to focus on being a mom to my two girls — two under 2 years old at the time. In late 2018, my brother passed away suddenly. I was dealing with tragedy and finding out who I was as a new mom all at the same time. It became clear that I needed something for myself. I worked with my family’s manufacturing partners to design and create matching heart bracelets in diamond and 18k gold I could wear with my girls. I had several moms ask me where I got them in my mommy and me classes. And that’s how Mama Bijoux was born!”
Work-life balance: “I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘balance.’ I strive to be present when I am working and present when I am with my children. It all sounds lovely but to be frank, it is very challenging. I am constantly feeling pulled in multiple directions. I just keep reminding myself that it’s all worth it and that my children will be more resilient and self-sufficient by seeing their mom do her best.”
Challenges: “The biggest challenge is realizing you can’t do it all alone, all the time. I have an incredible nanny at home that helps me keep things in order.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “Just do it! It sounds cliche but the only way to start is by taking action. It will not be perfect. And you need to be OK with that.”
Ashley Rose
Family: Husband, Aaron; Madison, 8, Eli, 7, Kennedy, 5
City: Newport Beach
Business: Volée in Newport Beach
Origin story: “After almost two decades in the medical device industry, I was looking for my next path. After a pickleball lesson with friends and noticing a lack of fashionable bag options, my path unfolded … I was going to build a business to create a fashionable, multifunctional bag that has grown into a premium athletic lifestyle collection. My business partner, Kristin Leffel, and I are creating items for women and encouraging them to make their mark in life. We work closely to maintain a brand that has meaning behind it.
“We launched in January 2024 and have grown into a successful e-commerce brand with an additional presence on platforms such as Carbon38.”
Work-life balance: “I wake up early, I set boundaries and I make time for hobbies and my family.”
Challenges: “Two entrepreneurs in one household always call for a lot of chaos, but it’s fun! My wheels are always turning, and I am always on my computer and phone — I have to set boundaries for myself so that I am giving my family my best.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “I would say, go for it! It isn’t easy, but it is very rewarding. Our motto at Volée and what we want to inspire others to do is: ‘Make your mark.’”
Jenn Cohen
Family: Husband, Ken; Lucas, 5, and Blake, 3
City: Ladera Ranch
Business: Mighty as a Mother podcast
Origin story: “I was pregnant with my second child, helping to build a health tech startup, when I met the sweetest friend at an executive networking group created specifically for women. We were chatting one day, and I just asked, ‘Is it this hard for you?’ She immediately said: ‘Oh my gosh. I was going to ask, is it this hard for you?’ And then we realized, OK, it’s this hard for us. It must be this hard for everybody. We strongly felt that to help ourselves and help other mothers, we had to create a community rooted in vulnerability and authenticity. The podcast was born just like that. We sat down, came up with a name, designed our logo and researched how to host a podcast. We bought our equipment, found margins of life when we could record and got to work. It is changing the way I show up as a wife, as a mother and it brings me to tears every single time I receive feedback from other mothers juggling all the things. Life is so busy with a corporate career and two toddlers but making the time to build this platform is important to me.
“Our show has catapulted in a way we never expected. We are now ranked amongst the top 3 percent shows around the world.”
Work-life balance: “I think work-life balance is a dangerous fallacy women are sold. It sets us up for failure when we cannot achieve said ‘balance’ and leaves us feeling as though we’re failing. Instead, I like to think of each day as one pie. How we divide the slices that day is up to us, and each day our slices are shaped just a little bit differently.”
Challenges: “Adding more hours into the day, while simultaneously being too tired to take on more. Raising two small children while building my career can feel exhausting at times. I struggled deeply those first few years with ‘mom guilt’ and never wanting to step away or outside to do something just for myself. It took years of compassion and self-kindness to allow myself to take space.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “Don’t wait. We spend so much time wasted in analysis paralysis. If you have a viable idea and the drive to succeed, take the first step.”
Erin Bianchi Hibbert
Family: Husband, Drew; Rowan, 6
City: Orange
Business: Fashion Camp — Create. Design. Sew. in Tustin
Origin story: “I started the business in 2010, as I saw a rising interest in kids interested in fashion design. Once the idea was solidified, I set up a website, spread the word through friends, family and industry connections, then rolled out the camps just in time for summer. Within a few weeks, I had 100 kids enrolled in my first Fashion Camp summer program. I gave notice at my job and set out on this new adventure.”
Work-life balance: “I started the business before my son was born, so long hours were doable (and quite frankly, required). By the time he came along, I had a great team in place that helped me achieve balance. These days, I typically take my son to school, then head to my studio. I work as efficiently as possible before racing to the pickup line at school.”
Challenges: “I’ll often complain to my husband that ‘I’m only 50 percent good at running a business and 50 percent good at motherhood.’ I hope that’s not true, but it can feel that way.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “You can do it! If you can do motherhood, you can do anything. Motherhood is the best preparation for business ownership — the constant juggle, the never-doing-enough feeling — they are very similar endeavors.”
Ashley Clark
Family: Husband, Jeff; Marley, 26, Cade, 17, Carter, 15, Hudson, 13
City: Newport Beach
Business: Skout in Costa Mesa
Origin story: “I have always loved making and creating things for my own home. Design has always been my passion, but I just was not sure I could do it. After I had Cade in 2009, I decided that I did not want to return to a corporate job and started to make pillows and art. I have always been a collector of vintage textiles and love searching for treasures at flea markets, so Skout was formed in 2010. At first I was selling pillows and a few custom pieces of furniture that I had created to other designers and to friends — but it quickly turned into more as people started asking me to help with their homes.
“We started with just pillows and textiles and now are doing full builds with incredible architects and teams.”
Work-life balance: “I really believe there is no way to have a perfect balance. I think the entire idea of having a good work-life balance creates so much guilt and anxiety, but I have learned a few things. It is important to have clearly defined boundaries about my work life and family life. I also am a big believer in lists and prioritizing — there are many jobs/clients/events that I skip or miss as the timing or schedule does not align.”
Challenges: “Honestly my biggest challenge as a mom and a business owner is the guilt — the feeling of not being able to be in two places at once. I never want to let my team at work or my clients down and I never want my family to be let down! I want to show my kids that work is important but family time is essential too. For me, communication is everything.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “I love supporting other women and especially other moms that are running their own businesses. I think my best advice is to set boundaries. Be realistic and set a great example for your kids … imagine all they are learning watching you run your own business.”
Melissa Beck
Family: Three sons ages 17, 15 and 13
City: San Juan Capistrano
Business: Anonymous Philanthropy in Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach and Franklin, Tennessee
Origin story: “I joined Anonymous in 2018 to grow us from a very small boutique consulting firm to a larger firm capable of meeting the needs of families all over the country who have earmarked a few million dollars annually to philanthropy but feel their strategic approach could be both more impactful and more fulfilling for their family.”
Work-life balance: This is always something I strive for but do not expect of myself every day. Some days, working with our clients is my biggest priority and some days getting to a game or school event or even being home when they get home from school is my biggest priority. I try and have a 30,000-foot view — do I believe my kids will look back when they are adults and think, ‘My mom was there, she showed up and I knew she always had my back and supported me?’ That is what is most important, so I try not to beat myself up if I miss something here and there because of my career.”
Challenges: “There is always the tug of war of work vs. family. I don’t think I could ever imagine a scenario where that isn’t always present. But I think I have come to a place where I try not to let it add even more additional stress or guilt to my life. There are already so many things to think about that I can actually impact with my time and effort. I wake up every day and I do my best. That is all I can ever ask of myself.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “My biggest piece of advice is to be communicative with your partner (if you have one) and your kids. If you are struggling with time, just let them know. Your family loves you, they will forgive you and they understand, but the best thing you can do is talk about it — don’t keep it all bottled up.”
Destiny Barreda Conner
Family: Husband, Michael; Reed, 9, Olivia, 7
City: Costa Mesa
Business: Red & Olive in Newport Beach
Origin story: “We started Red & Olive in December 2019 to combine my passion for Peruvian craftsmanship with my love for children. Having both grown up with deep ties to Peru and Lita and I having years of experience in the fashion industry, it felt like a natural step. My dad had a university friend who was an exporter for knitted items in Peru, and that connection allowed us to begin designing children’s toys. Our goal was to start with toys and eventually expand into other product lines.
“As a mom and grandma duo, we truly understand our customers, which has made our partnership even more special. Working closely with artisans in Peru, I saw an opportunity to showcase their incredible skills while offering sustainable, meaningful products for kids.”
Work-life balance: “Achieving work-life balance is always a work in progress, especially when juggling roles as a wife, mom, room mom and dance mom. I strive to set clear boundaries between work and family time, but as a mompreneur, the lines can sometimes blur. Instead of trying to achieve a perfect balance, I embrace that some days will be more focused on my kids, while others will lean toward work or spending time with my husband. I know that some areas may take a back seat at times, but ultimately, my family is my passion, and Red & Olive serves as my creative outlet that fulfills a part of my heart.”
Challenges: “One of the biggest challenges has been juggling multiple roles — being a mom, a business owner and staying connected to my cultural roots in Peru. There are moments when I feel stretched thin, especially when there’s a new product launch or event, and kids need my attention. I’ve learned the importance of delegating, both in my business and at home, and also giving myself grace when things don’t go perfectly.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “Start small, but just start. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ moment because it doesn’t exist. Lean into your strengths and passions, and find something that excites you every day.”
Anita Yokota
Family: Husband, Travis; Rachel, 18, Emily, 16, Natalie, 11
City: Irvine
Business: Anita Yokota Design LLC in Orange County
Origin story: “I started my business in 2017 because I realized there was this huge connection between how we feel emotionally and the spaces we live in. As a licensed therapist-turned-designer, it felt like a natural evolution. The process? Let’s just say it was like assembling IKEA furniture: There were a few missteps along the way, but once I figured out how the pieces fit together, it all started to come together beautifully. My passion for helping people live their best lives at home kept me going through those late nights and early mornings.
“One of my early pinch-me moments came when Domino Magazine named my blog Best New Design Blog in 2018. Then, appearing on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ and hearing Drew herself say, ‘Everyone needs home therapy.’ Well, let’s just say that was a total thrill. I’ve also had the honor of collaborating with HGTV on Dream Home 2019 and designing Real Simple 2019 Home. More recently, I joined Apartment Therapy’s Small Cool Contest as a judge alongside Bobby Berk — such an inspiring experience.”
Work-life balance: “Balance? What’s that? It’s all about boundaries and being super intentional with my time. I schedule moments to unplug, whether it’s for family movie night or just getting outside for a walk.”
Challenges: “The biggest challenge has definitely been time management — it’s hard to juggle running a business and being a mom without feeling like something’s always falling through the cracks. I’ve had to let go of perfectionism (still working on that!) and trust myself more. I’ve also learned to focus on what matters most, which, as both a mom and business owner, is often about creating spaces that really work for my clients. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between making a living and making a home.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “Go for it! But take it step by step — starting a business is a big financial commitment, so it’s OK to start small and build in phases. Don’t try to do it all alone either.”
Alexandra Leach
Family: Husband, Mike; Lennon, 9, Bennett, 7, Cora, 4; fur baby, Axl, 10
City: San Clemente
Business: AVKARA in San Clemente
Origin story: “I started my business almost two years ago, and it is solely based on a lounger that I invented from our adventures together as a family over seven years ago. The idea for the Earth Lounger happened while visiting our favorite beach with my 2-year-old son. I was pregnant with my second child, and I was finding it hard to sit on the ground comfortably while playing in the sand. My back was strained from the pregnancy, and I needed support to help ease that discomfort, but I couldn’t sit in a traditional beach chair because it limited my ability to play on the ground with my son. A few days later, my husband and I started to talk about this problem I was facing and he simply mentioned making a pillow that I could fill with sand and lay on while sitting on the ground. I had some scrap fabric lying around the house, so I executed the plan and created the first Earth Lounger. In the end, the pillow was exactly what I needed to solve my problem, but then I discovered a greater need for the Earth Lounger in different applications of use, so I started to redesign the structure and functionality, and two more years later, we had an inflatable, portable and amazing product to allow anyone to relax and lounge anywhere and everywhere.”
Work-life balance: “If you’re a parent, you know all that implies when raising children — trying to be present for everyone, juggling all the responsibilities and handling all the tasks given at a single moment. Then you try to find what is left of your energy and time to divide that to the household and, in my case, to my business. This new chapter has been an exciting balancing act, and every day brings new challenges, but it also provides fun opportunities for our family.”
Challenges: “Life with kids is a balancing act, especially with three kids. When all the activities start to overlap, and it is just you to make it all happen, you have to get clever. I learned I need to use my resources and reach out to ask for help.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “People are willing to help if you let them, and if you ever decide you want to create a product, then do it. You will always wonder what could have been or if it was the right choice, but trusting yourself and the process is the hardest part. If someone asked me if I would do it again, I would say, ‘The struggle is worth it.’”
Ashika Sharma
Family: Husband, Ankush; twin boys Ishaan and Shayan, 10
City: Yorba Linda
Business: Ashika MD, Pediatrics and Sports Medicine in Placentia
Origin story: “My dream was always to be a physician and a mom. Never did I think it was possible for me to also be a small business owner. But my dreams were realized earlier this year after a leap of faith, belief in myself, support from my husband/children and a lot of research, hard work and planning. I am the proud owner of my own concierge pediatric and sports medicine practice in Placentia called AshikaMD.”
Work-life balance: “As a working mom, that is something I constantly struggle with. I try to be there for my family’s needs, while trying to meet the demands of a start-up business. Having as much of the week’s activities on a calendar helps as well. Thankfully we have an amazing community of family and friends locally that help me to be in more than one place at a time.”
Challenges: “Working mom guilt is real. It is a constant challenge to juggle and balance everything. I try to give myself grace and tell myself that I can’t be good at everything at the same time. I try to be a good physician when I’m taking care of patients, and I try to be a good mom when I am with my kids. But it is so hard! I am constantly making to-do lists for both my business and home life. Also, it is so important for my kids to be involved and have responsibilities at home to help out to help lessen the burden on me.”
Advice to moms thinking about starting their own business: “I want moms to see that it is possible to follow your dreams. I hope I inspire other moms that want to be entrepreneurs not to feel discouraged, that it can be done with a lot of planning and patience, as well as sacrifice and help from others. I’m not perfect at being a mom, doctor or business owner, but I know I’m not expected to be perfect and I am constantly learning and growing.”
By Jessica Peralta
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