Welcome to June’s edition of the Working Mum Series (I am getting through them all slowly I promise!). This month sees the introduction of Founder and CEO of Blaiz – Stephanie Mordehachvili. If you’re not familiar with Blaiz, and you love fashion, then you’re missing out as they stock the most amazing brands with some really unique pieces. I am currently obsessed with all things Celia B – such beautiful pieces and vibrant colours.
Stephanie’s interview talks us through her daily juggle with two children and a full time business to run. No mean feat. But with the flexibility of working from home that she has, her role as a mother and business owner both have their place.
I hope you enjoy the interview
Lisa
xoxo
Website https://blaiz.co.uk/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-CVtTj-4d/
1. Please introduce yourself – what is your job, how many children you have, where you are from etc.
My name is Stephanie Margaronis Mordehachvili. I am the founder and CEO of BLAIZ, a multi-faceted retail platform focusing on Latin American womenswear and accessory designers. I have two babies, a little boy called Noah who just turned 2, and a little girl called Eleyna who just turned 1! I am from Greece originally but have been born and raised in London with a 4 year stay in New York after university where I started my career. My husband is from Rio de Janeiro.
2. How many days/hours a week do you work?
I cant count! All the time!
3. Describe a typical working day in your household (i.e. morning routines with nursery/school drop offs to evening bedtime)
It’s a juggling game… I try and categorise the days in the most organised fashion I can. Every morning I wake with the babies, milk and breakfast, then 3 times a week I leave for work before the nursery run, and my son is dropped at nursery by our nanny and my daughter taken to music classes. I stay down in the office till 3:30/4 then I head home to spend the afternoon with the children. We do something fun like go to the park, or swimming, then we get home around 5/5:30pm and I logon again while they are having dinner and baths, then we play together and I put them to bed at 7:30pm. The other 2 days a week I work from home and base my meetings near my home so that I can do the nursery drop off, do a class with my daughter, nursery pick up etc.
My husband and I don’t typically go out during the week in the evening as he has a 4am wake up to go to work and I need to work after the babies are asleep.
4. How do you balance working life with motherhood? And what/who do you rely on to make it work?
I am lucky because I am able to work remotely and effectively which is not the case in a lot of businesses. The flexibility I am allowed by having my own business is so invaluable. I treasure my time with my babies so much that I need those hours in the day to be with them, whilst still running my business. I have had to build a strong team at BLAIZ to be able to be absent physically from the office those 2 days a week, because without a team it would be impossible given the constant issues that retail business experience.
I think organisation is key, both with activities for the children, routines, and the support you have either from family or from a nanny. I learnt the hard way that everything functions better, children adults etc when people know what the program is, what is expected, and told in advance.
Every Sunday I write out weekly schedules for classes, menus, activities, doctor’s visits – so that all runs as smooth as possible.
5. What is the best thing about being a working mum?
I like my children to see that I am trying to build a business, that it requires daily effort and often some stressful times. It will eventually teach them the value of money and that they should be passionate and have a goal in life, whatever that goal is. I allow them to explore ‘the world’ without me always there and I believe it has given them confidence.
6. And the hardest?
For me its being away from them. I want to be there the 1000 minutes to be there the 15 that count. It was hard to accept that I couldn’t be there all the time, but I have structured their days in the best way I can and we always have daily time together.
7. How do you unwind? Motherhood (as well as work!) can be relentless – what do you do to relax?
I exercise regularly even if its just a 20 mins run I can fit in before a nursery run, and I take baths with magnesium salts in the evening – they are magic.
8. How do you manage your relationship with your husband/partner as well as working and juggling the daily life of raising children?
Very good question. I am ‘lucky’ in the sense that my husband works very hard – often 15 hour days so he is home at 7pm to see the children for 30 mins before bed and I make sure we are all together as a family. Then we have dinner and then he is off to bed! Weekends I do not plan anything for myself so that we can all be together, and we head out Friday and Saturday evenings on date nights or dinners with friends. I am sure he would say I am not doing too well though! Men love to complain if they aren’t getting maximum amount of attention!
9. Do you feel that motherhood has changed you, and if so, how?
Yes absolutely. And it is hard for a man to understand it as ultimately even though they love their children, I don’t think they have the same changes within them that a mother does, nor the anxiety and the fears that come with motherhood.
I live for my children and they are my whole centre. My mind is on them first and everything and anyone else afterwards. I used to be so focused only on BLAIZ and my husband and I still am but your compass changes.
10. Can you tell us one lesson that you have learned from your child/children and one that you have taught them?
I have learnt from them that a hug and a kiss is the richest gift of all. I hope I have taught them confidence, to venture out there in nursery or classes where they dance around in the centre of the room.
11. What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing working mothers at the moment?
Time management and stigma in the workplace. I know as a business owner that I have changed since being a mother and so I know that my team when they become mothers will also change. From a purely business perspective it becomes tough for them to be as committed as they were because of all the reasons that I totally get. Even if they are mentally committed, physically when raising a child, there are so many things you need to do for them. Having said that, workplaces are becoming more flexible to this effect which is great for larger organisations, but remains tough for smaller businesses that often cannot afford the felxibility
12. What does ‘flexible working’ mean to you’?
Being able to be available all the time, but physically to not have to be in the office. To be able to login after hours and churn through your work but be available when something needs to be addresses urgently.
13. What are your go to stores/websites/blogs for your work and everyday wardrobe, and what are your staple pieces as a working mum?
Obviously my go to store is BLAIZ. I am also loving high street at the moment. H&M have some amazing pieces, & Other Stories as well. As a working mum you need to strike a balance between being stylish but also functional! Jeans, knits with a ‘twist’, and golden goose trainers would be what you would find me in most days, although if I have important meetings etc, I love midi dresses and boots as a go to.
14. Finally, what advice would you give to new working mums? I.e. those who are just going back to work from maternity leave, setting up their own businesses, or going for a new job?
Do it! We only live once and it’s so amazing to be motivated to achieve something for yourself. It’s very scary and its very tough but when you look back you will love that you did it.
If you’re going back to work, don’t be hard on yourself, give yourself time to find your groove. And you will. Don’t feel guilty, as babies and toddlers need to have time away from their mothers to explore the world and gain different perspectives on things. Every person or place they go to offers them something and if working makes you happy and whole as an individual, the quality time you spend with your children will be so valuable.
