The word is mom - that is, mompreneur

MANILA, Philippines - The Mompreneur revolution has begun. From party planning companies to beauty and cleaning products, more and more mothers are making it big in the world of entrepreneurship, and showing the world it is possible to care for their kids while being successful businesswomen at the same time.

“As women, it’s in our nature to be entrepreneurs. We are naturally creative, which allows us to come up with innovative new products,” shared Mompreneur Manila founder Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva at Mompreneur Manila’s Think Big: The 1st Mompreneur Summit last Sept. 15. “Our knack for budgeting and multi-tasking also helps us in managing business operations and finances.”

As the first business conference of its kind in the Philippines, Think Big featured inspiring talks from key influencers in the worlds of entrepreneurship, marketing, and public relations.

To open the summit, marketing guru Josiah Go of Mansmith & Fielders and Amor Maclang, director for communications of GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, emphasized the importance of a focused vision in attaining one’s entrepreneurial goals. “If you want to be successful, cut out the flab, over-focus, and over-communicate that focus,” Maclang shared.

Next, Janette Toral of DigitalFilipino.com and top blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet stressed the importance of establishing one’s relevance and uniqueness through social media, and creating an online persona in the road towards success.

Messy Bessy founder Krie Reyes-Lopez shared the story of her successful social enterprise. Following the motto “I clean, I green, I educate,” Lopez and her team came up with a line of non-toxic, natural and environmental cleaning products and established HOuSe (Helping Ourselves through Sustainable Enterprises), a program that employs at-risk young adults and helps to send them through college. “What we’re doing is always about the people we serve,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Maclang encouraged mompreneurs to help Filipino farmers by sourcing locally for their products. “We have the power to change lives and help the country out of poverty,” said Maclang. Their agency’s campaign for the local Jamba Juice franchise generated global awareness for Guimaras’s mangoes and was recently awarded at the 2012 International Business Awards.

“Understand what your higher purpose is, and make it about others. When you make money your second priority, it will start pouring in,” she added.

Next9 founder Jen Tan cited the importance of setting boundaries and delegating tasks and learning to say “no” to stay focused and balanced.

Lopez also stressed the importance of putting her child at the center of her endeavors. She said, “When thinking about my business, I ask myself, ‘Is what I’m doing worth the time away from her? Does it make me a better person, and a better mom?’”

To close the summit, Maclang encouraged the delegates to believe in their innate entrepreneurial skills as mothers. “Scaling your business is in your hands. Big or small is perfectly okay. But never say, ‘Mommy lang ako’.”

The 1st Mompreneur Summit was sponsored by PLDT KaAsenso along with Working Mom magazine, Lifestyle Network, GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, Waters Philippines, Urban Mom magazine, and Mommy Pages. For more information on Mompreneur Manila, log on to www.mompreneurmanila.com on LIKE it on Facebook. For inquiries, e-mail info@mompreneurmanila.com or call 470-9925.