Maria Shriver

Teresa Delfín, Mompreneur & Founder, Mountain Mama

By Teresa Delfín

Like many mompreneurs, my “aha” moment came during my pregnancy – in my case, because of my pregnancy. As an avid outdoor athlete, the last thing I expected was for my clothes to be what got in the way of enjoying nature during pregnancy. But I was shocked to find that no one made maternity clothes for outdoor adventure – not even long underwear! Much less the specialty technical apparel I’d relied on for years as a climber, kayaker, skier and cyclist – the warm and wicking clothing that is the staple of outdoor shops such as REI.

So in the bits of spare time I could squeeze out from my job as an anthropology professor, I began sketching designs for the clothes I wanted to be wearing, instead of my husband’s oversized fleece and flannel. Once my baby turned a year old, I decided the time was right to put everything into starting my own outdoor apparel company, Mountain Mama. So far, that bet’s paying off. My first designs were nominated for prestigious awards, and the Outdoor Industry Association has just named Mountain Mama the most inspiring company in the industry!

Here’s how I juggle life as a mama and entrepreneur:

1. Involve your kids. The last thing I wanted was for my baby to resent the company that he inspired, so whenever possible I include him in the fun aspects of the business. My work-related outings frequently turn into his exciting field trips. He has seen the inside workings of a fabric mill from the comfort of a child-carrier backpack. The fun trade shows he’s attended have become his theme parks. He has even “assisted” with a photo shoot -- he may be a toddler, but he has strong opinions about how to style his mama! My son is closing in on three, and so far he loves my business. When it’s time to go to work, he even cheers “Mmmama!” with a mama-power fist-in-the-air salute.
2. Communicate on your terms. As every parent knows, phone calls with young kids in the house can be frustrating and inefficient affairs. Babies grab at receivers, toddlers beg to chime in, and kids pick call times to scream in the background. It took me a long time, but I finally stopped apologizing for missing phone calls, or interrupting them when I did manage to answer. I now make it clear that email is how I communicate best, and have even taken my phone number off my email signature. Ironically, my smart phone is my business tool of choice, but I use it most often to check my email!
3. Adapt to your family. One of the biggest perks of life as a mompreneur is being your own boss. That means that most days you’re in complete control of your time. Use some creativity to figure out a work schedule that meshes well with your family’s needs and routines. My little one loves to explore the backyard and play with his toys in the morning, making it a great time for me to get things done. A tag team approach to sharing child care duties with my husband has worked well. But I always try to schedule my day so that I’m free when he wakes up from his afternoon nap, since that’s when he wants to snuggle. And who would want to miss out on snuggle time?
4. Network, network, network! All new moms know the feeling of going days without adult conversations. Entrepreneurship has similar pitfalls. It’s easy to get so consumed by juggling work and family that you forget to reach out to friends or network with other professionals. But you need friends for emotional support and other entrepreneurs can provide invaluable advice. Seek out other mompreneurs to connect with. Make time for friends. Plan weekly coffee or phone dates to share battle stories and resources or to simply recharge.
5. Stay inspired! I founded Mountain Mama because I knew that there are thousands of other women just like me who are determined to maintain their fit, outdoor lifestyles throughout pregnancy and motherhood. The enthusiastic emails and phone calls I get from those women when they find Mountain Mama helps keep me energized. Staying in touch with what inspires can get you through the challenges. These days, most of my work is done indoors at the computer, but I remind myself constantly that my business exists because of my passion for playing outdoors. So even though the workload is only growing, I still make sure the whole family gets outside to play in the mountains on a regular basis. More often than not, our outings lead to fresh inspiration. It turns out that a little time off is actually great for business!

Mountain Mama founder Teresa Delfín brings her passion for adventure to motherhood, designing maternity clothing that the Los Angeles Times calls “the Patagonia for pregnant women.” Her debut line won a prestigious 2010 Polartec® APEX Award for design innovation and excellence, and was featured on Good Morning America. Delfín has a Ph.D. from Stanford and is a member of the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition.