What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former, expectant self?

Trust your instinct! If something doesn’t feel right, pause and think about it.

You changed course from a marketing executive to an eco-conscious, slow-fashion entrepreneur. You launched Lambert as a mother of two. Tell us about that journey.

At that time, I needed a new challenge. I got the idea of creating my own company when I was looking for a diaper bag that was both chic and functional, and I couldn’t find anything on the market. I’ve decided to work with a designer to put on paper the perfect design I had in mind.

I knew I could put my passion for marketing and fashion together to create a strong brand. This is how Lambert was born.

Can you tell me a bit more about how you find yourself inspired on a daily basis?

Everything can be an inspiration, but I follow a lot of influencers that I love so I get inspired, I read to get up to date with the trends and I travel a lot, this is when I get the most inspired. When you get off your routine, this is when you get the most creative.

My team always know that when I come back from vacation, they have to be ready for all my crazy new ideas. They got used to it!

Your work has the important signature of engaging individuals in a fashion-forward, eco-conscious approach to bags and accessories. It is more than a collection it is a commitment. Which allows you to elevate current consumer thinking and standards. You continue to serve as an amazing resource for individuals and families at all stages. Is providing this level of integrated support what you had imagined for yourself?

Not at all! It’s really over the years that I started to feel the need to inspire people around me. I not only want to inspire our customers to live a certain lifestyle, but I only want to inspire my team (which is 99% women) that they can do everything they dream.

What do you see as common between your day and personal work?

I feel being a mom and an entrepreneur is really similar. You need to be organized, to plan in advance, you need leadership and you need to listen. You also have to give the team (and children!) a direction and what you expect from them.

As I often mention, it is very special to grow your family as the same time as growing a company. There are different challenges, but I strongly believe it’s possible.

Being a mother and an entrepreneur have brought me great skills that can be useful in both of these roles.

What about you? Where do you find your support? Time to care for yourself? Access to the tools you need to recharge?

I am part of different entrepreneur group (The What Alliance, WPO), so I can talk to order president and discuss with other women that have to deal with the same situations than I.

I’m also grateful to have my husband by my side, who is a strong support.

As I said, I am really organized so I reserve one hour of me time per week and I travel few times a year to recharge my battery.

Thinking back, was your biggest challenge as a new mother working? Can you give some flavor to that time in your life?  If motherhood was not your biggest challenge, what was?

Being a mother of three is definitely the biggest challenge and probably the longest and most fulfilling challenge I will ever have.

I think that the biggest challenge is to find the balance between both. I feel guilty when I am in a rush of I have to travel for work, but after the rush, I try to spend more time with my family. Also, when I take time off with my kids, they have all my attention. I have to try to separate my personal life from my work, which is a huge challenge when you are an entrepreneur.

What pro-tips do you have to share with other new or expectant mother?

First of all, always remember that it is possible to be a good mother and a good entrepreneur at the same time.

Second, I think that guilty is useless. I think that you need to divide your time and to be really organized so that everything can work. And the most important thing, you need to take time for yourself.

Who was your biggest source of support in returning to work as a new mother?

With my third child, I was back to work after only 2 weeks, with him. It was easy for me because I knew what to expect. I was doing my meeting with my newborn and it gave me energy to be with my team. When I was to tired, I just need to stay home. The most important thing is to not try to be a super women, listen to yourself and your baby.

Who are your mentors? Who do you mentor?

I don’t have one specific mentor, but I have an entourage of strong women. I also do work for almost a year with a coach that helps me and my team with scaling up.

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