Canada’s top mom-entrepreneur of 2009 is proof that mom-entrepreneurs succeed best when they help support each other.
Shirley Broback, 34, was awarded the SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award for her work as producer of the Vancouver Island Baby Fair and says her win proves that self-described regular women like her can make a big difference with big dreams and big effort.
“It shows you don’t have to be a big shot, just a regular person with some big plans and the confidence to put your plans into action,” Broback said.
Broback beat out 316 other nominees across the country to win the distinction of being named Canada’s top mom-entrepreneur along with $15,500 in cash and business services. She’s overjoyed to win but credits her clients and friends for helping to make her nomination possible.
“It’s such an honour to win the award. I had so many friends and family and exhibitors rallying for me. The prizes are incredible and the exposure is just phenomenal. I think it can be inspiring to other mom entrepreneurs,” Broback said.
Sarah Morgenstern, publisher and founder of SavvyMom Media, which gives out the award every year says Broback won the award not only for her own work but for her support of other mom-entrepreneurs — many of Broback’s exhibitors at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair are mom-entrepreneurs themselves.
“Shirley did an amazing job of spreading the word. She’s a mom-entrepreneur and a mom-entrepreneur incubator — we like that,” Morgenstern said.
Broback says the hardest part of being a mom-entrepreneur is finding ways to excel at the business side of your career while still making family time a priority.
“The biggest challenge is to divide family time and give yourself boundaries to that. You turn off the cellphone, you don’t check email. You have to set boundaries for yourself and it is very challenging. It’s definitely a big juggling act that people have to concentrate on and figure out for themselves,” Broback said.
Her best piece of advice for other Canadian mom-entrepreneurs? Remember to delegate.
“You can’t do it all yourself. It takes lots of other input and help and support to make your business happen, so don’t try to do it all yourself,” Broback said.
