Book Review
Amanda Jane Jones and Jennifer Fernandez, authors of the new book, Mother / Founder: 68 Women on the Trials and Triumphs of Starting a Business and Raising a Family, share that starting a business can be daunting, scary, and exciting, all at once; so too can starting a family. But they also believe they can successfully coexist. Their new book is an inspirational and empowering celebration of more than sixty women who are both dedicated mothers and successful entrepreneurs who show what’s possible.
In their new book, Mother / Founder: 68 Women on the Trials and Triumphs of Starting a Business and Raising a Family, Amanda Jane Jones and Jennifer Fernandez bring together the insights of an incredible roster of women. They each practically demonstrate that entrepreneurship can be both a sustainable and fulfilling model for working motherhood. Each woman profiled here shares insights from her journey as well as powerful lessons and practical advice, including:
How to plan for maternity leave
The benefits of sharing financial information with your peers
Key points to include when drafting a contract
Creative ways to include your kids in your work
The value of building support systems, from advisory boards to nanny shares
Author Quotes
As more and more women are reevaluating their career choices and seeking jobs that offer more money, more flexibility, and greater opportunities to be with their families, the logical answer for some has been entrepreneurship. But this way of life, this level of autonomy, is foreign to so many.
By collecting the stories of more than sixty female entrepreneurs, we hope to have created in Mother/Founder an empowering resource for anyone needing inspiration as they forge a new path or career for themselves.
We want to empower mothers, to support them and raise them up, because we know they are already equipped with many of the tools necessary for success.
About the authors
Amanda Jane Jones was the co-creator and founding designer of Kinfolk, and is now a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, and children's book author. She has been featured by Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and Martha Stewart Living, as well as online publications that include Mother Mag, Cup of Jo, Domino, Wit & Delight, Oh Joy!, VSCO, Gap, and Click Magazine. Her product collaborations include Opinel, Revival Rugs, Solly Baby, and Schoolhouse Electric. She is a recent transplant to the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, after having all of her children (Jane, Miles, and Wes) on the south side of Chicago. Her kids were the inspiration for her books Yum Yummy Yuck, The Hair Book, Fuzzy Furry Ouch, and Decorate the Tree. Find her at amandajanejones.com and @amandajanejones.
Jennifer Fernandez is a former magazine and digital editor who has written about design, travel, and food for nationwide publications that include The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Travel + Leisure, Esquire, Departures, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and Domino. She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband and two young daughters, Sophie and Maren.
Why LoA loves it…
If you thought that it was an impossible feat trying to successfully start a new business and raise a family at the same time, then think again. In their new book, Mother / Founder: 68 Women on the Trials and Triumphs of Starting a Business and Raising a Family, authors and entrepreneurs Amanda Jane Jones and Jennifer Fernandez, gather together the insights of incredible women who are doing just that. Each woman entrepreneur has a different take on the juggling act of business building whilst also building strong families that can thrive. This is a must-read book for all women entrepreneurs who are currently trying to navigate the journey to successful business building and family raising. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa