Michelle Pontvert

Tell us about your business.

I'm a Squarespace website designer working with Moms / Mums growing their service-based businesses. I'm passionate about empowering them with easy-to-use websites that work hard for their businesses, so they can spend more time with their families and doing what they truly love.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?

My son is the reason I created my business in the first place. The whole approach I take in my business and how I work with clients is based around the idea of creating a family first business. So, my 1:1 services are as time-asynchronous as possible to allow myself and my busy mom clients the flexibility to work when it suits us during the day. I've recently added more productized services to my offerings to not only offer lower-investment options to moms just starting out but to also liberate more of my time from my screen.

What would you say is your greatest business success to date?

Starting my business was a huge step! I felt quite lost after deciding to transition my career away from film to make space to have a family, so I was certain I didn't want another intense freelance job again. So creating my business with firm boundaries right from the start was critical to it success!

What is the greatest obstacle you have faced in your business?

I had to take 3 months off completely in my first year to be present with my son when he needed me most. It was really challenging to step away from client work, but that space gave me inspiration to reshape my offers in a way that I truly believe serves both my clients and myself much better.

What are the things that help you stay organized and get things done?

I'm a very organized person by nature, but I love having my to-do list in ClickUp so I can add anything that pops into my head throughout the day to my list on my phone and jump into it when I'm back at my desk.

Since you are also a mom, how do you balance everything?

Boundaries are key! I have set times when my son is at school when I work, and outside of that, I try very hard to remain present with him. There are the occasional calls after school, but if they are unavoidable I always make sure to reconnect with him afterwards.

Do you think being a mom has helped you with the success of your business? if so, how?

Definitely! My whole business is shaped around being a Mom and I work with other Moms, so that experience is key! I also think it's helped me hold my boundaries much better than I would have if it was just me I was thinking about.

What advice would you give to other moms who dream about starting their own business, but they don’t think they can do it all?

Figure out what your non-negotiables are first and figure out the work you want to do around that. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do, but having a solid grasp on what I didn't want was critical in it all coming together in the end.

Do you have any stories you’d like to share that may amuse, entertain or inspire others?

I'm an Expat (living in France, from Australia originally and spent over a decade in the States) and at every turn of motherhood and business I've come face to face with cultural differences that have been really eye-opening for me. That experience helps me not take things at face value, and to be really globally minded with my business.