Naomi Garrick and Stacey Hines have a lot in common. They’re both well-respected in their fields, they’re both mothers, and both are entrepreneurs. However, their journey to entrepreneurship was very different.

Hines, CEO of digital media transformation company Epic Transformation, fell in love with tech as a child, thanks to the influence of her father and has worked in the industry for many years.

On the other hand, Garrick, CEO of public relations firm Garrick Communications, started her career journey in the tourism and hospitality industry before being recruited to sales and marketing and later PR.

Despite the difference in the start of their work lives, both women said entrepreneurship was the natural next step in their careers.

Speaking on Taking Stock with Kalilah Reynolds, Hines explained that she worked in tech for many years as a developer helping dozens of corporations across North America with their platforms. 

Hines said that her experience working in tech highlighted some of the pitfalls in the industry that she believed she could help address. 

The tech CEO officially launched her business in 2017 while working full-time for another company. 

“It was a natural but scary transition,” she said.

She said that after a few years of treating her business as more of a side hustle, she decided to launch out strategically.

“I found one particular client first and it’s one of the things that I would say especially if you’re transitioning from corporate and especially if you have children, you want to make sure that you’re leveraging opportunities and technology,” she said.

“For me, that was looking around companies that I was interacting with while I was full-time and seeing how I could solve a problem. Once I saw that there were problems to solve, then it was which one of these problems is coming to give me a consistent enough income so that I don’t have to worry about money for six months,” she said.

Hines said she found a client willing to sign a 6-12 month contract and that gave her enough confidence to leap.

Garrick said her leap into entrepreneurship so not nearly as strategic. 

She transitioned into media after realising the tourism and hospitality industry was not suited to her. 

After working in sales and marketing for five years at RETV, Garrick found her footing in the public relations space and used all the knowledge and experience she had gained throughout her career to position herself as a leader in the industry.

However, she soon realised that the type of work she was doing was not fulfilling. 

“I realised that it was not for me and I just made a decision to start my company in 2009. I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have any money saved up for business, all I had was my experience, a laptop, a BlackBerry and a digital camera because we didn’t have smart phones,” she said.

Luckily, Garrick said, she was able to land her first client thanks to a write-up in a local newspaper.

“It’s scary because when you getting a regular paycheck, you can count on it but when you’re stepping into your own business you’re not just looking and creating that check but you’re also doing every thing else,” Hines said.

Balancing motherhood and work

Both women agree that one of the biggest drivers behind their success is their children.

Both Hines and Garrick said that while they find their jobs fulfilling, balancing motherhood and work life can be a struggle.

“I used to feel so guilty living in the days going to work. There was a time when my son would just hold on to the gate and cry when I was driving out and that was a big problem for me,” Garrick said.

Hines shared a similar experience.

“I remember when I had my daughter, there was a big promotion that I had just gotten and I had to travel to New York when she was four months old. But I was breast feeding and I was not going to be out done so while I was in New York I was Fedexing breast milk so that she wouldn’t have to drink formula,” she said.

Despite the challenges, the momtrepreneurs said that their children provide the greatest source of inspiration to carry on.

“So those days when I didn’t feel like going to work, or writing that press release, or covering that event I definitely got myself out of the bed and where I needed to go because I have a major responsibility,” Garrick said.

“And at the end of day I want to provide a better life for the both of us,” she added.

“I recently got an award from the High Commission of Canada and the best thing for me that day wasn’t the award but when my daughters came home from school and said ‘oh wow mommy, I’m so proud of you!’, she shared.

“The truth is when you have balance in one area of your life more than likely you’ll be out of balance in another area. But the key thing is that you have to recognise and accept it to be so. But its a journey but we have to give ourselves grace,” she added.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE