Business can be like having a child with Maha Corbett Co-Founder of SWIISH
In this episode of the Powerful Stories Podcast, we had the opportunity to hear from Maha Corbett Co-Founder of SWIISH. Today in the Nova studio we are not only joined by Maha but her beautiful 4 week only baby Joshua who joins the conversation as well! Known for her entrepreneurial spirit, Maha began her career in Investment Banking Human Resources where she held senior executive roles. However, her desire to start her own business, coupled with her passion for all things wellness and fashion, saw Maha leave this career behind to launch SWIISH.com in October 2012 alongside her sister, Sally Obermeder. SWIISH stands for Stylish Women Inspiring Inner Strength Health & Happiness, and is a vibrant, feel-good online destination. It inspires women to feel amazing inside and out. The goal of starting this business was always to build it up so that they could enjoy the flexibility that comes with owning your own business, and start a family. ‘With all my experience through SWIISH, I fully understand the value of self-care and make it a priority, even now with a newborn’ says Maha. Working right up until the birth of her little boy, Maha takes us through the unexpected arrival of Joshua and how she managed the transition of the business being her number #1 priority, to her new family. Being a new mum in business, learning how to trust others to do your job while you are away is essential. ‘It has taken us years to get the right team in place so that we do not need to be across every A-Z’ says Maha. As Joshua joins us for a feed, Tory reminisces about early motherhood and business with some funny insights about her daughter pooping during a client pitch meeting to break the ice. One of the hardest tasks is finding the off switch. Maha’s top tips - ‘At some point, you have to say that is enough for today – because if you don’t look after yourself you can burn out. Also, there’s power in your team of people. If you have the right team you can let go and press that off switch.’ Maintaining boundaries is essential. With their husbands also working in the business, Maha gives her top tips for creating boundaries. She says you have to consciously create time to talk about life outside of work. Be intentional. Maintaining balance in your relationships, including the one with yourself, will keep your relationships healthy. ‘Bringing Joshua into the world has been a long time coming and I don’t want to miss anything. I am happy to keep an eye on the business but I want to be there for all the small moments’ says Maha. So, if she was to send a message to her future self when Joshua turns 21 years old…what would it be? Maha says, ‘You did good, you took life’s ups and downs and you gave back and at the end of the day I just want him to be proud of me.’ And finally, Tory asks Maha her three most powerful steps you ever took in business. ‘Just starting is the first step. Then you really need to know the numbers, but accountable to them and understand what they mean. And finally, you have to be able to make tough decisions around people.’ So, sit back and enjoy this powerful story with the extraordinary Maha Corbett. Links: Sign up to the Powerful Steps #coffeechallenge to gain Tory’s proven formula for building a global network, with three coffee dates a week. It’s how she connected with the guests on this podcast. Each one is an authentic and trusted connection Powerful Steps Follow @powerfulsteps on Instagram Powerful Steps on LinkedIn SWIISH Follow @swiishbysallyo on Instagram Follow SWIISH on Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.