What is equally important to us as a business is the support of fellow females on a global scale. As last year's Entrepreneurial Women of the Future winner, I have ensured that one of our key roles at BEAR continues to be inspiring and supporting the employment of primarily single mothers in rural developing countries, where few opportunities exist.
The joy of having a baby is unsurpassable and I wouldn't change it for the world; it's by far the best thing I've ever done, but on the flip-side I could never not pursue my beloved music. For me music is a way of life, not a job - it's part of my genetic makeup. If I'm not making music something inside me dies, so I knew I had to find a way to be a working mummy.
Surely the best way to ensure that both parents can and do play an active role in their child's life is to highlight the benefits of an active involvement and to place an equal role of the value of both parents, not just on separation, but at all stages of a child's life and at all levels of society.
Almost 21 months ago, I gave birth to my greatest inspiration, my son Corey. After a year's maternity leave I was certain that the full-time job was not for me. So, I decided to embark on a freelance, writing career with the great expectation (albeit unrealistic!) that this was the key to achieving that perfect, work/life balance.