At the beginning of the year, my team and I were brainstorming copy ideas for accessories. I wanted something that could be embossed on the inside of a headband or keychain, and serve as a gentle reminder to that person whenever they saw it. Introducing these little phrases to the MM world has been one of my favourite parts about building the brand over the last eight years - the idea that the name of a garment, or something written on the inside of a blazer, might change how a person feels about themselves and help them move through the world. Eventually we landed on “Better to be brave”, without knowing at the time that those words would go on to carry me throughout 2024.
I started the year seven months pregnant and entirely unsure of what motherhood would mean for my business, my relationships, or life as I knew it. Giving birth requires a kind of bravery in a league of its own, and trying to calibrate a new version of yourself with an old one is jarring and messy. We closed our Britomart Home in October to make plans for our next international store. We celebrated Somewhere’s fifth birthday in November and reflected on the obstacles and setbacks that got us here. And almost all of my team stepped into new roles (like Jax, who became a mum to two boys under two!) that stretched us beyond what felt comfortable. None of it has been easy, but all of it reminded me of those four words: Better to be brave.
I’ve always tried to be a leader with compassion for how somebody’s personal life is reflected in the way they show up at work. But in becoming a mum, I now have a better understanding of the complex lives of working parents. There’s a misconception that when a woman enters motherhood, the shift in her priorities will come at the expense of her work ethic. But in my experience of employing mums over the last eight years, I’ve only found the opposite to be true. The mums in our business (our accounts team is made up of three!) are diligent, reliable, and hardworking, and all of them have insanely busy lives outside of the office. Becoming a mum has made me a better leader too: I’m a better communicator, more efficient with my time, more decisive, and I have a better radar for bullsh*t. Above all, my capacity has grown exponentially.
I want MM to be a place where mums feel empowered to build a career here, and in the years to come I hope it’s a place that is sensitive to, and embracing of, the realities of raising a family. It’s true what a mentor once told me: However much grace and trust you give your team, the right ones will give it back to you ten-fold.
You will have had your own “better to be brave” moments this year. Moments where you did what felt right over what felt easy. Maybe you chose to leave a stable job to start a dream business. Or moved countries. Survived those first few weeks or months as a new mum. Asked for a pay rise. For support. For time. If you happen to find yourself at another fork in the road this summer, I hope you think of those four words (or see them on your keys when rummaging through your bag) and remember that most good things live on the other side of courage.
Have a safe and happy holiday, tilt yourself towards the sun, and I’ll see you at our place soon.
With love,
Maggie
