Key Takeaways From Our Digital Mamas Making It Summit

In its 5th year, our annual Mamas Making It Summit may have been a bit different this year, but we felt just as connected with our stellar panelists, mentors, contributors, and attendees as ever before — if not even more so. We’ve all become familiar with digital meetings over the past year (perhaps a little too familiar), which is why when we decided to go virtual for the first time, we wanted to make sure to create a unique experience that embraced the intimacy of the circumstance, not evaded it.

On Friday, March 5th, we offered a full day of digital activities, from panel discussion about topics like brand-building, engaging with your community, money, and more, to breakout sessions during which attendees could engage directly with experts to sharpen their social media skills and shine up their resumes. And in addition, guests enjoyed a Bev networking happy hour hosted by dentist and entrepreneur Linda Parra and were invited to peruse some cultural cooking videos courtesy of Our Place. And since we couldn’t all be together in person, guests were also given access to a digital gift bag filled with special deals from a few of our favorite brands: Mate, Bumo, Bev, ByChari, Ceremonia, Our Place, Saie, and Fleur Marché.

But of course it just wouldn’t be a Mamas Making It Summit without the wisdom from the women involved. During out Digital Gamechangers panel, the conversation naturally focused around the importance of individuality with your given platform. “I think just being transparent — whether you’re starting your own small business or you’re trying to build engagement as a personality — just [take] people along for that journey,” shared Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli, host of Naked Beauty Podcast. And Maed founder Denise Vasi agreed, adding in her hilarious — and very relatable — anecdote to stress the point. “You see all these picture perfect situations on Instagram,” she started, referring to social media presence during a simultaneous pandemic and civil rights movement. “There’s no baking banana bread right now. I’m day drinking [...] and arguing with my husband about whose shift it is. I think it’s super important to keep it real and super important to stand behind social issues that are happening.”

As our panel of Community Leaders chatted, the ladies related on the fact that many of their current careers were not necessarily as they’d planned, but being in a position to offer resources to others — especially other mamas — makes them believe that they’re right where they should be. All the more reason to stay open to possibilities that come your way. “I just want to encourage everyone to know that if you’re faced with kind of a weird situation where things are not aligning and you weren’t planning — you gotta embrace it,” said Chriselle Lim, Bumo founder. “You just never know where it can take you,”

During our Money Moves panel, panelist and Pagerie founder Mandy Madden brought many of our guests to tears when she shared how she overcame insecurities about she her race and language barriers growing up. “I started thinking my success equates to my skin color and that was so wrong of me to do,” she said. “And as I grew up and got married and found my soulmate, as I became a mom, I realized the importance of owning and celebrating who we are.”

The idea of transparency was brought back around again during our Branding Brilliance panel. When asked what Mothergood founder Rana Batyske was “tired” of in terms of content lately, she responded “I’m a little tired of people being contrived — offline and online.” She then elaborated, offering a series of questions she believes every budding brand should answer. “I think where some people can misstep usually is trying to look everywhere else instead of looking inwards,” she began. “What’s the reason you started all this? What’s the point? What is your mission? What do you stand for? And how do you continue to keep that succinct instead of focusing everywhere else and trying to just stay on trend?”

Closing out the day was our Woman In Music panel, where panelists and DJs/artists Uffie and Victoria Rawlins bonded over what they had to go through to make their mark in the industry — while remaining devoted mamas. This included breaking off relationships and having to demand respect and stand up for what you believe in. “I just want to be myself and if I feel like I can’t be that way then I don’t want to show anyone anything,” explained Rawlings on the topic of prioritizing genuine relationships. And when asked how Uffie would advise young women starting out in the business, she responded, “You’ve got to go in there with your boss hat on. And if you don’t feel it, fake it. And don’t compromise for them.”

The two capped off the jam-packed day with powerful insight from an especially inclusive industry, but each panelist and mentor was just as impactful as the next and contributed to a day filled with inspiration that was so greatly needed at this time. Missed the event but still want to get in on the action? You can still purchase video access at mamasmakingit.com.

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in our big day!

Panel: Digital Gamechangers

Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli — Marketing @ Instagram & Host, Naked Beauty Podcast

Denise Vasi — Founder, Maed

Melanie Bender — Founding President, Versed

Rocky Barnes — Model, Influencer & Entrepreneur

Panel: Community Leaders Panel

Ana Flores — Founder & CEO, We All Grow Latina

Chriselle Lim — Digital Influencer & Entrepreneur

Jaycina Almond — Model & Founder, The Tender Foundation

Rachel Zeilic — VP of Influencer Marketing, Who What Wear

Mentor Session: Social Media

Annette Vartanian — Founder, Splendor Digital

Mai Nguyen Miyoshi — Social Media Consultant

Mentor Session: Clubhouse

Joey Ng — VP of Marketing at Output

Sylvie Esmundo — E-Commerce Lead at Facebook

Panel: Money Moves

Babba C Rivera — Founder, Ceremonia

Mandy Madden — Founder, Pagerie

Nyakio Grieco — Co-Founder, Thirteen Lune

Panel: Branding Brilliance

Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton — Founder & CEO, Chillhouse

Laney Crowell — Founder & CEO, Saie

Rana Batyske — Founder, Mothergood

Panel: Women in Music

Uffie — Artist, Writer & DJ

Victoria Rawlins — DJ & Producer