Five Central Coast businesswomen have been named as finalists in the prestigious AusMumpreneur awards, with the winners to be announced at the end of August.
Running since 2009, the awards are hosted by founders of The Women’s Business School, Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner, with this year’s awards attracting 1,877 nominations nation-wide.
Entrants must be Australian mums with registered businesses, with finalists selected by a panel of industry judges.
Kristina Gowlland of Bubsibrain is thrilled to have been named a finalist in the Product Innovation category.
The Saratoga mum is an award-winning singer-songwriter with an Aria Award nomination to her credit.
But it is for a product she created in her effort to beat post-natal depression that Gowlland has been nominated.
“I created something out of nothing when I realised how now, more than ever, amidst the challenging times we are living in, was the moment for us all to be looking at our situations creatively,” she said.
“I truly believe there is an innovator in all of us.
“When I gave birth to my first child, I was a mess; I had no idea what to do with a baby.
“So, I turned to the NSW Government’s baby development guide, Love, Talk, Sing, Play.
“However, because my baby cried all the time, I wasn’t able to do any of the activities with him.
“Postnatal depression set in and after a few weeks I basically gave up.
“I’m a singer-songwriter, so in ‘giving up,’ I just relaxed and started to do what I naturally do anyway, which is sing.
“And then, all of a sudden, as I started to sing…he stopped crying.
“That’s when I had my a-ha moment.
“If I could write and sing a song coinciding with each developmental activity, I could stop the tears plus be able to actually do the developmental activities with him.”
Enlisting the help and endorsement of top paediatrician Dr John Eastwood, Gowlland penned the album Sing Baby Sing and released the music under her brand, Bubsibrain.
Her developmental music for infants aged 0-12 months was a world first.
Discovering how the music also assisted in settling and establishing routine, she decided to take it a step further and create black-and-white books for babies, teaching herself Illustrator and learning the ins-and-outs of publishing.
“Without all this, I would have spiralled into a deep depression,” she said.
“If I hadn’t listened to that inner voice inside, who knows where I’d be today?”
Bubsibrain has received 5-star reviews from grateful fellow mums.
Other Coast award finalists are: Jo Pennington, Munchas Café & Catering (AusMumpreneur of the Year); Christine Mastello, Southlakes Incorporated (Big Idea); Kathy Hubble, Amelio Health (Digital Innovation); and Jodie Minto, iland co (Fashion).
Terry Collins