Asma from ‘Mama and Baby Serenity’ gives us a glimpse inside her world! Mama and baby Serenity is all about empowering mothers and mothers-to-be through bespoke midwife-led classes for a positive birth and beyond!
Tell us something about yourself that’s not mentioned on your profile or bio?
Having lived in 8 countries has been a master class in humility, modesty and openness to others. What is your business about and what inspired you to embark on this journey? What is your WHY?
My idea of supporting women through their pregnancy and postnatal journey has been out there for a long time but very rarely included us all, meaning every single woman no matter her background, language, experience. I have that multi ethnic culture and tolerance embedded into what I can provide to women so they are informed the same way a British born English woman is. Every woman and her experience of pregnancy is different and so should the information she is provided. My aim is to empower women so they understand and can make their own decisions about the care they really need at this delicate time in their lives. How has your brand's mission evolved over time or is it the same as when you started your business?
I have launched my services only in March 2020 so my brand is still at an early stage, however we know that we have lots of positives to expect ahead of us.
What is your passion aside from the work that you do and do you make time for it? Gardening, reading, painting, etc.
I'm a passionate runner and practice Muay Thai (martial art sport). I'm into everything to do with healthy eating, cooking and taking long walks in nature is my biggest therapy.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
No day looks like another! I'm a very busy mum of three boys, completing a masters in public health, working part-time as a midwife. So my days are always full of adventures, some challenging and some pass through like a breeze.
If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you love to do?
I would love to have a chat with a complete stranger. You learn so much!
What are the three values you would never compromise on in your personal or professional life? Ones that really ground you.
Passion, dedication, honesty!
Which makes you happier: making a sale or having a meaningful conversation with a prospect ?
A meaningful conversation nourishes your soul, no doubt about that.
How has your company/processes changed over the past year with the pandemic? How have you grown during this time?
Our company has not grown at all and we're still in very early stages.
What’s your greatest life lesson that you have learned in your journey so far?
Each day at a time, patience, perseverance, hard work and good intentions always pay off.
What does ’success’ mean to you? Building a bigger team, reaching a more global audience or expanding your product line?
Success means that I make a huge change in one woman's life at a time.
Obviously, reaching more and more women/ pregnant couples would be ideal but I focus on quality rather than quantity, always. I wouldn't have issues in expanding my services and finding staff for it. However, the challenge is to provide consistently excellent high quality standards of services no matter the circumstances.
When you have too many people vying for your time and attention, how do you make space for yourself? What's one self care routine you would never give up?
I usually plan and prioritize tasks across my weeks and months. My body and faith, my family and my work , all have a different share of space in my daily routine.
How do you frame setbacks or mistakes that happen in your business or professional work? How do you get past them?
We have not encountered any major difficulties so far, however, throughout my life experience there's always room for improvement. Being honest, acknowledging mistakes, reflecting on them and setting future plans to develop a better version of oneself is an ethical must within our small business community.
As a Muslim female entrepreneur, what advice would you give to someone who is on the fence about starting a business?
Plan, plan, plan, persevere and Allah is the best of planners.
As a muslim woman, how do you feel about muslim representation in your niche?
They're very rare. I haven't met any so far hence the need for a change and inclusion.
A comment from you on Collaboration over Competition?
Within our business, all work done is made through sincere intentions. There's so much to do so everyone can work hard and achieve so may Allah bless their work abundantly.
Find out more about Asma’s amazing work at www.mamaandbabyserenity.com/
Are you enjoying the blog?
We hope you enjoyed reading about Asma’s journey in her own words. We are so grateful for her honesty and we hope that you benefit from all her insights about life and motherhood. Do share this blog post with friends and family! And stay tuned for more inspiring features coming your way!