147 - Navigating Motherhood and Entrepreneurship: Nancy's Journey

Nancy Lai is a Singaporean mumpreneur, educator, and designer who has successfully launched two businesses inspired by her experiences as a mother. Her entrepreneurial journey began when she faced challenges finding suitable furniture for her eldest daughter, Kayleen, who has allergies prone to severe nosebleed episodes. In response to this personal need, Nancy designed Playand, a line of multi-functional foam furniture consisting of six modular pieces. The furniture is safe, low in height, free of hard wooden or metal parts, and made of certified, stain-resistant, and machine-washable materials. As her first venture grew, Nancy launched a second business called A Mighty Mum, a functional nursing clothing line. This brand was born out of her own struggles with limited public nursing rooms and lack of suitable clothing options for nursing. This episode is brought to you by Deel, the all-in-one platform simplifying global team management with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance solutions, trusted by over 35,000 businesses worldwide. Learn more at ⁠deel.com/adriantan⁠. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Meet Nancy: The Mompreneur 01:25 Nancy's E-commerce Brands 03:27 Nancy's Startup Journey 06:47 Transition to Teaching and COVID-19 Impact 08:52 Starting New Businesses During COVID-19 13:28 Balancing Family and Business 15:52 Product Development and Solving Parenting Problems 22:04 Business Philosophy and Prioritizing Family 26:44 Time Management Strategies 27:20 Balancing Business and Family 28:30 Choosing the Right Tools 29:40 Challenges in Starting a Business 30:26 Innovative Solutions for Cash Flow 31:52 Bootstrap Success Stories 38:40 Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt 46:33 Advice for Aspiring Mompreneurs 51:24 Final Thoughts Seedly Personal Finance Festival 2025: Use code ADRIANPFF100 for 100% off (limited supplies) or ADRIANPFF20 for 20% off Get full access to Will That Work? at www.adriantan.com.sg/subscribe