New Jersey is home to many ambitious and talented women who juggle family, career and home. A select few of these women are also extremely busy building their own companies to help better manage the whole work-life balance. At NJ Mom, we want to highlight these extraordinary women building NJ businesses and learn the secret to their success.
The Mother of All Baby Showers Owner and NJ Mompreneur: Amy Lundy
Amy Lundy is the NJ Mompreneur and owner of The Mother of All Baby Showers. NJ Mom had the wonderful opportunity to ask Amy a few questions about her business and herself; here’s what she had to share.
NJMOM: What inspired you to come up with the idea for your business?
Amy: I had taken a hiatus from corporate America six months prior when my daughter arrived. I knew I wanted to use my events and marketing background for a good purpose–to help others, but I wasn’t sure how. I had a baby and I was exhausted. I was lonely at times without a workplace to go to everyday and with few friends as I was new to the area. However, I was also passionate about being an entrepreneur one day and finding a way to spend time with my child while also working. As a new mom I personally wanted to find ways to connect with expectant and new parents in the same boat as me and my family, and I wanted to discover businesses supporting new families. I was a first time mom when I created The Mother of All Baby Showers (MOABS), I was in the trenches so to speak with other parents and I wanted to create the ultimate educational and celebratory night out for them. Necessity was literally the mother of invention in this case. My family inspired me to start the business and continually supported me to make this dream possible. My parents were both entrepreneurs (Jersey born and bred!), and my brothers and my husband are also business owners. It’s the most responsibility, and also the most rewarding. When I look back I’m thankful everyday that I took the leap to be my own boss.
NJMOM: What is your favorite part about your business?
Amy: My favorite part of my business is two-fold. First, I get to make my own schedule, to some degree. This has allowed me to be ‘sort of’ a stay-at-home mom to two children and also run my business. Having said that, balance doesn’t exactly exist. They say it takes a village and it really does! I have a truly wonderful partner in life, my husband, and children who understand that sometimes mommy works and sometimes mommy plays. I also have a great babysitter. Every day is different and challenging and fun. I also really take pride in MOABS connecting people to one another and family-friendly businesses to those people.
NJMOM: What is your background in your business expertise?
Amy: I started my career at Tiffany & Company and my last corporate gig was at American Express. I worked 10 years for other people before starting my own business. My background is in marketing, communications, events and management. Every position I held before starting MOABS, shaped the type of business owner and manager that I am today.
NJMOM: What do you offer and how is it different than other professionals in your field?
Amy: How we do it and why we do it is different. For the attendees and event partners it means creating an affordable, yet high-end night out and an educational and valuable, yet fun experience. We offer educational sessions, 50+ companies offering amazing products and services, mini spa treatments, food and drinks and thousands of dollars in giveaways. I want everyone to leave with useful resources and a real sense of confidence about parenting. I want attendees to know they have choices, but not feel overwhelmed by all the options. I’m really fortunate to have built strong relationships with true health experts in every market, such as in NJ with Hackensack University Medical Center, who has the absolute best women’s and children’s hospitals in NJ. We also work with local non-profits in every location. In NJ we are working with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.
NJMOM: Who is your role model?
Amy: This is a tough one, it’s really a tie between my mother and father because they’re both exceptional people in my eyes. However, my mother, Merle Lundy, a former Jersey girl, really takes the cake this time because she’s the awesome moderator of the educational sessions at this year’s event. She didn’t have a typical career. She is the ultimate multi-tasker and I’m certain I learned how to operate on little to no sleep from her! She is extraordinarily organized and resourceful. She spent her entire life devoted to her three children, while also running several non-profit organizations as an unpaid volunteer AND overseeing my father’s office operations. She instilled the importance of charity. She also taught me the value of checking off one more thing on your list everyday.
NJMOM: What’s the best piece of advice your mom ever gave to you?
Amy:
You can sleep when you’re dead.
Seeing a pattern here?! This was the same thing her father told her. And it stays in my mind all the time. I never want to miss out on opportunities to be with my family, grow my business, help other event partners grow their businesses, or offer a suggestion for my favorite product or service to an overwhelmed mom. If this means going to bed an hour later or waking up an hour earlier, it’s worth it to me.
NJMOM: Do you have a favorite quote you live by?
Amy: My favorite quote is by Maya Angelou–
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
It took me a long time to figure out that you can’t please everyone, but you can make a lot of people happy, and yourself happy, if you follow your instincts and do the right things for the right people. Values such as kindness, hard work, honesty, risk-taking and collaboration are at the core of who I am as a business person and human being. When I look at myself in the mirror at the end of the day I can say I am not perfect (who is?), but I put forth my best effort for my family and my business.
NJMOM: What are your favorite things to do in NJ with your family?
Amy: My favorite time of the year in NJ is summer. I love the culture of packing up and heading to the beach on the weekends and holidays. It’s such a great and easy escape from the work week! NJ and its surrounding areas offer families so much to do in every season, it’s a fantastic place to live.
NJMOM: What is the best part about being a mom for you?
Amy: The unconditional love I can give to my children and that which they give to me in return is the best part about being a mom. There is nothing more important to me than family, I am so grateful to have these little loves in my life everyday. They are my heart.
NJMOM: What are your favorite businesses in New Jersey?
Amy: Whether you live in North, South or Central Jersey, this state has so much to offer families. I LOVE Hackensack University Medical Center for women’s and children’s care, Home & Kidz for baby and kids furniture, Liberty Science Center for educational and fun, Medieval Times (my kids LOVE this place—it must be the eating with your hands), Adventure Aquarium, and The Water Club Borgata for an adults-only getaway!
NJMOM: Where do you vacation in New Jersey?
Amy: I vacation in the summers in Atlantic City, where my parents spent much of their childhood. I’ve been going there since I was a child and I love everything about it–sun, sand, ice cream and funnel cake on the boardwalk and everything the shore has to offer.
NJMOM: Anything else you’d like to tell moms in NJ?
Amy: If you’re a new mom, trust me, it doesn’t get easier, instead you get better and more confident. If you’re pregnant, don’t feel compelled to listen to every person’s advice and feel overwhelmed, carve out your own parenting plan. And of course, ALL of you, whether you’re expecting or a parent of a newborn through preschooler, please join us on April 15 for an amazing night out–you deserve it! It’s going to be a lot of fun!!! Be sure to use the special code NJMOM for 30% off all tickets.
