Mumpreneur | Leasel Southwick

When Leasel Southwick saw a gap in the local publishing market in 2009, she jumped in and established DarwinLife Magazine.

“It really was a case of right time, right place. I saw an opportunity and I went for it,” says the publishing entrepreneur.

With both Leasel and her husband running their own businesses, the Southwick household is very hands-on, and carry this approach through to the demands of family life.

With custody of her step-son in a week on/week off arrangement, Leasel says that school drop off/pick up, after school activities, homework, playtime supervision etc is evenly distributed between the couple.

“He actually understands the demands of his dad’s and my work, and when he’s with us he fits in well to our schedule. We all juggle work/family time somehow. Between us and his mum, it’s a team effort,” she says.

With a business that relies on having a budget to reach and a deadline to follow, Leasel stays focused with strict timelines and goals written on her whiteboard, and always trusts her gut instinct when it comes to decision-making.

Advising those just starting out in business to be confident and prepared to risk it all, Leasel suggests developing a thick skin and not taking everything to heart.

“Listen to others, but believe in yourself. Before DarwinLife I never once thought that I could come up with a different enough idea that would make me a business owner. Seven years on here I am. Women are survivors, and I admire each and every one of us to have the courage to step up and make a go of it.”