Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Uchima-Carney.
Hi Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Motherhood is what changed me. Cliche… yes I know, but if it wasn’t for becoming a mom, I would not have ended up where I am today. I’m Stephanie Uchima-Carney, a serial entrepreneur, creator and host of an award-winning parenting podcast Mommy’s on a Call, business strategist and mom to three little ones (ages 1, 2, and 5 years). After launching multiple companies (including a luxury wedding and event production company I ran for ten years), obtaining an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Masters in Real Estate Development from USC, consulting both individuals and major corporations for over 15 years, and working for multiple corporate and non-profit organizations, once I became a mom, everything changed and I realized how important it was to not lose yourself. So I left my corporate career track to follow my intuition and embark on a mission to empower and help other working moms and mom entrepreneurs redefine their identity in motherhood so that they can thrive in motherhood, business and life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely no! I have pivoted more times in the last 15 years than I thought was possible! Some of the major struggles included graduating with my MBA/MRED in 2009 in the MIDDLE of the global recession and trying to find a job in real estate development. No one was hiring and instead everyone was firing. Companies were imploding and a majority of my class graduated without a job. However, this forced me into entrepreneurship. While I studied it for my MBA, it was all hypothetical and case studies, but I had never actually started my own company! But the one thing I always loved was planning events. I had planned all my college socials, MBA networking mixers, and non-profit galas. But I had done it for free as a volunteer! Since I didn’t have a job, I started volunteering and planning events for free until I realized I need to charge – and so one day, I woke up and started my first company – Preppy Chic Events, a luxury wedding & event planning company. Of course, things like Pinterest and Instagram would change the course of my company (everyone thought they could be a wedding planner) and I moved that business to a side hustle and went back to the corporate world. But two years later, I had my first kid and I struggled with being gone. I knew I didn’t want to be a stay-at-home mom, but the corporate career wasn’t working for me either. That forced me into another life pivot. From going full time again into event planning to then launching a business strategy consulting firm to having two more kids and now finding my way as a creator on a mission to empower moms to thrive!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the creator of the Mommy’s on a Call podcast which is an award-winning and top 25 parenting podcast that goes behind the scenes of the lives and businesses of working moms (dads) and mom entrepreneurs to uncover the daily rituals, life lessons, real-life tactics and favorite tools to help moms succeed. Some of my guests include Samantha Ettus, Todd Herman, and Jesse Draper. I’m known as the mom who is always put together while juggling three little kids, multiple businesses (I also help my family real estate company on top of my own business strategy consulting company and creating a podcast), and life. I think what sets me apart is my ability to curate information – whether it’s people, products, or just advice, I am super curious, ask a lot of questions and along the way have been able to aggregate it all in order to help others succeed.
What were you like growing up?
I was born into a family of entrepreneurs, so it is in my DNA to be an innovator and a people connector. From an early age, I was always thinking of new ideas, how to fix and solve problems, how to improve an existing tool or predict what the future is going to look like. I think I started a greeting card company, babysitters club and other little businesses all before the age of ten. I was always curious at how things worked and would take apart things – I even built a computer back in the day. I was also extroverted and social and would talk to adults everywhere I went – plus, I loved to smile. I was not a great athlete, but a lover of musicals, acting, dance and cheerleading, and involved in a lot of activities. I was type A and a leader from an early age!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stephanieuchima.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieuchima/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieUchima/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephanieUchima
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpcQ8rziN30Bjs9cG60mkxA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephanieuchima
Image Credits:
Kate Keating Photography, Carissa Woo Photography
