Lisa Shepherd

As the founder of The Biskery, Lisa launched her online business in 2016, specialising in personalised and branded biscuits for events and special occasions. With a dedicated team of seven, The Biskery has become a go-to for unique, custom treats that add a special touch to any event. As a mother of two, a nine-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son, Lisa expertly balances her entrepreneurial journey with her family life. In this interview, Lisa shares her experiences, challenges, and the sweet success of growing her business while raising her children.

Can you share your journey of entrepreneurship from the time you decided to start your business to where you are now, considering the significant milestones of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and post-partum?

My business partner and I started the business when we were both new mums to young children/babies. We felt disillusioned and uninspired by the 9-5 with our kids having an even longer day at an overpriced nursery.  When I returned from maternity leave, I was deprived of my senior title due to the fact that I wanted to work part-time. Apparently I could not be client facing anymore if I wasn't in the office 5 days a week. This was the moment I decided to put my energy into something that would work for me and my family. Together, we slowly built The Biskery, starting with £1,000 from our own pockets selling at local farmers market, to an award-winning, six-figure online business that employs other working mums and not only normalises, but champions part-time work. Most of our team work school hours. My co-founder and I are at the school gates at 3pm every day to get our kids. It's been hard work, but it is now paying off. We are trailblazing our own path, and creating our own blueprint. 

What were the unique challenges you faced as a female entrepreneur while going through the process of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and post-partum? How did you navigate these challenges?

The unique challenges were mainly our limitations when it came to time and energy. We could not attend traditional networking events. We could not create viral social media videos. In the beginning we had 3 hours a day to give to this idea, after our kids had gone to bed as we still had our day jobs. We had to make the little time we had count. So in a way, the challenge became our superpower. We had no time, money or energy to waste and became super resourceful and efficient. 

How did you manage your business responsibilities while dealing with the physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy and post-partum recovery?

We are extremely lucky to have each other. As a co-founder team, we could take time off when we needed to. When I had my son, I stepped away from the business for six months. We consciously decided to grow organically and steadily, and not to create a beast we would not be able to step away from. Everybody has a different definition of success. For us it is to have an inspiring and fulfilling work life that can be combined with family life. We want both. We know we can have it, but not all at once. We realise that there are limitations. Some things have to give. It is a constant balancing act. Owning your story and the way you lead your life and business is a huge part for us. We don't compare ourselves to others, especially not men in business, or women who don't have children in business. You can't compare apples to pears. There need to be more mothers in business who shout about their stories though. Not to compare yourself to, but to learn from them. To find creative solutions of how to make this work. 

Did you experience any changes in your entrepreneurial mindset or approach during pregnancy or after becoming a mother? If so, how did these changes manifest?

I don't think we would have started this business if it wasn't for becoming mothers. It profoundly changed me. Life became so precious. I wanted to pack so much more life into this life, not waste a single moment doing something I did not want to do. Becoming a mother is the biggest self-development exercise you could ever do. Running a business at the same time means you grow massively. You have to face your daemons and work through them. It makes me sad that mothers are often overlooked in the business world. To me they are the most entrepreneurial people out there! They have been to hell and back before some roll out of bed! We can do anything, if we just feel supported enough and believe in the vision. 

What support systems or resources were most beneficial to you during your journey as an entrepreneur navigating pregnancy and motherhood?

Ha, are there any?! Jokes aside, it was mainly my husband. I needed his support. Just as there is a strong women behind every successful man, there is likely to be a strong man behind every successful woman. Throw in kids and it becomes a necessity. I have no family support where I live. I have amazing friends who I can ask for help, but in the main it's down to my husband and I to make this never ending juggle work. Me working school hours and being vocal about this as a business owner helps. 

Reflecting on your experience, what are some successes or achievements in your business that you attribute to your journey through trying to conceive, pregnancy, and post-partum?

All of it! Our business would not exist. We did not see the hamster wheel we were stuck in until we had kids. Becoming mothers made us see the world with different eyes. Made us want to make this life count. Made us want to be role models for our kids. Made us want to be the best version we could be. Made us want to create a business and job that warrants trading time away from the kids because it fuelled us. Every single success story, whether it is awards we won, feedback we received, well-known brands we worked with, comes down to just this. 

Conversely, what were some of the biggest obstacles or setbacks you encountered as a female entrepreneur during this period? How did you overcome them?

I still get invited to events on a weekly basis that I can't attend because they clash with school drop off, pick up or other childcare commitments. I have to pick and choose carefully which ones I do attend, which ones are worth my time, and the time away from my kids. Again, this could be seen as a challenge or as an advantage. I am not making myself small or a victim, so I have not experiences any major setbacks or obstacles. We never tried to access funding though, which I know is notoriously difficult for women in business, let alone mothers. 

In hindsight, what additional support or resources do you wish you had access to during your journey through entrepreneurship while being pregnant and a new mother?

I would have loved to have a tribe of business women who are also mothers to connect to. Our lived experiences are different. We have to say "no" to more things. And it hurts at times. It slows us down. At times the guilt is crushing. Having a tribe to share this experience with would be powerful and empowering. Strength is in numbers as well. So if we could join forces to share our stories to inspire others, and change some of the status quo, that has the potential to change everything (for the better!!). 

How did you balance the demands of entrepreneurship with the needs of your child during their early years? What strategies or techniques proved most effective for you?

For me it was to embrace steady, organic growth. Going at our own pace. Reminding ourselves why we started this: It wasn't to make millions in the first year, it was to create a life that was more fulfilling and where we could see as much of our kids as we wanted to to be there for them and with them. Business is often associated with high growth overnight unicorn type success stories. To what end? What is the bottom line? My business growth can wait. But I will never get those early years with my children back. 

Looking ahead, what advice would you offer to other female entrepreneurs who are either considering starting a family or are already juggling entrepreneurship and motherhood?

Be realistic. We are told we can have it all. The reality is that it is a pendulum. Some days/weeks you are smashing the entrepreneurial game, some days/weeks you are smashing the motherhood/family game. You will rarely smash both. It's a balancing act. Be kind to yourself. And amidst these two hugely demanding forces in your life (your business and your kids), don't forget about yourself. Check in with yourself. Sharpen the saw. Stay true to yourself and to your mission. Don't compare your journey to others, we never know the full story. Own your own story. 

Be inspired by our ethos.