Mum Boss: Vicki Psarias
Blogger, vlogger, author, filmmaker, TV director and founder of one
of the biggest blogs worldwide, Honest Mum®, Vicki Psarias lives in Windsor and will be speaking at the Media Hub in Cookham next week...
Tell me about you and your family/where you live…
We moved to Windsor from Yorkshire in the summer of 2017 and adore it here. Yorkshire will always have a piece of my heart as I was born there, but I love living so close to the castle with the Long Walk on our doorstep and being close enough to London to commute. I'm grateful for the sense of community here too. It's a very special place. I literally feel like I'm on holiday every day.
Tell me about your Mum Boss business/book
Mumboss merges my story with all that I've learnt in the seven years blogging and vlogging. It will empower you to start your own e-business or return to work after kids, with greater confidence. I hope it mobilises mums everywhere. I'm touched it became a Number 1 Amazon bestseller with 100% 5-star reviews so far.
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Have you always been interested in doing this? What do you like about it
the most? What did you do before?
I was a multi award-winning TV Director and Filmmaker before blogging and vlogging at honestmum.com and I hope to merge my digital career with directing feature films down the line. Screenwriting and directing proved to be the ideal foundation to a creative career online – I'm just the protagonist in my own digital narrative now! It just shows too that no experience is wasted.
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What is the best part of it? And the worst?
The best is the joy of creating content and having control over it – in publishing instantly and reaching an audience without gatekeepers or years of waiting to
get your art out into the world as such is the way with the TV and Film industry.
I love the flexibility, of course, so I can raise my family: I am in charge of my schedule. The worst aspect, while not frequent, is the trolling and naysayers, although I must say, seven years in, and this skin is as tough as a rhino's!
What advice can you give to busy mums trying to juggle work and kids?
Any top tips?
Be kind to yourself. Know there will be compromise ahead. Accept you will feel guilt but it's futile and give yourself permission to pursue what makes you happy, whatever that might be. You don't have to be a martyr to be a good mum so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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What are your goals for the future?
To keep building my personal lifestyle brand... Making movies and hopefully more babies (if I can convince the husband on the latter)!
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Who is your idol?
The people who have influenced me hugely are below:
My mother, Vasoulla, a former lecturer and the original Mumboss!
Oprah, who I was lucky enough to hear speak thanks to my incredible manager Jack Freud
Tina Fey
Marie Forleo
Sheryl Sandberg
My sisterly friends
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What's in your handbag right now?
The highlights (I'll be here all night otherwise) – phone, battery charger, business cards, small make-up bag, paracetamol, Rescue Remedy, antihistamine, an Honest Mum water bottle a brand sent me, a tiny notepad and pen, my book, Mumboss, as I promised my GP a signed copy, a squishy banana and my new Gucci sunglasses, which are too big for me and need tightening.
Anything else we don't know about you and should?
I came 4th in the North in Junior Masterchef as a tween but they only needed three kids to go on TV. My dad was gutted but I was relieved to be honest. My eyebrows looked like Carpet World samples and I definitely wasn't ready for my close-up.
I did learn to cook practising all of my courses with my dad, though, and I love the creativity of it all! I became plant-based six weeks ago and I won't be going back to former eating habits.
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You will be speaking at the Media Hub in Cookham on 14th June.
Tell us more...
I'm honoured to be speaking at the prestigious Hub. The outpouring of support from my readers in Berkshire blew me away when we moved to Windsor. I didn't realise anyone followed me here. I can't wait to be inspired by your creative community and hopefully help others with my own experiences as a digital creative.
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Vicki will be speaking at the Media Hub at the Bel & the Dragon in Cookham on Thursday 14th June at 8pm. You can buy tickets at:
https://amazon.co.uk/Mumboss-Honest-Guide-Surviving-Thriving/dp/0349416699
