What if the biggest business of your life started in your backyard, with a paintbrush in one hand and a baby bump in the other? That’s exactly how Juliana VanLaanen launched 2MamaBees, a now multi-million-dollar, award-winning company designing eco-friendly children’s playhouses.
In this episode, Juliana shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of building a national brand while navigating pregnancy, burnout, and bold pivots. We get into the real talk about scaling fast, saying yes to risk, and why moms are secretly the best CEOs. If you’ve ever questioned if you can grow a dream while raising tiny humans, this one will light a fire under you.
We talk about:
How a side hustle to help a friend reignite her purpose turned into a multimillion-dollar company
The reality of working 14-hour days in a warehouse,while 9 months pregnant
Why saying “yes” (and sometimes failing) was the key to growth
Lessons learned from manufacturing overseas during COVID (and the pivot that saved their business)
How Juliana juggles multiple companies, a full family life, and still follows her intuition
Why resilience, not perfection, is what builds a sustainable business
Timestamps:
3:00 – The personal story behind starting 2MamaBees and their unexpected Etsy success
6:45 – Saying yes, taking risks, and why failure builds resilience
10:24 – How COVID completely shifted their business model and saved them in the long run
14:35 – Pregnant, in the warehouse, and running a startup while raising toddlers
18:50 – Why entrepreneurship gave Juliana the flexibility to support her neurodivergent child
21:12 – Managing multiple businesses with intuition, alignment, and boundaries
About Juliana:
Juliana VanLaanen is the Co-Founder and CEO of 2MamaBees, a multi-award-winning company specializing in eco-friendly, high-quality children’s playhouses and outdoor products. Since launching in 2021, she has led the brand to national retail partnerships and over $4 million in sales. Juliana is also the founder of BZWork, a virtual assistant and BPO company, and manages a portfolio of high-end Airbnb properties. As a mother of three, she is passionate about building purposeful businesses while empowering women to grow with both grit and grace.
Connect with Juliana:
https://www.facebook.com/2mamabees
https://www.instagram.com/2mamabees
https://www.youtube.com/@2mamabees
https://www.pinterest.com/2mamabeesinc
https://www.linkedin.com/company/2mamabees-inc
https://www.tiktok.com/@2mamabees
Resources Mentioned:
10% Off All 2MamaBees Products
👉 Shop at www.2mamabees.com and use the code MOTHERHOOD10 at checkout.
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Follow Jill Wright:
🌐 Website: www.jillwright.ca
📱 Instagram: @growlikeamother