mom boss monday vanessa coppes check out this inspirational mom

Check Out This Week’s Mom Boss Monday – Featuring The MOM BOSS QUEEN, Vanessa Coppes!

Vanessa Coppes is someone I look up to in the professional world! She wears many hats, & is a mom, wife, daughter etc! She is strong, a TRUE, authentic example of what happens when women come together & REALLY support each other! We met today & cannot wait for our next meeting! I am so excited to present her story to you!

Name: Vanessa Coppes
Where are you from: Originally form the Dominican Republic, then a Staten Islander, and now a total Jersey Girl.
What is your business name/info? I have several businesses. I am a lifestyle blogger and have been for 11 years, which led me to write 2 books (in the process of writing my third). Blogging also allowed me to develop my digital marketing skills which helped me launch V+Co. Consulting, through which I help entrepreneurs and businesses tell their story online as well as help them develop a brand. I also own V+Co. which is a business center that houses several small business in Monmouth County, including a 360º Lifestyle Boutique, which gives women the opportunity to showcase and sell their products in a retail space. I am also the Co-Founder of ETTWomen and the ETTWomen Foundation, organizations both dedicated to women’s empowerment, personal and professional development .
How did you get involved with your business? It all started with the need to deal with postpartum depression. I started making jewelry while my son napped and blogging about my experiences of selling it and the challenges I faced as a new mom. The community that began to blossom by simply sharing my stories, quite frankly, astounds me to this day. My intention was simply to heal and let other women know that they weren’t alone in their pain. I got more from giving than I could’ve ever dreamed of. So grateful for never ignoring my love for writing. I connected with so many women entrepreneurs over the years which helped me grow my businesses tremendously. Blogging has connected me to so many incredible opportunities.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your business? There are never enough hours in a day to get it all done. Personally, I love what I do so much that I have to make it a point to schedule and block out time for fun. I could always be working and that’s no good for anyone.
How do you manage your time effectively? I created a planner several years ago that serves my lifestyle. It helps me block out and prioritize my time. I set up reminders constantly on my phone and I hire people to support me in the areas that I don’t excel in. If there’s one thing I’ve learned is how precious my time is. My family, a clean house, and my sanity, are worth a few dollars here and there.
Tell us about a challenge you faced & overcame! I think the biggest challenge I faced was deciding to pursue all my crazy dreams while raising a family and having very little support. I did it on a shoe string budget (and trust there is a lot more to that story), but today I am proud to say I did it -and you can too! You just need to be brave, ask questions, open yourself up to other people. Support comes and shows up from the most unexpected places! I’ve always believed my work is divine and that the universe has always had my back.
Who inspires you & why? I’m inspired by every day women who wakeup daily to pursue their dreams: my mother who at 65 decided to venture into a food truck and restaurant business. She has such grit and fire in her belly; she absolutely loves what she does! Lynn Osborne, whom despite hearing loss and multiple illnesses, launched a business with her daughter, is continuing to pursue her higher education, and is just a walking badass. Jillian Coburn, who has been through hell and back, literally, and is using her life as an example to help other women overcome substance abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Maureen Spataro who is the older sister God knew I needed. Courtenay Hall’s wit, Lynette Barbieri’s persistence, Cheryl Dantoni’s unwavering kindness. So many more…All women whom have decided to pave their own path, do it graciously, and courageously.
What do you do for fun? I am super boring when it comes to fun. Any opportunity that I can be completely unplugged is fun! I indulge in self-care practices for fun: massages, facial, spa days, reading retreats, and trips where I can keep to myself.
What makes you a MOM BOSS? That I am a mom and I own my own business? LOL. I’ve never identified with the word boss. I prefer people to feel like they work with me, rather than for me. However, I have no problem setting healthy boundaries where needed. Being the boss is not fun sometimes, but it’s part of the process.