We are back with one new feature of another creative mom. Introducing Vaishali who is the founder of one of the most popular Indian blog – The Champa Tree. Vaishali is an award-winning blogger/mompreneur and someone who has made her mark in the blogging world and made a difference. Let’s get to know her through this interview. 

Tell us about your journey as a blogger. How and when you thought of The Champa Tree?

A workaholic communications consultant dashing in and out of fashion shows and events, life for me was going in the right direction. Then in the summer of 2013, pregnancy happened and it did slow down things for me. This eventually encouraged me to write. I’m now, the founder of India’s leading parenting blog- The Champa Tree, and a marketing professional.

Although I knew I would not be the first among my friends to have children (I was nearly 30 at the time), I figured once my child-rearing days were over, I would have to fall back on a solid work-option! While my little one was only three-months-old, I got myself managing content for a beauty blog. That’s exactly when I found my dream job.

What started in 2015 saw growth in the months and years to come. In no time the blog was monetized. My favourite spot in the house was turned into an office. I partnered with a like-minded team to assist me by extending their support on a freelance basis. Today, we are a team of 5 amazing and passionate mums (and a married younger lot) who are inspiring and creative.

Udita Saklani and Tasneem Dhinojwala, and IT professional and filmmaker from Noida- both mums, Khyatee Sardana, from Lucknow, Rakhi Jayashanker, an avid reader and Instagrammer from Kochi, a mum to 3 and all our lovely readers. They all form our humble TCT family. They own The Champa Tree as much as I do. We’ve been awarded as the top parenting and motherhood blog not just in India but across the globe.

Little did I know quitting one job at the peak of pregnancy would also open other job-avenues. It’s not that I am a perfect mother and so whatever I share through the blog, you should follow to a tee. Parenting challenges me to learn and do new things every day, allows me to work hard and be creative, and also gives me the opportunity to serve others in a very meaningful way.

Today, The Champa Tree has close to 2 lac views a month, a strong community of mums and dads not just in India, but the US, UK, and other countries following us across social media handles. We’re the go-to platform for any parenting or baby/child-related query.

Also read, if it’s easy to leave a full time highly lucrative job and start from scratch in the inspiring journey of this mom.

 Having a multi-dimensional lifestyle like being an entrepreneur, blogger, marketing expert, and mother, introduce us to a day in your life.

It’s nothing short of a life of tomato ready to be rendered in the form of a fresh juice in the real culinary world (joking). 

 You are an inspiration to everyone around you as you participate in many different things. Where do you get the inspiration from? 

The everyday life of a mom or a dad inspires me. A real mom, she is you, she is me, my grandmother, your neighbor. A real mom is inside of each one of us. She is our inspiration. We recognize the power and strength of a real mom’s narration. Therefore, what started off as a story of one mom who wanted to share her adoption story – this idea gave birth to a series. We’ve covered more than 100 real moms to date. Each one has a beautiful story to share. Do swing by and give them a gentle read. And if any of you who is reading this story is moved by this effort, send me an email. Tell me your story.
 
We are a team of highly motivated and always-inspired women who ideate not once a month but every day to come up with real-stories, be it through our Real Mom Real Stories section or Vocal for Local campaign. We seriously hope to change the life of our readers for the better. Our blog has no glam, or glitter to it. 

  Please extend 5 suggestions for working mothers or other mompreneurs who find it hard to manage their home, family, and work sometimes?

1. Do what your gut says. Follow your instinct

2. Compare your present with your past. Never compare yourself with others. This is hard, but not difficult

3. Be a bit competitive (in a healthy way. It will always nudge you in the right direction)

4. Be you and always picture your life 5 years from now before making any decision or taking action. This frame of mind might help plan for your future.

5. Plan-Plan-Plan. Before you hit the sack when you are waking up. 

What is your vision? Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
To be a collaborator. To be a guide, a resource, a useful content repository. Also, to be inspiring and motivating moms to motivate and inspire their circle of influence. I see TCT to be one of the credible and authentic sources of know-how, know-why.
 
About The Champa Tree:

The Champa Tree is about motherhood, parenting, baby, and child care. Tickle your funny bone with some parenting humor or read moving pieces that most of us can relate to. But above all else, The Champa Tree is a safe place where all mothers and fathers can find answers to specific questions they think are too “silly” to ask out loud. In case you don’t find the answer to a question that has been bothering you, feel free to reach out to us—there are no “right” or “wrong” questions.

If you’re wondering if this blog is all about the soft and fluffy stuff — peace, serenity, and the joy of parenting? Well, we really wish that were true! So, if you’re little angel has become a handful, perhaps out of sheer boredom we are sure you’ll find some super interesting activities to keep them busy and yourself sane!

Read about previously featured creative moms here- Monika, Shiva, Soma, Ritika,  Sudha, Rina, Shipra, Anuja, Preethi, Surbhi, Debjani , Megha  Sushma Shilpi Anupriya  Charu and Prakriti to get inspired.

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