Moms and Dads

Millie de Luna-Daluz: Building a Business, Growing a Baby

by Alexa Villano
June 25, 2025

Wellness entrepreneur Millie de Luna-Daluz shares how leading her brands is preparing her for motherhood

For some entrepreneurs, business is a calling. For Millie de Luna-Daluz, it’s also been preparation for motherhood. The CEO of wellness and lifestyle brands AliveCo, Ancient + Brave PH, and TARA is about to step into her most personal role yet: becoming a mom.

In April, Millie announced on social media that she and her husband, Dominic, are expecting their first child, conceived through IVF. The journey to motherhood hasn’t been easy, but it’s one she describes as deeply transformative.

Millie de Luna-Daluz

A Mom-to-Be’s Journey

As she embarks on this new chapter, Millie sees clear parallels between entrepreneurship and preparing for a family.

“One thing I’ve come to appreciate from my entrepreneurial journey is the power of the process—trying, adjusting, learning as you go,” she tells Modern Parenting. “That mindset has been such a source of strength as I prepare for motherhood. Just like in business, there’s no perfect playbook—only showing up with grit, curiosity, and heart. And when things finally click (because they always do, eventually), it’s the most incredible feeling.”

Going through IVF gave Millie time to reflect and realign. It wasn’t just about starting a family—it was about redefining purpose.

“All I want is to be the best version of myself for this little life I’ve been blessed with,” she shares. “It’s shifted how I see everything, especially my work. I’m more intentional than ever about building something healthy, sustainable, and meaningful—not just for me, but for our team and the families that depend on us.”

Millie showing her baby bump as she awaits the arrival of her child

The Similarities Between Parenting and Entrepreneurship

The similarities between running a business and preparing for a baby have never been clearer to Millie.

“Both motherhood and entrepreneurship require a deep level of mental and emotional resilience—especially when the path doesn’t go as planned,” she explains. “Even though I was in great health on paper, getting pregnant wasn’t straightforward.”

Diagnosed with APAS and unexplained infertility, Millie says the process demanded openness, persistence, and the humility to explore every option.

“That mindset—of staying open, digging deep, and not giving up—has been so familiar from my entrepreneurial journey. In business, just like in this chapter, you know the kind of future you’re trying to build, but the road there isn’t always linear. You learn to trust the process, adapt with intention, and keep showing up with hope.”

Managing Businesses and Baby Preparations

Juggling multiple ventures while preparing for parenthood hasn’t been easy, but it’s helped Millie understand what matters most.

“Pregnancy has taught me to be more mindful of where my energy goes,” she says. “It’s made me slow down, listen to my body, and be intentional about what deserves my time. When you’re clear on what matters most, it becomes much easier to lead with clarity and collaborate with ease.”

She also credits her support system: “I’m surrounded by the most incredible people—mentors, teammates, partners—many of whom are parents. Their encouragement and understanding have made this chapter so much more manageable and meaningful.”

Her understanding of wellness has also deepened. “From conception to now, every scan and blood test has shown me just how powerful daily nutrition is. It’s not just self-care—it’s an act of love for your family.”

That shift is guiding her brand direction, too. “It’s also pushed me to steer my channels—and Ancient + Brave PH—toward something even more meaningful: helping more women understand the real, everyday power of wellness and how it can support them, especially during life-changing chapters like this one.”

Millie and her husband Dominic

The Values She Wants to Pass On

Just like the mission she’s shaped for TARA, Millie hopes to raise her daughter with purpose and connection to community.

“TARA has always been about the next generation of global Filipinos—people who are rooted in community, keep things real, and find comfort in a good meal,” she says. “That’s exactly how I hope to parent, too. I don’t want to be stuck in the past, but I also don’t want to lose the heart of where we came from.”

She adds, “I want to bring the best of our Filipino values into my parenting—things like family, resilience, and pakikisama—and find ways to make them feel alive and relevant today.”

Though there’s no guidebook to parenting, Millie already has a vision for the kind of mother she wants to be.

“I want to be the kind of mom who raises a kind, happy, and purpose-driven human being—someone who feels deeply loved and confident to be fully themselves.”

What She Wants Her Baby to Learn

As the “mom” of three businesses, Millie is already thinking about what lessons her daughter might pick up along the way.

“If there’s one thing I hope my baby takes from everything we’ve built, it’s this: life is more meaningful when you live it to spread happiness. That’s the heart of our group—A+—which my dad, Manny de Luna, founded.”

Millie and her dad Manny

From Ancient + Brave, she hopes her daughter learns to care for her body and honor her well-being. From TARA, the importance of comfort, culture, and community.

“And from everything else?” she smiles. “I hope she sees that when you lead with love, intention, and joy, you create something truly lasting.”