Jelyn Patricio: Opening Doors for Mompreneurs
Jelyn Patricio shares how her experience as a mom led her to form a community to help small entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur has given parents advantages. Not only do they manage their own time, but they also become bridges to other entrepreneurs who help them grow their businesses, like Jelyn Patricio.
Jelyn, the woman behind Instapostph, shared her venture to becoming a mompreneur and her mission of helping fellow moms.
The road to becoming a digital creator
Jelyn and her husband Julius started their careers as entrepreneurs when they ventured into Big Dipper, a wedding and events photography company. In 2018, Jelyn became pregnant with their son and started thinking of something to do.
“Bed rest ako the whole pregnancy,” she said. “Hindi ako sanay na walang ginagawa. So that was the time I started exploring Instagram.”
She started sharing her experiences and began getting questions from people who followed her online.
“Bigla na lang may mga nag message sa akin, mga first time moms at hindi first time moms. Kasi, they feel seen, heard, and valued, and at the same time I also felt that. Kumbaga, na feel ko na hindi ako nag-iisa.”
Helping other mompreneurs
During the pandemic, many entrepreneurs found themselves pivoting to online selling. Jelyn saw the struggles of her fellow mompreneurs and decided to step in and help them through Instapostph, the company she and Julius founded.
“When I started Instapostph, it was really just to help mommy entrepreneur friends,” she shared. “I told him (Julius) ‘ dad gawa tayo ng Instagram. Kasi [nasa] pandemic, ang hirap lumaban ng mga mom entrepreneur friends natin online.’”
“Since we’re in the business, na rin naman, he said yes and saw the purpose of Instapost. Alam mo yung feeling na yung goal mo is to help others. Pero at the end, kami pa yung nantulungan,” she said of the idea.
Instapost focuses on creative marketing, KOL management, and social media management. “We help traditional businesses transition to the digital space,” she said of their company.
When they started, many of the clients were upcoming entrepreneurs. Now, their clients have grown, including working with some of the biggest brands in the country. The team has also expanded with a small staff and studio.
“Our clients are not just the mommy entrepreneurs and baby brands. We also have different clients from other industries like construction, wellness, and even restaurants,” Jelyn explained.
On top of Instapostph, Jelyn has also established the Shine Beyond Collective and Modern Mompreneurs, communities that help promote businesses in the digital space.
Her parenting style
In between running her business and attending to her son, Jelyn makes sure to have time for herself, including her daily devotions, exercising, and spending time with her family.
She admits she has tried many ways of disciplining her son. “What works is me giving him unconditional love. It’s more of having conversations with him, making him understand what is right and wrong, rather than telling him what’s right and wrong.”
She also ensures that he enjoys his childhood without the pressure of growing up. Although they have their disagreements, Jelyn said that she ensure her son has a good upbringing.
As an entrepreneur, Jelyn has also adapted the lessons she learned when being with her family.
“Being present when we are with our kids or whatever I do is important. Kung nasaan ka, dapat nandoon ka. Not just your body but your mind and soul.”
She also emphasized the importance of enjoying what you do. “Being a business owner is not just all about being high. There will also be breakdowns, and there will also be breakthroughs.”
She also pointed out that there’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable, that it’s okay to trust and be hopeful with the people around you.
The importance of time management
Amidst a busy schedule, how does she balance her life as a mom and entrepreneur? This is where time management comes in.
“There are a lot of things I do. As a mom and as an entrepreneur, I integrate it as a whole,” Jelyn quipped. “I’ll choose depending on the moment. And I know that in every decision, I know I am guided.”
Jelyn pointed out that there will be crucial decisions to make. “Whatever decision we choose to make, let’s just embrace it. Know that you are always guided by the Lord.”
Advice for momprenuers
As Instapost continues to grow, Jelyn and her team are ecstatic. They still continue to help out budding entrepreneurs, and she happily shared some tips.
“You really have to have passion for your business,” she explained. “You really have to love your business. You really have to know your business.”
She continued by saying it’s important that one knows their direction. Purpose, she mentioned motivates her.
“Everytime I do my devotions or reflections, yung message na mandalas ko nakukuha kay Lord is I put you on the hilltop to shine your light. So this is just me living my purpose and shining my light.”
What started as a mission to help has grown into a network. Women like Jelyn Patricio planted a seed, and there are many out there who will continue to cheer for their fellow mompreneurs to be successful.
More stories of mompreneurs
Healthy, Honest, and All-Natural: How friendships can evolve into thriving businesses
Michelle Garcia-Arce: Why Entrepreneurship Is Close to Her Heart
