Here at Kathy Kuo Home, we recently announced a new series of interviews here on The Kuotes blog! For our third installment, we are thrilled to be chatting with Nicole Feliciano, the founder and CEO of MomTrends, as well as a mom-of-two herself. MomTrends is a website, influencer agency, and social platform aimed at “helping moms make educated decisions on how to spend their time and money; ”it’s a curated solution for the challenges of modern motherhood.
Kuotable Women is our way of celebrating brilliant female entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs–both in the design world and in other lifestyle categories like health and wellness, fashion, food, and parenting. In these uncertain times, I wanted to spotlight how some of our favorite women in business are making it work as they work from home.
Nicole Feliciano–to learn more about MomTrends, visit momtrends.com!
Tell us about your professional background–what were some of the key milestones that brought you to where you are professionally?
I have had a slew of experiences that led me to where I am today. Fresh out of college, I worked in both fashion and publishing before launching MomTrends.
My last corporate experience was in the 90s when I was a buyer for Ralph Lauren. I was lucky enough to to work with Mr. Lauren and a team of talented designers as well as the domestic RL stores. I had terrific role models and mentors at Ralph Lauren who taught me lot about leadership.
Tell us about your home–whom do you share your space with, and where do you live?
I’m spread across the East Coast. We recently moved to Vermont from NYC with our family of four (my girls are 14 and 12). We’re in a smaller space up here but have a huge mountain in our backyard. We’re getting a dog this summer and we can’t wait.
During these uncertain times when many professionals are finding themselves working from home, how are you approaching working from home?
It’s not easy! We’re all fighting for desk space and a bit of quiet.
Do you have a designated workspace in your home? If so, how is it set up?
I do have a pretty desk with natural light in my bedroom, but right now I share with my daughter who is in 9th grade. The other desk in our home is taken over by my husband. My 6th-grader uses the kitchen table.
As a mom, how are you handling your kids doing remote learning?
I try to check in daily on progress. Since my kids are in grades 6 and 9, I give them a fair amount of autonomy during the day. To keep them busy when they are “out of school,” we have filled the house with craft supplies and we have tons of baking equipment.
We are also doing daily family workouts. My girls run with me 3-4 times a week and we’re doing online workouts with Asics Studio.
Nicole’s daughters (top); her living room in Vermont (above)
Shop the Style
What are some of your work from home must-have items or favorite pieces? On the flip-side, what are some of your favorite items that help you enjoy self-care and relaxation?
It’s all about joggers! I love this trend. I say, comfy cute sweatpants for everyone! I’m trying to wear more colorful tops to feel a bit pulled together. I’m getting used to coloring my hair at home (which is weird, and fortunately, easier than I expected–thank you Clairol!).
As for self-care, I highly recommend meditation. I’m using the Headspace app. And I love my Zoom chats with my Vanderbilt sorority sisters. We have a standing Wednesday night chat at 8:30pm with seven of us. It’s the best sanity check–laughing with old friends.
What advice would you give to other professional women about maximizing the work from home experience?
Give yourself a break! I have become the queen of deleting emails that aren’t urgent and using G-mail template replies. I have so many brands pitching me to do free work that it would drive me bananas to reply to them all informing them that I had to take a loan out from the government to cover payroll. Now is not the time to be asking influencers to work for free.
Start with the work that gives you joy and serves your mission. It’s the most important work right now. Saying no to all the clutter is what has to happen for all of us to care for ourselves and our families.
I ask myself:
- Does it serve my community?
- Does it make me money?
- Will it bring me a sense of joy to take this on?
If I can’t check those boxes: Delete!
Nicole’s work-from-home space
Shop the Style
Aside from navigating the immediate challenges of our current moment in history, what goals do you have in your personal life and for MomTrends right now?
As I mentioned before, I’m relocating to Vermont for a good portion of the year. The move was predicated on our family’s love of snow. Both of my girls are skiers and we are giving them a unique lifestyle.
Since I’m spending so much time on snow, I’m developing my outdoor-centric content for moms. We’re a highly underserved part of the outdoor industry and I’m here to fix that. Long term, I hope to be get involved in leadership positions with outdoor brands to make sure they are serving families and women.
Who inspires you the most, and why?
Every single mom right now who is getting sh*t done. More has never been required from women. Seeing how my friends are parenting and moving forward in COVID-19 gives me strength and hope.
And the moms on the front lines, the essentials workers, the nurses, the doctors, those women give me faith in humanity.
Nicole’s bedroom in Vermont
Shop the Style
