Author and working mum Katharina Katz on life as a working mother

In her book "Einfach Machen: Der Guide für Gründerinnen" (Just Do It: A Guide for Female Entrepreneurs), she gives women valuable tips on starting a business. Today, she talks to us about mompreneurs, life as a working mother, and, of course, her book.

Her book is based on her own experiences as a self-employed woman and those of 20 other female founders she interviewed for the book. Even we at mara mea were allowed to weigh in. Today, we're turning the tables and asking her the questions for a change.

Dear Katharina, your guidebook was finally published in September. How does it feel to be able to hold your own book in your hands?

Incredibly great! I'm incredibly proud to be able to tell so many exciting stories in the book, and I'm thrilled about the fantastic feedback and the new founders who have felt encouraged to take the next step toward self-employment.

There are many guides on starting a business. Your book is aimed specifically at women. What inspired you to create it?

Firstly, I find that while there are many guides out there that deal with starting a business, finding investors, forming a limited liability company, and the like, there's very little on how to actually apply for a tax number. But for many people, these are precisely the issues that concern them at the beginning. And since I've met so many amazing women with exciting projects and ideas, I thought, why not combine the two? The idea was to compile all the information and tell stories of amazing female founders that encourage and inspire – because success stories of men are still often the ones that are told more often.

Did you know them all personally or did you search for them specifically for your book?

I already knew some founders, like Dorina, and had always followed their impressive journey. I then looked to see who had something to say about which topics, then specifically sought out specialists like Aya Jaff and approached them. The research and getting to know so many exciting women and their stories was incredibly inspiring for me, too, and it continually surprised, touched, and captivated me.

You are a creator yourself. Did you learn anything from the book for your own work?

Absolutely! Starting a business is a subject where you never stop learning, and some topics, like finding investors, I haven't really encountered in my own time. Every conversation was informative, and I learned something for myself from each interview.

Not only an author, consultant, and journalist, you've also been a mother since last year. How has this changed your professional life?

I became a mother in July and my book was published in September. So I quickly got back to answering emails and doing interviews. This only worked out so well because my husband took parental leave for the first three months. My daughter went to her first book party at 9 weeks old - a wonderful memory for us as a family. I'm still on parental leave at the moment and am really enjoying the time with my daughter. But because I also really enjoy working, I've given a few coaching sessions and do interviews now and again. What has changed is my focus - for example, when my daughter is ill, everything else comes to a standstill. And surprisingly, that's completely fine with me.

Many women feel like they need to return to work as soon as possible after giving birth so they don't fall behind. What's your take on this?

Everyone has to decide for themselves and see what works for them. I would take the time I want as a mother with my child, and of course, what's feasible. A few months usually doesn't matter. I'd rather jump in with full commitment and a clear head as soon as my daughter starts daycare than juggle everything at once, but I'm already looking forward to a few smaller projects beforehand.

What do you think is the biggest challenge of being a working mum and do you have any tips on how to overcome it?

Probably the time factor. How do I allocate my time so that there's enough for my child, my job, myself, and my relationship? I like to multitask. When my daughter is asleep in the stroller, I either use the time for myself, get a coffee, and listen to a podcast or a good audiobook, or I make phone calls, interviews, or other arrangements—which is great for walking.

More and more women are starting their own businesses after pregnancy, becoming so-called mompreneurs. Do you have any tips for starting a business as a mom?

Just do it! Make a plan, realistically consider your available time frames and whether you can stick to them even after a sleepless night, and then get started. You'll learn a lot along the way!

And finally, there is only one question left: What is your favorite piece from mara mea and why do you never want to give it away?

I love my stroller net! It's so practical, you have everything with you and right at your fingertips, and it looks amazing too!

Thank you very much, Katharina, for the great interview! We're really looking forward to your future projects.

Click here to go to Katharina's Insta account.