Before the business pitches, the patents, and the profits, there were lessons learned at kitchen tables and quiet encouragements whispered after a tough day at school. There were moms, quietly building the foundation for futures they couldn’t yet see.
Business success stories don’t happen in isolation. They often begin with someone who believed in us long before anyone else did. For small business owners and entrepreneurs, the traits that build thriving businesses – resilience, courage, adaptability – often start with the lessons passed down from our mothers.
On Mother’s Day 2025, let’s a look at remarkable entrepreneurs who credit their mothers for the grit, wisdom, and strength that shaped their journeys.
Jessica Jackley (Kiva)
Jessica grew up exploring, asking questions, and starting projects; skills that later helped her co-found Kiva, a peer-to-peer micro-lending platform that has facilitated over $1 billion in loans for entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Kiva’s mission is rooted in action and possibility, the same spirit Jessica’s mother nurtured with every small adventure they shared growing up.
“She told me I could do anything I wanted to do, no matter how unachievable and ambitious it seemed. And in very specific ways we would talk about different leadership opportunities.”
That early reinforcement of leadership and ambition shaped how Jessica approached the business model behind Kiva. Instead of relying on traditional financing structures, Kiva allows individuals to lend directly to entrepreneurs and small business owners who lack access to conventional banking.
Jessica’s belief that ordinary people could lead and drive change became central to Kiva’s operations, empowering lenders and borrowers alike to take initiative, build businesses, and improve their communities. The result is a business model designed to expand access to capital while strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems globally.
Kevin Busque (TaskRabbit, Guideline)
Kevin Busque attributes his entrepreneurial drive to the values instilled by his mother. He once shared,
“My mother is a caregiver, putting others first, always. This selflessness and drive to help others has been fundamental to how I’ve approached my life and the businesses I’ve helped to build.”
This ethos is evident in the companies Kevin has founded. TaskRabbit, co-founded with his then-wife Leah Busque, revolutionized the gig economy by connecting individuals needing help with everyday tasks to those willing to assist. In September 2017, TaskRabbit was acquired by IKEA, aiming to enhance its customer service by integrating on-demand labor for furniture assembly and other household tasks.
Later, Kevin founded Guideline, aiming to simplify and democratize retirement savings for small businesses. Under his leadership, Guideline has grown to administer over 30,000 small business 401(k) plans, emphasizing accessibility and user-friendliness.
Kevin’s commitment to creating solutions that prioritize user needs and well-being reflects the caregiving spirit he admired in his mother.
Bob Kulhan (Business Improv)
Bob Kulhan credits his mother with instilling in him a fearless approach to challenges and a deep sense of empathy.
He once shared,
“My mother instilled the belief that trying to do something to the best of my ability and failing is significantly better than regretting not trying at all; that fearlessness is the life’s blood of an entrepreneur. Along with that ‘never say die’ attitude, my mother instilled a very strong sense of empathy in me, from a young age. That ability to understand and connect with people on a personal level is tremendously valuable for cultivating lasting relationships, both internally with all levels of employees and externally with clients.”
This foundational mindset led Bob to bridge the gap between improvisational theater and business. In 1999, he founded Business Improv, a consultancy that integrates improv techniques with behavioral science to enhance corporate training programs.
Under his leadership, Business Improv has partnered with top-tier business schools like Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School, as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies, to develop leadership, communication, and adaptability skills in professionals.
Bob’s mother’s teachings on resilience and empathy have been instrumental in shaping his approach to business, emphasizing the importance of human connection and adaptability in leadership.
Vanessa Quigley (Chatbooks)
Vanessa Quigley, co-founder of Chatbooks, credits her mother for instilling in her a proactive approach to problem-solving. Reflecting on her upbringing, Vanessa shared:
“My mom taught me that if you have a problem, don’t rely on someone else to solve it for you. For example, when she couldn’t find matching Easter dresses for all five of us girls and herself, she made her own. Now, I’m no seamstress, but I did have to get creative back in the early days of our company. We had a great product but very little money for marketing. Like many entrepreneurs, we had to create our own buzz.”
That hands-on, no-excuses mindset shaped how Vanessa and her husband Nate launched Chatbooks in 2014, a photo book app built for busy parents who wanted an easy way to preserve family memories. The idea was sparked by a moment of “mom guilt” when Vanessa realized she hadn’t been keeping up with documenting her family’s memories.
The turning point was a brilliantly relatable ad titled “This Mom Gets Real About Why We Don’t Get in Photos.” The video, which went viral with over 100k+ views, perfectly captured the brand’s mission and humor.
Vanessa’s creative instincts and her mom’s example of self-sufficiency helped Chatbooks stand out in a crowded market and build a loyal customer base. Today, millions of photo books later, that original lesson (solve the problem yourself) still shapes how she leads.
Eric Ryan (Method, Olly, Welly)
When Eric Ryan shared big business ideas, his mother didn’t blink.
“There’s nothing you can’t do,” she often told him.
A simple phrase that shaped how he tackled industries that many thought were untouchable. With Method, Eric reimagined household cleaners. With Olly, he redesigned vitamins. With Welly, he made flex fabric premium bandages from medical device-grade polyester fabric.
Across all four three, one pattern is clear: his mother’s early belief gave him the confidence to rethink products millions use daily and build businesses that felt fresh, thoughtful, and bold.
Reggie Aggarwal (Cvent)
Reggie Aggarwal learned resilience when he had to return home after laying off 100 employees at his company, Cvent. His mother didn’t view this as a career-ending failure. Instead, she reminded him:
“Failure is a life experience that makes you stronger, so just learn from it, and jump into the next adventure.”
Cvent, which helps organizations manage events and conferences, was founded on Reggie’s ability to recover from that setback. His mother’s lesson shaped how he handled risk, grew the company methodically after the dot-com crash, and eventually took it public.
Today, Cvent serves thousands of companies worldwide, a testament to a leader who learned early how to steady himself during uncertainty.
Build your business with the right partners
The business you have built often starts with the lessons you carry. Maybe it was the resilience you learned early, or perhaps it was simply the belief that steady work can create something valuable over time.
And while a business can start on strong values, it sustains and scales with reliable financial management and trusted partners.
That’s exactly what you get at CoCountant.
We handle the financial side of your operations, so you’re not stuck sorting through spreadsheets or second-guessing your numbers. Instead of reacting to problems, you’ll have real-time visibility into your cash flow, expenses, and margins so you can make strategic data-driven decisions.
Here’s how our bookkeeping services for small businesses can help:
- Accurate bookkeeping: From tracking cash flow to managing invoices, we handle all your financial records and keep everything organized and ready for decision-making.
- Bill & invoice payment matching: We match every bill and invoice to reduce errors and missed payments, ensuring your accounts are always in order, and payments are made on time.
- Direct access to your dedicated bookkeeper: Have a query? Our bookkeepers are here to help with quick, personalized support whenever you need it.
- Monthly financial statements: Stay informed with detailed monthly reports so you always know where your business stands and can make confident decisions.
- Transparent, flat pricing: No hourly fees or hidden charges. Just a flat monthly fee for expert bookkeeping.
