Tell us about your family. How many kids do you have?
I live in Lennox Head with my partner and our two kids, Marlo, 5, and Dylan, 7.
What’s the part of being a mum that fills you up the most?
Watching my kids become themselves.
Not who I imagined they’d be, but who they actually are. Their humour, the things they’re drawn to, the questions they ask. It’s like watching two completely unique little humans slowly unfold, and I feel incredibly lucky to have a front-row seat to that.
What’s one thing that genuinely helps you stay afloat in the day-to-day juggle?
Accepting that balance doesn’t exist on a daily basis.
Some days I’m a brilliant mum and an average founder. Other days it’s the reverse.
Looking for balance every single day only made me feel like I was failing. Looking for balance over months feels much more realistic.
How do you carve out space for career, motherhood, love, friends, and still find a moment for you?
I think there are two parts to it.
The first is being incredibly intentional with my time. I’ve become ruthless about protecting the things that matter and saying no to the things that don’t.
The second is accepting that every season looks different. When your kids are babies and toddlers, it’s honestly just a chaotic mess. Now mine are a little older, I’ve found a rhythm where career, family and a little bit of time for myself can coexist much more naturally.
Where do you find fashion that genuinely feels like you?
I’ve become much less trend-driven over the years and instead have really leaned into things that feel authentically me.
I love the art of dressing and get so much joy from piecing together my daily outfit.
I’m all about unique finds, great cuts, quality basics and interesting pieces that feel like mini pieces of art. My wardrobe is highly curated and probably my most treasured possession!
What does living a healthy, grounded life look like in your world?
Getting good sleep. Moving my body. Spending time outside. Eating mostly whole foods. Being with my family.
The older I get, the more interested I get in optimisation and, maybe more importantly, consistency.
How do you keep your body moving in a way that feels realistic and sustainable?
I genuinely love exercise, always have, so it’s less a question of motivation and more a question of where to fit it in.
I get to the gym most mornings, play basketball once a week, walk the dog and am always on the go with the kids.
Exercise helps keep my busy brain sane, so I really do try to prioritise it every day.
What’s one non-negotiable that keeps your mind and body well?
Good food.
If you know me, you know I spend half my life in the kitchen. I love wholefoods and creative cooking.
When you think of ‘balance’, what does that actually mean to you in real life?
For me, balance isn’t everything happening at once. It’s knowing what deserves your attention in this season and trusting that the other parts will get their turn.
What does your morning routine look like, honestly?
It’s mostly dictated by two kids.
But before they wake, I try to get in two hours of work between 4.30am and 6.30am.
From there, most mornings consist of coffee, brekkie, school drop-off, gym, and then I try to protect the first hour of work for deep thinking before emails take over.
How do you wind down at night? What does your evening routine look like?
I generally just fall into bed after at least an hour of book reading, negotiations, and a few hundred “please-go-to-sleeps” with one of my kids.
It’s the least intentional and glamorous part of my day!
What’s something about you that would genuinely surprise people?
I’m actually very introverted.
People assume because I’ve spent years building teams and brands and being outwardly social that I’m naturally outgoing, but I love being alone.
What’s a truth about yourself that took you years to finally admit?
That some of my biggest strengths and biggest frustrations come from exactly the same place.
The part of me that’s endlessly curious, full of ideas and sees connections others don’t is also the part that gets restless, overwhelmed and bored.
I spent years trying to get rid of one without realising they were inseparable.
When do you feel most like the truest version of you?
When I’m building something, in that creative flow state.
What’s a single moment that quietly shifted the direction of your life?
Becoming a mum.
It completely changed my relationship with time. Suddenly every hour mattered, and I became much more intentional about what deserved my energy.
What’s a mistake you’re genuinely grateful you made?
Honestly, I’ve made hundreds.
The difference is that I don’t really think of them as mistakes. I think of them as data.
Every decision gives you information. Sometimes it’s the outcome you hoped for, sometimes it’s simply a clearer understanding of what doesn’t work.
I’ve built my career by responding to that data rather than judging myself for it.
Curiosity has always served me better than perfectionism.
What’s one boundary that completely changed your life?
For years, I confused being generous with being endlessly available.
Learning to honour my own capacity has changed everything. I have more energy, more presence, and I show up much better for the people who matter most.
What part of yourself do you judge the most, and why do you think you do?
Probably how quickly my mind moves.
I have ADHD, so I’m constantly generating ideas. For years I thought it was something I needed to fix.
Now I mostly see it as one of my greatest strengths, as long as I build systems around it.
What’s something you pretend you don’t care about, but secretly do?
Honestly… I don’t think I pretend very well.
I’m a Taurus. We’re not exactly known for hiding how we feel. If I care about something, you’ll probably know. And if I don’t, you’ll probably know that too.
What’s something about you that people would never guess?
I genuinely enjoy spreadsheets and money tasks now.
That definitely wasn’t true ten years ago.
If you could live an entirely different life for a year, what would you choose?
I’d love to live in Greece and spend a year simply being creative, potentially writing a book, while giving my kids 12 months immersed in a different culture.
What’s something that still feels uncomfortable, but you’re pushing yourself to do anyway?
Being a rookie.
I recently sold the agency I’d spent 15 years building and stepped into Land Lab full-time, which means I’m a rookie all over again.
And while that’s sometimes uncomfortable, because it comes with learning in public, making mistakes and not having all the answers, it’s also my favourite place to be.
I think being a beginner is where the most meaningful growth happens.
It’s where your assumptions get challenged, your curiosity is highest, and you’re forced to earn every lesson.
So even though it’s uncomfortable, I’ve learned not to run from that feeling.
It’s usually a sign I’m exactly where I need to be.
What’s a version of yourself you’re trying to become?
Someone who creates from curiosity instead of pressure.
When you think about your younger self, what do you wish she knew?
Confidence comes from keeping promises to yourself, not from other people’s approval.
What’s the hardest part of motherhood for you to admit out loud?
I miss having uninterrupted time to think and create.
I adore my children, but I also think it’s healthy to acknowledge that mums need time spent without their kids to reconnect to themselves.
What’s a small joy that gets you through this season of life?
Coffee.
The five things in your bag you can’t leave home without?
My AirPods, I’m a podcast devotee; Tulita Perfume, Divya is my obsession; a self-help book, I’m currently reading Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life by Emma Grede; glasses; and OneSkin lip balm.
VISIT, BUY, DO
Visit: Milos for that 12-month stint.
Buy: We’re in the market for a reno project, so currently on Domain in every spare second.
Do: Date night with my man and some margis.
What led you to start Land Lab?
Land Lab came from a simple question: why hadn’t prenatal nutrition evolved?
We kept seeing formulations that were built around minimum requirements rather than what modern women actually needed.
We believed there was room for a more thoughtful approach, one grounded in evidence, bioavailability and real-world experience.
We also wanted to create a business that proved commercial success and positive impact could coexist.
That’s why Land Lab exists at the intersection of science, First Nations knowledge and maternal health.
Can you share anything about what’s next for Land Lab?
We’re entering a really exciting chapter.
This year we’ve expanded beyond our flagship prenatal with the launch of our Iron formulation, and next up is a science-led electrolyte, something we think the category has been missing for a long time.
Beyond products, we’re investing heavily in infrastructure with a new warehouse, meaningful partnerships and bringing the brand to life in the real world through our first in-person activation.
Next year will also see a significant expansion of the Land Lab range.
We’re growing fast and I am loving every second of it.
What is the most challenging thing about having your own business?
The mental load.
When you’re the founder, every decision eventually lands with you. There isn’t really anyone to hand it back to.
You’re constantly balancing risk, looking around corners and making calls with imperfect information.
It’s incredibly rewarding, but it is also filled with uncertainty.
What is the best thing about having your own business?
Getting to spend your life solving problems you actually care about.
Building a business is hard, but when the mission matters, the hard feels worthwhile.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?
Don’t start with the idea.
Start with the problem.
The strongest businesses don’t exist because someone had a clever concept. They exist because someone became obsessed with solving something that genuinely mattered.
And be prepared to stay with it much longer than you think.
Overnight success is usually ten years in the making.
Meet the brand Tess is building.
Discover Land Lab.
Click here
