Tell us about your family. How many Kids?
I have three boys, two are my stepsons. Eli is still very much in the lunchbox stage, while the other two are basically adults now.
There’s a big age gap between them, which means I’m living two completely different versions of motherhood at the same time.
And then there’s Maple, our groodle, keeping the female energy alive in a house full of boys.
What’s the part of being a mum that fills you up the most?
There are so many moments, but it’s the small ones that mean the most.
The bedtime chats, reading together, the cuddles, and the endless love. Those everyday moments are what fill my cup.
What’s one thing that genuinely helps you stay afloat in the day-to-day juggle?
My partner and my friends.
There isn’t a time during the day when we’re not checking in with each other. Whether it’s a quick phone call, a message, or sharing a laugh, we always make time to connect. Knowing they’re there keeps me grounded and honestly keeps me sane.
How do you carve out space for career, motherhood, love, friends, and still find a moment for you?
Honestly, I don’t try to balance it all at once.
Some weeks are work heavy, some are family heavy, and I’ve let go of the idea that everything needs equal attention all the time.
If I’m honest, time for me isn’t as frequent as it was before starting my business. But when I do get it, I make the most of every minute and fully embrace it.
Where do you find fashion that genuinely feels like you?
I shop online a lot. It’s convenient, but it also allows me to be more intentional and filter out the noise.
Platforms like Emia Fashion make it easy, and I’m always drawn to Australian brands that combine style with practicality.
What does living a healthy, grounded life look like in your world?
It’s real food, walks with the dog and my family, and quiet date nights to reconnect.
Nothing extreme or perfect. Just a balance of the things that make us feel good, with a little something sweet at the end of the day.
How do you keep your body moving in a way that feels realistic and sustainable?
I’d love to tell you I’m doing long gym sessions and going for runs, but that’s not my reality.
For me, it’s the everyday things. Walking the dog, staying active with Eli, and spending time outdoors.
He’s sports obsessed, so you’ll usually find me kicking the footy at the oval.
What’s one non-negotiable that keeps your mind and body well?
Sleep.
I definitely don’t get everything right, but when I’m well rested, everything feels more manageable.
When you think of balance, what does that actually mean to you in real life?
Balance?
I honestly don’t think I have it.
Some days feel calm, others feel chaotic, and I’ve learned to roll with both. I’ve stopped chasing perfection and started accepting that life is always changing.
What does your morning routine honestly look like?
I’m usually up around 6am.
First thing is a quick check of emails, followed by a shower and getting ready for the day. Then it’s straight into breakfast and making Eli’s lunchbox.
Most mornings I’ll bake a fresh banana bread, vacuum, get a load of washing on, and grab a coffee for the road before we’re out the door for the school run by 7.30am.
After that, every day looks a little different. I might head to the factory, jump into meetings, or work from home.
How do you wind down at night?
It starts with dinner.
We always sit down together as a family, chat about our day, and often throw in a few riddles for fun.
Once Eli is in bed, I’ll usually jump back on my laptop for a little while. Then there’s the obligatory exchange of reels with my girlfriends before I’m in bed by about 10.30pm.
What’s something about you that would genuinely surprise people?
That I’m actually a food scientist.
It all started because I wanted to be Willy Wonka after watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I also spent time working at The Natural Confectionery Company, which feels slightly ironic now that I run a healthy kids’ food brand.
What’s a truth about yourself that took you years to finally admit?
That I’m allowed to put myself first sometimes.
For a long time, I believed everyone else’s needs had to come before my own. It’s taken years to realise that looking after myself isn’t selfish.
When I’m at my best, everyone around me benefits too.
When do you feel most like the truest version of yourself?
When I’m with my family and friends.
That’s where I feel most grounded and most like me.
What’s a single moment that quietly shifted the direction of your life?
Realising I didn’t want to feed my own child the types of snacks I was seeing on supermarket shelves.
That was the turning point.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It led me to walk away from my corporate career and create something I genuinely believed in.
What’s a mistake you’re genuinely grateful you made?
Selling our house.
At the time it felt incredibly risky, but it gave us the opportunity to back ourselves, pursue our dreams, and build something of our own.
What’s one boundary that completely changed your life?
Being fully present.
Weekends at sport, volunteering at school, and showing up for the moments that matter most to Eli are things I won’t compromise on.
Seeing the joy it brings him makes it all worth it. It’s something I know I wouldn’t have been able to do in my previous corporate roles.
What part of yourself do you judge the most?
Probably the feeling that I’m never doing enough, whether that’s as a mum or in business.
I think it comes from caring deeply about both and wanting to do them well.
What’s something you pretend you don’t care about, but secretly do?
People’s opinions.
I tell myself they don’t matter, but if I’m honest, they still get to me sometimes.
What’s something about you that people would never guess?
That I still question myself a lot.
Even after everything I’ve built, self doubt doesn’t magically disappear. I think people often assume confidence comes with experience, but the reality is most of us are figuring it out as we go.
These days I just don’t let it stop me.
If you could live an entirely different life for a year, what would you choose?
I’d move my family to Greece.
I’d love to immerse ourselves in our culture, embrace our Greek heritage, and experience a slower, more connected way of life. Long lunches, time with family, days spent outdoors, and less rushing from one thing to the next.
Life can feel so fast sometimes, and I think there would be something really special about pressing pause and showing my son that happiness doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from simply being present.
For a year, I’d happily swap the hustle for a little more sunshine, simplicity, and connection.
What’s something that still feels uncomfortable, but you’re pushing yourself to do anyway?
Putting myself out there.
Sharing my story, showing up on social media, speaking at events, and even taking the time to answer questions like these.
It doesn’t come naturally, but I know it matters.
What’s a version of yourself you’re trying to become?
A more confident and grounded version of myself.
Someone who can hold ambition and family without constantly feeling pulled in every direction. Someone who makes more time for her own health and wellbeing without feeling guilty about it.
Most of all, someone who trusts herself a little more.
When you think about your younger self, what do you wish she knew?
That you don’t have to be perfect all the time.
I put so much pressure on myself over things that now feel so small.
What’s the hardest part of motherhood for you to admit out loud?
The guilt.
Not always being able to switch off. The constant feeling of being pulled in two directions at once. Being at work and wondering if I should be with my family, then being with my family and thinking about work.
I don’t know if that feeling ever completely goes away, but I’ve learned that guilt is often a sign that you care deeply. And I care deeply about both.
What’s a small joy getting you through this season of life?
A quiet coffee at my favourite café, on my own, before the workday begins.
The Five Things In My Bag I Can’t Leave Home Without
My old-school wired Apple earphones.
Tissues or wet wipes. I do have a son after all.
My iPhone.
Visit, Buy, Do
Visit: Greece with my family.
Buy: A beautiful home by the water where our family could gather for years to come.
Do: Spend an entire day with no agenda. A good book, a long lunch, and nowhere I need to be.
What inspired you to start Grumpy Bums?
It all started when I became a mum.
Like so many parents, I found myself standing in supermarket aisles reading ingredient lists and feeling shocked by how much sugar was hidden in everyday kids’ snacks. The more I looked, the more uncomfortable I became.
I remember thinking, if I don’t want to feed this to my own child, surely other parents are feeling the same way. That feeling stayed with me. I couldn’t ignore it. I knew there had to be a better option, so I decided to create one.
What started as a desire to give my own child healthier choices quickly became something much bigger. It became a mission to help families access better food without the confusion, compromise, or guilt.
Can you share anything about what’s next for Grumpy Bums?
My aspiration is to help change the way kids eat by making minimally processed, no added sugar foods more accessible to families.
To bring that vision to life, we’ll continue expanding into new food categories so we can support kids across more everyday eating moments.
There are some exciting things in the pipeline, and I can’t wait to share them.
What’s the most challenging thing about having your own business?
Running a startup requires resilience.
It can be lonely and challenging at times, and there are moments when the weight of responsibility feels enormous.
I’m incredibly fortunate to have supportive friends, family, mentors, and a strong network of people across the industry who I can lean on. Their guidance, encouragement, and perspective make all the difference.
What’s the best thing about having your own business?
Seeing it out in the world.
Seeing Grumpy Bums in lunchboxes, family pantries, and everyday moments is incredibly rewarding. But the best part is hearing from families who genuinely love what we’ve created and knowing it’s making a difference in their lives.
Knowing we’re helping change the way kids eat, while challenging the big players along the way, makes every hard day worth it.
Discover more about Grumpy Bums.
Jo's Grump Bums Picks
Cacao & Banana Pressed Oat Bars
Banana Porridge
Tropical Pressed Oat Bars
