Having it all is no easy task - but with a little commitment and a lot of communication, Jaime Turner believes it's completely possible. She turned her tough experiences of trying to ensure her child had the right nutrition into a business that focuses on just that, alongside her business partner Cheryl Stewart. Although things can get hectic at times, she is passionate about the work she does and always makes sure her son, Maverick, knows he comes first!
Name: Jaime Turner
Website/blog: Mavella Superfoods and Koala Karma
Social media:
Koala Karma Facebook
Mavella Superfoods Facebook
Koala Karma Instagram
Mavella Superfoods Instagram
Tell us a bit about yourself and your child/children….
I am now a member of the 40 club!
In terms of education I have a Business degree at Griffith University majoring in marketing and business management. Prior to me owning my business I have worked across many different business sectors predominantly in the franchising area.
Regarding family life there are three of us, James (husband), Maverick (son, eight years old) and me. James and I have been together since I was 18, so 22 years and been married for 11 years this year.
What is the name of your business/blog and what does your work entail?
We have developed two brands for the market, Koala Karma and Mavella Superfoods. In a world saturated with so much processed food, getting some decent nutrition into kids can be a difficult task, especially for fussy eaters. Like many parents we have experienced this trying to get the kids to eat more vegetables and fruits.
We set out to develop an easy-to-use and great tasting product for kids. It is our passion for our products to have a high nutrient intake with a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals to help supplement their diets. We want to be loved by kids and trusted by parents. We only wanted to make products that we would feed our own personal kids.
Hence we developed a brand inspired by our kids names, Maverick and Ella. The brand Mavella.
Mavella Superfoods is a range of functionality powders for kids and contains no hidden nasties, no artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners or preservatives. It is also vegetarian, dairy free, gmo free, soy free and gluten free. ALL NATURAL. Just goodness! Just add to water, juice or milk and they have this amazing healthy drink for kids, or use the powders in cooking and create superfood meals. There are four products in the range; Brain Boost, Immune Boost, Body Boost and Veggie Boost.
Koala Karma was created when we saw a need to develop a drink opposite to an energy drink to help you unwind and reduce stress. It is a slightly carbonated relaxation beverage with two product lines – Koala Karma original and Koala Karma no added sugar. These are infused with chamomile, passionflower, lemon balm and magnesium. This formulation is unique only to the Koala Karma beverage.
What made you decide to be both a mum and a career woman?
I believe you can have both, sometimes it is a challenge but it makes me feel more complete as a person.
What challenges do you face balancing both roles and how do you overcome them? Being a mum, wife, and running a business you try to do everything and keep everything in balance. You try and keep all things going nice and smooth and for your vision and goals to not interrupt family life. For me it is about being disciplined with my time and when I am with Maverick and James I try always to stay present.
Technology has made it so easy to take control of your life. My husband reminds me about my phone. When you are with your family you need to be present, not just being physically there while your mind is elsewhere. It is tough as I get many enquiries internationally so I get many emails at night. There is no such thing as working nine to five.
What is one tip you have for unwinding after a stressful day?
For me I do two things, I drink a Koala Karma and I watch reality TV. I find it relaxing
What is one fun weekend activity that your family enjoys together?
There are two main things, we have a heap of board games we all play. Mav’s favourite is the original monopoly! Not my favourite, I would much rather play Battle Ship.
As a family we also enjoy going to the beach and playing tennis.
What is one time-saving parenting tip you can recommend?
Doing some reading while cooking dinner, we have a bench top where we can sit, as Mav can read and we are working on comprehension.
What benefits do you think there are to being a career mum?
I can work early in the morning or late in afternoon, but am also lucky as I get to take my son to school, and pick him up then go to sports.
Lastly, what do you do to ensure you maintain a strong bond with your child/children, despite having numerous responsibilities?
For me it is communication. Talk and talk… especially about things they like (ie Pokemon) this shows you are interested in them and they feel closer to you and will share anything and everything.
So get to chatting with your little ones and stay up-to-date with their lives, no matter how busy you all get! A few minutes can go a long way - it's not always about the quantity of time you spend together, it's more about the quality! With the right attitude and the right tools, being a career mum can be made a lot easier!
