Boss Mama CEO Story: Turning Trials Into Triumphs

We all have a story. That’s why I love sharing other Boss Mamas’ journeys because there’s something truly beautiful about hearing someone else’s story and realizing you’re not alone. Heba’s story is truly inspiring. But before we dive into it, I want to share a little bit about how we met.

Like Gia (you can read her story here), I met Heba at a mompreneur networking event at Cowo & Crèche—I have to give a big thank-you to Shamena for bringing such incredible women together. Heba is one of those women who lights up every room she walks into, and she did exactly that. She is also part of the partnership network with me and Gia at Cowo & Crèche, which makes the connection even more special.

I’m a big believer in divine timing, and that night honestly felt like one of those moments where everything just lined up. It was truly Gods work. I met so many amazing women, and Heba was one of them.

After the event, I reached out because I knew I wanted to share her story. In the process, we started following each other’s journeys, and it’s been such a joy to watch. We ended up seeing each other again at another event, a lovely ladies’ high tea. While chatting about my heritage and how I’m Lebanese, I discovered that Heba is Egyptian. And in classic Heba fashion, she laughed and said, “We’re neighbors!”

Moments like that are exactly why I always say: sometimes all it takes is a little courage to show up and start a conversation. You truly never know where it might lead or who you might meet!

When I started Boss Mama CEO, the intent was to help other women, especially moms, start businesses and thrive in this new season of life. What I didn’t expect was how much the business would give back to me.

In just the past few months, I’ve met so many incredible women, particularly mothers, who have welcomed me with open arms. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when women support each other.

Right now, it feels like I’m building my tribe of mamas. Women in similar seasons of life. Women who understand each other, uplift each other, and genuinely want to help one another grow.

Because at the end of the day, the power of community is everything. ✨

I can’t wait for you to learn more about Heba and her story.

And don’t forget to check her out on social media and give her a follow!

YOUR STORY

We love a good origin story, but first, give us your short + sweet intro!

Hi! I’m Heba Saleh, a mindset and wellness coach, educator, and founder of Key of Life Ventures. I help mission driven individuals and entrepreneurs grow with clarity, values aligned strategy, and well being that feels supportive to the body and nervous system. I love turning “I feel stuck” into “I can actually do this.” My work makes growth feel simple and sustainable by translating complex challenges into clear, doable steps that create real transformation.

Every boss mama has a ‘day one.’ What was yours?

My entrepreneurial journey began in 2010 with a food and health blog that sparked my love for teaching and building community. That grew into a farm to table meal kit business in 2013 and a nationwide clarified butter brand in 2015. Supporting founders along the way helped me realize how naturally I gravitated toward coaching and strategy.

A car accident in 2016 and a postpartum crisis in 2018 that led to a Hashimoto’s diagnosis became a turning point. Rebuilding myself physically and emotionally clarified that I did not just want to build businesses. I wanted to help people build lives that felt coherent, grounded, and aligned with their values.

In 2020, I launched Key of Life Ventures with that mission. Today, through coaching, Mindset Groups, wellness education, or tools like the Eight Moments Mindset Journal, I help people grow with clarity, intention, and sustainable well-being.

Which came first—the business or the babies? Tell us how your family + business journeys intersected.

I was entrepreneurial long before motherhood, but motherhood transformed the way I work. By the time I founded Key of Life Ventures, I was already a mom, and that experience reshaped my priorities in the best way. It clarified my values, deepened my purpose, and pushed me to build a business that felt sustainable and aligned with the season of life I was in. Motherhood did not replace my entrepreneurial spirit. It refined it. 

We know it’s a wild ride—tell us how you’ve balanced building your dream biz while raising your crew. The good, the tough, the real.

It has been a journey of constant recalibration. The highs are beautiful. My daughter gets to see her mother build something meaningful. The hard parts were real too. Navigating postpartum depression, autoimmune illness, and the pressure to keep showing up taught me to slow down, honor my nervous system, and build a business rooted in sustainability instead of burnout.

One moment that shaped me was choosing to skip a great networking event because my daughter needed me. I wrote about it on LinkedIn later because it reminded me that choosing family is not a setback. It is clarity. Today, my work is stronger because it is grounded in lived experience. I do not just teach resilience and alignment. I practice them daily.

What’s one obstacle you’ve overcome?

Rebuilding my health and identity after postpartum depression and a Hashimoto’s diagnosis. That season forced me to start from the inside out and taught me what true strength and sustainable success look like. It became the foundation of the work I do today.

A fun fact is that I have built three very different businesses across food, wellness, and strategy. Each one taught me something essential about purpose, resilience, and creating a life that aligns with who you are becoming.

YOUR BUSINESS

Tell us your superpower—what’s your product, service, or special offering?

My superpower is helping people create internal coherence so their values, choices, and daily actions finally match. I design mindset and wellness programs, teach workshops, and coach individuals and founders who want to grow with clarity and nervous system alignment. My work blends mindset coaching, wellness education, and strategic guidance, helping people simplify their goals, build sustainable habits, and move toward their full potential without overwhelm.

I also create tools like the Eight Moments Mindset Journal to support daily grounding and intentional living. Everything I offer is designed to help people shift from scattered effort to aligned action, so they can grow in a way that feels true, sustainable, and deeply rooted in who they are becoming.

What’s the magic that sets you apart?

What sets me apart is that my work is built on alignment and internal coherence. Everything I teach is something I have lived, rebuilt, and integrated myself. Key of Life Ventures is grounded in real experience: navigating postpartum Hashimoto’s, recovering from burnout, and learning how to grow a business while staying true to my values as a mother and a human being.

I bring a blend of mindset coaching, wellness expertise, and operational strategy, but the deeper differentiator is how I help people align what they believe, how they feel, and the actions they take. I also help them honor the season they are in so their growth matches their capacity instead of fighting against it. My approach is warm, grounded, and deeply human. Growth respects the nervous system, strategy feels sustainable, and support meets people where they are so they can move forward with clarity and integrity.

Spill the tea — any big milestones, press shoutouts, or launches on the horizon? 

This season feels full of meaningful growth. I just wrapped the Winter cohort of Mindset Groups, and the clarity and aligned action coming out of it has been incredible. Now, I’m preparing for the Spring cohort and expanding the curriculum to support both new and returning members.

I am also deepening my expertise in ways that strengthen my programs. I recently became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and I am currently in a Nutritional Therapy Program, both of which will support the next evolution of the Healthstarter Program.

Behind the scenes, I am developing new tools within the Eight Moments framework and exploring creative projects like a future podcast. I am also refining ideas for a TED style talk on alignment before action and the power of internal coherence.

Everything unfolding right now feels grounded, intentional, and aligned with the mission at the heart of Key of Life Ventures: helping people grow in a way that honors who they are and the season they are in.

Give us a Day in the Life of being both Mom and CEO!

My days shift with the season, but they follow a rhythm that keeps me grounded and able to show up for both my family and my work.

6:30 AM: Slow start

Tea, a few quiet minutes with my Eight Moments Mindset Journal, and a quick check in with my body. It helps me begin with clarity instead of urgency.

7:00 to 8:30 AM: Mom mode

Breakfast, school prep, and connection time. I try to keep mornings calm because it sets a better tone for both of us.

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Deep work

My most focused window. I coach clients, lead Mindset Groups, teach fitness or yoga, study for my Nutritional Therapy program, or work on curriculum and strategy. Working from home means something nourishing is often simmering on the stove.

1:00 to 2:00 PM: Lunch and reset

A pause for food, a walk, or a nervous system reset.

2:00 to 3:00 PM: Creative or admin flow

Content, planning, emails, or tying up loose ends before pickup.

3:00 to 8:00 PM: Family time

School pickup, activities, dinner, and winding down. This is sacred time and I try to be fully present.

Evenings: Soft close

Some nights I join my online business program. Other nights I read, journal, or lightly plan the next day. I protect my evenings so I do not slip back into hustle mode.

Some days feel aligned, some are chaotic, and most are a mix. Honoring my energy and my values matters far more than doing it perfectly.

ADVICE FOR MOMPRENEURS

What’s the single best piece of advice or favorite tool you’d share with other mamas building their businesses?

Build a rhythm that supports your nervous system before you build a strategy that supports your business. When your body feels safe, your clarity expands. Your creativity expands. Your capacity expands.

My favorite tool is the Eight Moments Mindset Journal. It anchors me in gratitude, intention, and the Top 3 Tasks that actually move the needle. It is simple, but it creates the internal coherence that makes everything else possible.

What’s been your biggest challenge juggling motherhood and running a business?

The hardest part was rebuilding myself after postpartum depression and navigating Hashimoto’s while still trying to show up for my family and my work. I had to learn to slow down, listen to my body, and redefine success in a way that did not require sacrificing my health. It was humbling, but it reshaped everything about how I lead, coach, and live. It taught me that internal coherence is not a luxury; it is the foundation.

What’s your approach to balancing business and family? We love the real, unfiltered stories!

I do not believe in perfect balance. I believe in intentional trade offs. Some days I am fully in CEO mode and other days motherhood takes the lead. I build my business around my energy, my daughter’s needs, and the season I am in.

Structure helps me stay grounded. My morning journaling ritual, my 9-to-1 deep work block, and my daily movement routine give me a rhythm that supports both my work and my family. I also give myself permission to pivot. Real balance is honoring what matters most in the moment without guilt.

Looking back, what’s something you wish you had known before starting your business?

I wish I had known that clarity comes from action, not from waiting to feel ready. Every version of my business, from food to wellness to mindset and strategy, taught me something essential. Nothing was wasted. The path reveals itself as you walk it.

What tool, resource, or habit has completely changed the game for you?

Daily journaling in the Eight Moments Mindset Journal. Setting my Top 3 Tasks for the day, grounding in gratitude, and checking in with my body each morning keeps me focused and calm. It is the simplest habit with the biggest ripple effect.

What mindset shifts have helped you keep going during hard seasons?

1. Your pace is allowed to change. Slow seasons are not failures. They are recalibrations.
2. Your worth is not tied to productivity. Rest is part of the work.
3. You can rebuild at any time. Your lived experience deepens your leadership.
4. Small steps compound. Consistency beats intensity.

What words of encouragement would you give a Mom tempted to give up on her business dream?

Your dream does not have to be built overnight, and it does not have to be built at the pace or in the shape that anyone else expects. You can grow slowly, you can pause, and you can rebuild. What matters is staying connected to the work that feels meaningful to you.

Take one small step, protect your energy, and trust that your pace is enough. Your child is watching you show up with courage and create something from intention, and that quiet modeling is more powerful than you realize. 🙂 

Like Heba, so many of us are building our dreams in real time, with little eyes watching it all unfold.

For a while, I worried that working on my business meant I was taking time away from my daughter. But eventually I realized those little eyes are always watching. They’re taking it all in and learning what it looks like to dedicate yourself to something you care deeply about simply by watching mama do it for herself.

They’re watching their mama chase purpose, show up with courage, and pour her heart into something she is so passionate about.

And that kind of lesson can’t be taught. It’s something that’s caught.

Heba’s story is such a beautiful reminder of that. ✨

I’d love to feature more Boss Mamas like Heba. If you know someone who deserves the spotlight, please reach out and send me their info at ashley@bossmamaceo.com. And hey, if that’s you, I love a little self-brag too! Send me your details so we can shine the spotlight on you as well.

Here’s to all the incredible Moms juggling a million things—keep shining bright, cheering each other on, and building the life you love!

Ashley

Friendly Note: I’m simply sharing my journey, experiences, and lessons learned as a Mom in business. This isn’t legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check with a qualified pro for guidance tailored to you.