Boss Mama CEO Story: Turning Personal Struggles Into a Business

I haven’t met an entrepreneur yet who didn’t start a business because of a pain point in their own life. That’s often how people find their way into entrepreneurship — by experiencing a problem firsthand and realizing there’s a gap that needs to be filled.

Veronika’s story is no different. She found a gap in the marketplace and dove right in. As a mom myself, I completely understand how overwhelming it can be to find reliable information and support when it comes to pediatric sleep. What she has done through her business, is amazing.

One of the biggest takeaways I had from Veronika’s story is how self-aware she is when it comes to work and family life. Like so many of us, she tried to do both at the same time and do them both well. Eventually, she realized that wasn’t sustainable.

If she was going to give her best to both, she needed to give them their own time. Work when she was working. Be fully present with her family when she was with them. Give 100% to each, instead of constantly trying to balance both at once. That’s something so many of us learn somewhere along this entrepreneurial journey.

Check out Veronika’s story below, and don’t forget to follow her on socials! She has some amazing workshops coming up for mamas with little ones. 💕

YOUR STORY

Tell us who you are!

My name is Veronika Miliner and I’m the owner of Whispering Willow Pediatric Sleep Consulting.

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

I help parents teach babies to sleep through the night.

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

I always knew I wanted to start my own business, but I wasn’t sure exactly what that would look like.

One night, I was browsing Facebook and saw a mom ask in a group what other moms do for flexible, work-from-home jobs. As I read through the comments, Jayne Havens, the founder of The Center for Pediatric Sleep Management, asked, “Have you thought about becoming a pediatric sleep consultant?” And in that moment, I just knew. That was it. That was what I wanted to do.

I signed up for her certification program in June and became certified in September. After I received my certification, I started by helping moms pro bono, and I quickly realized how much I loved supporting families through the sleep struggles that can feel so overwhelming and isolating. I also discovered how much I love talking about baby sleep and teaching parents in person. There is such a huge gap when it comes to infant and baby sleep education. When I was pregnant with my kids, no one ever talked to me about sleep, sleep training, or the simple routines and steps I could take to help my babies become better sleepers.

I know firsthand how exhausting sleep struggles can be. When my son went through a period of being awake for three hours every night, I felt completely drained. After nearly a year of exhaustion, I finally reached out for help and hired a sleep consultant. Within three days, my son was sleeping so much better. That experience changed everything for me.

Now, I love helping moms understand that sleep training is not one-size-fits-all. There is not just one way to teach your baby to fall asleep, and parents have options. My goal is to help families feel supported, informed, and confident as they help their babies sleep better. Because better sleep changes everything — for your baby, for you, and for your whole family.

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

After I started my family. My son was 8 and my daughter was 3. I was ready to start something for myself.

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 such an interesting journey. Owning my own business has shown me that entrepreneurship is full of ups and downs. Some days are spent supporting my clients, some days are spent looking for new clients, and so much of it is learning as I go.

I’ve learned more than I ever expected about social media, marketing, sales, networking, and what it really means to be in charge of your own business.

One of the biggest surprises has been realizing how much I enjoy learning new things and stepping into roles I never imagined for myself — like selling my services, networking with other businesses, and putting myself out there in ways that used to feel intimidating. It has definitely been challenging, but it has also been exciting, rewarding, and honestly, a lot of fun.

This journey has reminded me that growth happens when you are willing to try new things, be uncomfortable, and keep going.

What’s one fun fact about you?

I LOVE coffee. I grew up in Czechia and I learned how to play the accordion.

YOUR BUSINESS

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

I provide custom sleep plans and 1:1 support to sleep deprived parents.

What’s the magic that sets you apart?

What sets me apart is that I believe every family deserves the support that fits their lifestyle. I do not expect the parents I support to follow a strict schedule. I always remind parents it is not about perfection but about being consistent. If you can only do one nap at home and the rest is on the go, that is ok.

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

I am going to be teaching a sleep training class starting August in Momease in Old Town. I am very excited about that. Check them out below:

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

A typical day in my life usually starts around 5:30 AM. I wake up early and go to the gym, then get home around 7:30 to make breakfast and lunches for my kids. After that, I walk my 9-year-old to the bus stop and get my daughter ready for the day. I also walk out dog in between while my husband entertains my daughter. He works from home most days and it is very nice to have him around.

My daughter has preschool twice a week, and those are usually the days when I get the most work done. After I drop her off, I come home, finally have my own breakfast and coffee, and start checking in with clients.

A big part of my day is supporting families, answering questions, checking progress, reaching out to potential leads, creating social media content, and spending time in my Facebook group where I post sleep tips and answer questions from moms.

Around lunchtime, I usually have lunch, more coffee, check emails, and then head out to pick up my daughter.

On the days my daughter does not have preschool, our schedule looks a little different. She often has a play date with her best friend, and I try to squeeze in some work while they play. We also love doing fun outings together, whether that is going to a playground, an indoor play area, or running errands like a Costco trip.

When my son gets home around 3:45, he is usually outside playing with friends, and then our evenings are full of sports. Depending on the season, we are off to baseball, soccer, or t-ball.

Dinner usually happens around 7:30. My daughter is asleep around 8:30, and my son goes to bed around 9.

After bedtime, I usually do a little more work, watch a show with my husband, or we watch sports, currently we are watching hockey the Stanly Cup. The show we are watching right now is The Widows Bay. Our family is big into sports — both watching and playing — so that is a big part of our life too.

It is a full season of motherhood, business, clients, kids’ activities, and family life. Some days feel busy and a little chaotic, but I truly love the flexibility of building a business that fits into this season of my life.

ADVICE FOR MOMPRENEURS

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

The best advice I got was, it is your business you get to decide what you want.

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

The hardest thing is the mom guilt. Sometimes I have to skip a practice or something fun my kids are doing because I have to get work done.

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

Honestly there is no balance. I find time to work and spend time with my family when I can. I used to try to hang out with my kids and then work a little while I was hanging out with them. But I felt like I was doing both half way so now I designate time for my kids and my work so I can do both fully.

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

To trust myself more.

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

Canva and ChatGPT have been a huge help for me. Both save me time in content and writing.

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

Doing mindset work and positive affirmations. Processing and acknowledging the negative but moving forward and not stopping.

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

Do it! Even if you feel like you don’t know how yet, you will figure it out! There is never going to be a perfect time, you are not going to know everything, still do it and do not listen to other people’s opinion.

I love how open Veronika was about using AI in her business. I feel like we’re still in this era where people look at AI as an “icky” thing to incorporate into their business — as if using it means you’re cheating or taking a shortcut.

But it’s far from that.

When used the right way, AI is simply another tool business owners can use to make their work more efficient and effective. It’s no different from the way technology has evolved throughout history.

The vehicle replaced the horse and buggy. The computer replaced pen and paper. The cell phone replaced the landline.

It’s evolution.

And if you don’t get on board, you’re going to get left behind.

Smart business owners are using AI to streamline their work, eliminate tedious tasks, and accomplish more in a day than they used to accomplish in a week, and that is not an exaggeration.

I’m so proud of Veronika for being willing to share that truth openly, because embracing AI (and learning how to use it well) is one of the smartest decisions a business owner can make right now.

I’d love to feature more Boss Mamas like Veronika. If you know someone who deserves the spotlight, please reach out and send me their info at ashley@bossmamaceo.com or via my contact page here. 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.