TMOTW: Pass the E's, Please! - TwitterMom of the Week: Meet Kim DeYoung!
Written by Fellow Twitter Mom - Lea Curtes-Swenson
TwitterMom of the Week: Meet Kim DeYoung!
When you talk to Kim DeYoung, you quickly realize it's all about the E's: Entrepreneurial, Energetic, Enthusiastic and Engaging. (To name just a few.) This TwitterMom is an honest-to-goodness mover-and-shaker, and she is passionate about helping moms succeed through connection.
Kim, 44, of New Haven, CT, is a married mom of three (ages 10, 9 and 6), and the founder and president of Metromom.com, a fun and interactive online community for entrepreneurial, work-at-home moms. Just what is a Metromom? According to Kim's new Metromom Movie, if you're a dynamic, busy mom with an entrepreneurial spirit -- who wants to spend more time with her family AND achieve business & financial success -- then you're a Metromom.
A former fashion exec and serial entrepreneur (dating back to her first pregnancy, during which she successfully launched her Metromom Maternity clothing line), Kim also spent time in direct sales with Melaleuca, a health and wellness line. In her evolution as an entrepreneur, Kim knew early on that she most enjoyed connecting with other "metromoms" like herself. And, after consulting with a career coach (which she claims is one of the best decisions she's ever made), she discovered she herself had an aptitude for coaching. From there, it wasn't long before Metromom.com was born.
"I just really wanted other Metromoms to know that they're part of a community," says Kim. "They are not alone!"
This feeling of isolation is one of the biggest challenges facing work-at-home moms, according to Kim. Having people who can relate to you and your specific challenges -- and even give you solid business advice -- is invaluable, she says. (This has been a topic of discussion in Kim's TwitterMoms group, Metromoms.)
An important part of Kim's mission of helping mompreneurs involves giving back. Through Metromom Gives, Kim donates a portion of her entrepreneurs' association membership fees to Junior Achievement, the "world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs."
"I really want the next generation of Metromoms to feel that anything is possible," says Kim, acknowledging that early in her career as an entrepreneur, she didn't always receive the encouragement she needed in order to press on.
When she isn't connecting, coaching or creating (or talking to a member of the media about her new venture), Kim says that "yoga is one thing I love and need, but spending down time with my family and friends is what's most important to me."
And of course, our last goofy question: "What is your all-time favorite TV show or movie or book; and what would you most like to be eating while you watch/read it?"
"Definitely something chocolate," she says. (I like how she discloses this critical information up front, like I would.) "And though I am a diehard 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Brothers & Sisters' fan, nothing gets in the way of me and my People magazine when it arrives each week. The house could be burning -- I must have my People!"
A fitting periodical for someone who thrives on her connections with... people!
TwitterMom of the Week: Meet Kim DeYoung!
When you talk to Kim DeYoung, you quickly realize it's all about the E's: Entrepreneurial, Energetic, Enthusiastic and Engaging. (To name just a few.) This TwitterMom is an honest-to-goodness mover-and-shaker, and she is passionate about helping moms succeed through connection.
Kim, 44, of New Haven, CT, is a married mom of three (ages 10, 9 and 6), and the founder and president of Metromom.com, a fun and interactive online community for entrepreneurial, work-at-home moms. Just what is a Metromom? According to Kim's new Metromom Movie, if you're a dynamic, busy mom with an entrepreneurial spirit -- who wants to spend more time with her family AND achieve business & financial success -- then you're a Metromom.
A former fashion exec and serial entrepreneur (dating back to her first pregnancy, during which she successfully launched her Metromom Maternity clothing line), Kim also spent time in direct sales with Melaleuca, a health and wellness line. In her evolution as an entrepreneur, Kim knew early on that she most enjoyed connecting with other "metromoms" like herself. And, after consulting with a career coach (which she claims is one of the best decisions she's ever made), she discovered she herself had an aptitude for coaching. From there, it wasn't long before Metromom.com was born.
"I just really wanted other Metromoms to know that they're part of a community," says Kim. "They are not alone!"
This feeling of isolation is one of the biggest challenges facing work-at-home moms, according to Kim. Having people who can relate to you and your specific challenges -- and even give you solid business advice -- is invaluable, she says. (This has been a topic of discussion in Kim's TwitterMoms group, Metromoms.)
An important part of Kim's mission of helping mompreneurs involves giving back. Through Metromom Gives, Kim donates a portion of her entrepreneurs' association membership fees to Junior Achievement, the "world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs."
"I really want the next generation of Metromoms to feel that anything is possible," says Kim, acknowledging that early in her career as an entrepreneur, she didn't always receive the encouragement she needed in order to press on.
When she isn't connecting, coaching or creating (or talking to a member of the media about her new venture), Kim says that "yoga is one thing I love and need, but spending down time with my family and friends is what's most important to me."
And of course, our last goofy question: "What is your all-time favorite TV show or movie or book; and what would you most like to be eating while you watch/read it?"
"Definitely something chocolate," she says. (I like how she discloses this critical information up front, like I would.) "And though I am a diehard 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Brothers & Sisters' fan, nothing gets in the way of me and my People magazine when it arrives each week. The house could be burning -- I must have my People!"
A fitting periodical for someone who thrives on her connections with... people!
Add a Comment
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Comment by Laura Gonzalez on May 15, 2009 at 7:13am -
This resonates with me, I like what you said they are "NOT alone". I feel the same way when I am coaching my clients and letting them know they don't have to feel like they have to figure it all out.
Of course I also LOVE chocolate and my weekly tv must haves are desperate housewives and brothers and sisters.... what are we to do now they they are wrapping up:)
I attended her latest event and it was full of great speakers and great content !!!
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