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By Kholisa Thomas, Client Advisor at Aspire Art

Female entrepreneurs, particularly those juggling multiple roles as partners, mothers, and business leaders, often face unique challenges that can significantly test their emotional and mental resilience. 

From a personal standpoint, balancing business and life requires having intentional strategies to nurture your wellbeing while pursuing success, making sure that neither of the two are compromised. Considering that the business journey is inherently dynamic, managing a successful business, dealing with clients, and driving cultural conversations demands creativity and resilience in an uncertain world and business environment. 

At the same time, my roles of mother, wife, and caregiver require emotional presence and energy. This duality can lead to a mental tug-of-war, where the pressure to excel in both domains risks burnout. Several studies indicate female entrepreneurs report higher stress levels than their male counterparts, which is frequently due to societal expectations and the ‘invisible’ labour of managing households.

Personally, I believe that emotional wellbeing starts with acknowledging the weight of these roles. Women are conditioned to prioritise others, often neglecting their own self-care. To counter this, the best advice I can give is that  it is critical to actively set boundaries. 

One of these boundaries is where I designate specific hours for work and family, ensuring I’m fully present in my children’s lives without the intrusion of work interruptions. Over the years, I have found that this considerably reduces stress and improves my productivity because I’m mentally and emotionally present for each role at hand.

The foundation for my mental wellbeing also depends on building a support network. Being a business leader can be isolating, but connecting with women in similar positions, mentors or peer groups – such as women-led business forums – gives me perspective and encouragement. At Aspire Art, collaborating with a board that shares a passion for art, and making an impact in the art world creates a sense of purpose and community, alleviating the loneliness of decision-making.

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Self-care rituals are non-negotiable. Simple practices, like morning meditation or journaling, help to thoughtfully process emotions and maintain focus.

The ability to be flexible has been a cornerstone of my success.  Female entrepreneurs must embrace adaptive planning – scheduling work around family needs or leveraging technology to work remotely. Our adoption of this kind of hybrid working prevents the guilt often associated with choosing one role over another and I believe that this has been a huge step forward for working women, more especially mothers. 

Balancing business and life starts with being intentional. By prioritising emotional and mental wellbeing through boundary setting, regular engagement with support networks, self-care, flexibility, and a growth mindset, I truly believe women can thrive whilst still balancing multiple roles.

Kholisa Thomas, Client Advisor at Aspire Art, an auction and consulting business specialising in modern and contemporary art from South Africa and the broader African continent. 

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