“It’s Less About Chasing Bigger Numbers and More About Having Enough” – Ola’s Career Journey and How Motherhood Shaped It

meet MOB member ola!

hi Mobsters, I’m Ola Virtual Assistant supporting business owners and private individuals with business admin and /or lifestyle management.

I’m also a mum of two, with my eldest starting secondary school this September and my youngest is only two years behind, which I still can’t quite get my head round.

When I had my first child, I was lucky enough to have a flexible boss (rare in the PR world) and negotiated to work three slightly shorter days per week. I really valued that extra time to do the nursery run as well as the 2 days a week we had together. It made me realise how important it was for me to have time being a mum as well as time being me.

I’d been thinking about going freelance for a couple of years before COVID came along. Being furloughed during that period gave me the push I needed. I started my business with flexibility around my kids as the main driver – in fact, my company name is made up of the ends of both of their names. Freelancing has allowed me to be present for the important moments – school trips, assemblies, sports days – and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

My clients are great. They understand that I work school hours and don’t expect a response when I’m not working, they trust me to get things done, and they pay on time. What more do you want?  In return I’m reliable, organised, and as a client recently told me I’m “ruthless but kind”. I use Asana to keep on top of client tasks and Todoist personally – everything goes on a list.  My kids now say “put it on your list” when they want something to get done! 

Marketing myself was hard at the beginning (LinkedIn posts still make me cringe a bit), but over time I’ve built a solid network and now, almost all of my work comes through word of mouth. I’m often at capacity and end up passing work on.

Yes, I could probably earn more in a salaried role, but I’d lose the flexibility I’ve worked for. Over time I’ve realised that for me it’s less about chasing bigger numbers and more about having enough. It’s easy to get caught up comparing yourself to others  (SOCIAL MEDIA DOES US NO FAVOURS HERE) but I’ve learnt to stay focused on what’s right for me and my family.

Finding a community has been a huge part of that too. Being part of MOB and other like-minded spaces reminds me I’m not doing this alone. It’s invaluable to connect with other people who just get it – the juggle, the highs and lows.

Right now, I’m working on something a bit different. It’s called Peace of Mind and is a course all about getting your admin sorted before you die. It’s not the cheeriest of subjects, but I see getting your affairs in order as an act of love, which saves the ones you love a huge amount of stress, thinking and possibly even arguments. I’d love for it to succeed, not just for me, but because I know how much it could help others.

Ola Hotson

Connect and say hi on Linkedin

Web www.axly.co.uk  Email ola@axly.co.uk

What is Peace of mind?

“I'm going to sleep better at night as a result of this course!”

Peace of mind: Preparing your Affairs for the Future

Without wanting to be too brutal about it, dying is a question of “when” not “if”. This course aims to provide you with information and tips to make the process of dealing with your affairs so much easier for whoever the task falls to. 

So much of our lives is online these days and it’s very possible your loved ones could never know about (…or be able to access!) a savings account, investment or pension which should form part of your estate. 

Have you ever thought about what might happen if you were incapacitated and unable to make important life decisions in the future? Do you have a will in place? Have you ever thought about funeral arrangements? 

This course helps you get these things (and many others) in order, and in turn help your loved ones.

Peace of mind is a four-week long course, with worksheets provided each week to complete during and after each call. Join weekly hour long video calls of explanation and discussion, including time to make a start on putting your information and thoughts together in the worksheets.

Once your worksheets are completed, you’ll have a useful document for your loved ones to work from when you die and also have put together information to help you put a will and Lasting Power of Attorneys in place.

The course costs £99 Including access to four sessions and relevant worksheets.

sign up here

About Mums Who Build (The MOB)

Mums Who Build is a thriving online and in-person (currently London-based) community, for entrepreneurial and career-minded mums, offering practical resources, expert-led courses, and genuine peer support.

Whether you’re looking to build a more secure future, launching a new venture, or returning to work after maternity leave, our free weekly meet-ups and premium MOB+ membership equip you with the tools, strategies, and connections you need.

Join like-minded women to grow your business, gain financial confidence, and achieve work-life balance—because empowered mums build stronger futures.