The BOundary-setting framework that actually works by Melinda Nicci

At Mums Who Build, we talk a lot about how mums are juggling business, career, and family life, often against the backdrop of the motherhood penalty. One of the most important tools we can give ourselves in this journey is the ability to set boundaries that protect our time, energy, and focus.

That is exactly what Melinda Nicci, entrepreneur, investor, and proud supporter of The MOB, explores in her latest Substack: The Boundary-Setting Framework That Actually Works.

Melinda’s piece starts with a simple but powerful truth: boundaries are not walls. They are gates. Gates that allow us to decide what gets in, what deserves our time, and what can be left outside.

Melinda Nicci, entrepreneur and MOB Champion, shares her boundary-setting framework for female founders

The 4-Step Framework

Melinda shares the exact system she developed to stop saying yes to everything and start saying yes to the right things:

1. Define your revenue-generating activities so you know what actually moves your business forward.

2. Create your “no-scripts arsenal” so you can say no with confidence and without guilt.

3. Use the 24-hour rule to buy time and check if an opportunity truly aligns with your goals.

4. Practice on low-stakes requests to build your boundary-setting muscles.

She also includes the real scripts she uses in founder situations we can all relate to: declining coffee chats, unpaid speaking gigs, or “strategic partnerships” that turn out to be free consulting.

Why This Matters for Mums Who Build

For our community of mums building businesses, careers, and financial independence, this advice is gold. So many of us are pulled in multiple directions - family, work, community, clients - and it is easy to lose ourselves in the swirl of “yes.”

Boundaries are not about shutting doors. They are about protecting our most valuable asset: our time. As Melinda says, “The best founders I know aren’t the most available; they’re the most intentional.”

Champions Giving Back

We are thrilled to be working with Melinda as one of our MOB Ambassadors, successful business and career women who want to give back by sharing their knowledge with the next wave of mums. Alongside our peer-to-peer MOB mentors, Champions like Melinda are helping to build a community where mums can connect, grow, and thrive with the right support around them.

👉 You can read Melinda’s full post here: The Boundary-Setting Framework That Actually Works

About Mums Who Build

Want more support? MOB+ is our 24/7 membership for ambitious mums who are building businesses, growing careers, or figuring out what’s next. For just £4.99/month you’ll get access to our private WhatsApp community, accountability Pods, monthly workshops, and resources designed to help you stay confident, connected, and financially fit. It’s the practical, always-on support system that fits around busy mum-life — so you never have to do it alone.