The Australian Filipina is proud to feature another Pinay who is a finalist for the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards. Glaiza De Leon, children’s book is a finalist in the Author category (NSW/ACT). She shines with three other kababayans who are finalists in NSW/ACT - Fideliz Cruz, Tina Ranoso Bangel and Yona Signo and one from WA/SA who is Vanessa Atienza-Hipolito.

The AusMumpreneur Awards presented by The Women’s Business School celebrate and recognise Australian Mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation. The awards are designed to recognize the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.

Glaiza is a children’s book author based in Western Sydney.  Her lifelong dream of publishing a book started 24 years ago when she was seven years old. Between being a mum to three young children, alongside running her own business, Glaiza’s author dreams were put on hold.

One day, Glaiza’s daughter arrived home from school in tears, ‘Mummy, I can’t find my loud voice. It goes super quiet when I talk to my friends. No one can hear me, not even me.’

Glaiza knew she had to do something. Reading is what they loved, so it was an easy idea to use storytelling to help the situation. Glaiza helped her daughter feel a sense of calm and comfort within herself. After Glaiza read the first manuscript aloud, her daughter replied, ‘can you turn it into a real book, mummy? So that other kids who can’t find their loud voice like me, can read it too?’

Her book, ‘Mummy, I Can’t Find My Loud Voice’ was published in May 2021. It has since generated an influx of sales as it continues to touch the hearts of others, many of whom resonate with the story. It helps children who want others to know more about their struggles speaking loudly but are unable to verbally do so themselves.

"Publishing my first book holds a special place in my heart. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to publish a book, and my daughter inspired me to achieve this dream."

On the flip side, there were challenges that she faced and overcame.

"Growing up in Australia, I had many friends from different backgrounds. In primary school, I was only one of four Filipinos in my grade. In my early years I experienced some judgement by others because of my dark tanned complexion, and for quite some time I felt very insecure about my appearance. However, I found that my close friends accepted me for who I was, not how I looked, and I soon learned to feel happy in my own skin."

Glaiza is delighted to be named as a finalist and is proud of her achievements, particularly having her second print run of 1000 copies in the works, as well as donating a portion of each sale to Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) so that children’s books can be translated to First Language.

There are many benefits to balancing business and motherhood as Glaiza explains, ‘No matter what industry or avenue you decide to take, you can drive your own success and lead change in a positive way. In my case, all whilst having 3 little pairs of eyes looking up at me, every step of the way!  It’s comforting to know that I can shape the future I want for me and my children through storytelling.’

It can be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst raising a family and Glaiza gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise. ‘There’s never a ‘right’ time to start, so just go for it. Your business idea is simply just that, unless you make it a reality. You also don’t need to know everything to get started. Find experts along the way who have been to where you want to be and take in all their advice and words of wisdom. As long as you’re moving forward, you’re moving into the right direction.’

Read more at www.ausmumpreneur.com. The winners of the 2021AusMumpreneur Awards will be announced at an online event soon in September.

ABOUT GLAIZA DE LEON

Glaiza who is of pure Filipino heritage was born in Bataan, where both of her parents Gerry and Delia De Leon, hail from.  She has four siblings, and came as the middle child. She was a year old when she and her family migrated to Australia. She worked full time after year 12 while completing a Bachelor in Human Resources and a Frontline Management Course.

She worked in a Mortgage Finance company after graduating from high school. In that role she started as office administration and worked her way up to the Human Resources Manager.

 After seven years, she resigned from her role to be a full time stay-at-home mum and started her own business (Dearest Lips) in 2018, and became an author in 2021 whilst continuing to run her business.

(Group photos:  Glaiza with her parents and one with her siblings.)

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