Background & Inspiration

Maria’s journey to founding Mamamaria is deeply personal. Coming from a loving but dysfunctional family, she found herself unconsciously repeating unhealthy parenting patterns after becoming a mother. “Trauma is often invisible, and we tend to repeat the cycles of neglect and dysfunctionality because we seek what is familiar,” Maria shares. This realisation, along with her discovery of Aware Parenting and attachment play, transformed her life. She shifted from struggling to thriving, and saw a dramatic change in her relationship with her daughter.

Maria learned three critical things along the way:

1. Becoming a parent is one of the most significant life changes.
2. Parenting, especially in today’s world, is incredibly difficult.
3. Parents are often unprepared for the seismic shift that comes with raising children.

Additionally, Maria became aware of the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life (from conception to age 2). Understanding that childhood shapes our entire lives, Maria felt compelled to create Mamamaria—a platform where parents can talk openly, connect with others, and receive the support they need.

“Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on the planet, and we come totally unprepared for this seismic shift,” Maria explains. This understanding drives her mission to provide parents with the tools and support they need to thrive.

Challenges & Overcoming Them

One of Maria’s biggest challenges as an entrepreneur was focus. She describes herself as an overachiever, always coming up with new ideas, which sometimes distracted her from her main goals. To overcome this, Maria created a flyer with a clear outline of the work she wanted to focus on for the year. She set a rule: If it’s not on the flyer, it’s not happening, and she only allows one new idea to replace an existing one. She also applies this same principle at home, with a “Nothing in if nothing out” policy—no new clothes or toys unless something else is removed.

Biggest Milestone

For Maria, the biggest milestone in her journey was the act of launching Mamamaria. She left behind a prestigious six-figure consulting job where she worked with renowned foundations, including Bill Gates’. This was a courageous move, as many would consider that job a dream. However, Maria followed her heart and passion, believing deeply in her mission to support parents. “Actually trying it is the biggest milestone so far,” she reflects.

Staying Motivated

Maria stays motivated and resilient by connecting with her deepest intuition and embracing patience. “I see my business as a baby,” she says. “It’s still in its infancy and developing step by step.” For Maria, understanding that everything takes time is key to her perseverance. She also acknowledges her privilege—working one day a week in a well-paying job that covers her bills, allowing her to focus on growing Mamamaria slowly and strongly. Her philosophy is to live each day as a mini life: being present, enjoying each moment, and knowing that tomorrow offers a reset.

Valuable Lesson

Maria believes in the power of collaboration over competition. “Collaborate! It’s amazing to unite forces for a larger mission,” she says. This is the whole idea behind the BBABBY Fair that she and many others are organising next year at Equals. An effort to unite all holistic practitioners and service providers in Amsterdam working on pregnancy, birth, postpartum and early parenting. Maria advocates for returning to a barter economy, where people can exchange skills and services instead of relying solely on money. “There’s something magical about this concept,” she adds.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Maria’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: Persevere, ask for help, and enjoy the process. She encourages people to focus on enjoying the journey rather than obsessing over the results or outcomes. “Life is happening every day. Find the joy of entrepreneurship daily,” she advises. She also highlights the importance of sharing struggles with others because everyone faces similar challenges. “Never isolate, and don’t take yourself too seriously!”

The Future of Mamamaria

Looking ahead, Maria wants to become the “Esther Perel of families.” She aims to inspire systemic changes, advocating for society to recognize the critical importance of the first few years of life. She envisions Mamamaria growing into a strong course platform that supports parents and parents to be throughout their journeys. From deciding whether or not to become a parent, to preparing emotionally and practically for the transition into parenthood, and even navigating challenges such as divorce, Maria’s goal is to offer comprehensive support for all stages of parenting.

Maria Bordallo’s mission with Mamamaria is to transform how society supports parents during one of the most critical periods of their lives. Through her platform, she provides a space for connection, support, and growth. As Mamamaria continues to grow, Maria’s vision of changing how the world views early childhood development is sure to make a lasting impact.

Here at Equals we trust her vision and wish her the very best!