This as-told-to essay draws from a discussion with Seri Kertzner, 47, based in Florida. She dedicated ten years to the corporate fashion sector in New York prior to establishing three event-planning companies: Little Miss Party, The Social Society, and Rev New York. She is also the mother of two teenage sons, ages 16 and 14. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

My passion for fashion started with a youthful habit of frequent shopping. I adored clothing and imagined earning enough to indulge freely.

This interest guided me toward an economics degree and a position in investment after finishing school in 1999. When markets declined the following year, I chose to pursue different paths.

A search for opportunities combining fashion and New York City led to a financial assistant role at Kate Spade. At age 22, I relocated to New York City carrying just a few dollars.

Across ten years, I held positions at Kate Spade, Club Monaco, and J.Crew, gaining production expertise at the latter two. It was an exciting era. I attended fashion shows, served as a fit model, and contributed to creating coats for the Obama daughters ahead of their father's inauguration.

Becoming a parent shifted my priorities

Everything transformed with the arrival of my first son in October 2009. Following three months of maternity leave, I employed a full-time nanny. Yet I disliked time apart from my infant and often wept at my workspace.

Envious of the nanny and saddened by missed moments with my child, I recognized that motherhood had become my primary focus. This new interest outweighed my earlier enthusiasm for fashion. With my husband's encouragement, I chose to pursue a different direction.

I launched Little Miss Party

I started the company alongside a former J.Crew colleague in 2010. To outsiders, moving into small-event planning may have appeared risky. During my fashion career, however, I was known as an avid host. Attending and organizing social events defined my approach, and even a compact apartment did not deter me from throwing detailed dinners and celebrations. Much remained to learn, yet I felt prepared for this fresh path.

Exiting my corporate position delivered immediate relief. I could spend time with my child, eliminated the need for a nanny, and brought my baby throughout the city. We visited Central Park, the MoMA, and countless other spots.

I handled much of the work from home during daytime hours and scheduled events in the evenings while my infant slept. Momentum grew after Little Miss Party appeared in New York Magazine. My husband, relatives, and sitters enabled me to balance responsibilities effectively.

Approximately two and a half years into event planning, my second son arrived in July 2012. Time management grew more complex, yet I embraced greater creative liberty with larger events. Life felt busy yet rewarding.

I expanded my operations

Amid the pandemic, my family relocated to Florida. We anticipated a short stay, but my husband and I recognized the improved lifestyle for our children. The distance from New York required adjustments to Little Miss Party.

Fortunately, dedicated and reliable staff remained. I permitted them to rebrand as Rev New York while I continued as the public representative, and they managed upscale events in New York.

The Social Society emerged from my long-held wish to create a party supply shop that also functioned as an event venue. My children helped identify a suitable spot in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

My routine stays demanding

Remaining in the corporate sphere might have reduced daily pressures. Still, I value my energetic work and social lifestyle.

Operating my companies grants me authority and lets me place my children first. Last year, for instance, I joined my son on a spontaneous trip to California when his hockey team reached nationals, an option unlikely under corporate constraints. I appreciate the chance to support my family.

Transitioning from corporate fashion into event planning has provided numerous benefits. Regret is absent among them. I value my fashion experience, yet building businesses as a mother has suited me well.

Even so, parental guilt persists. One suggestion for fellow parents is to extend kindness to yourself and aim high. I hold that achieving balance is possible. The journey may involve obstacles, trade-offs, and setbacks, yet following your interests matters and merits the effort.