Mompreneur Spotlight - Janet with Savvy Spreadsheets

Hey you all! So sorry for my absence. It’s been a crazy time in my life right now and my focus has been on family. I haven’t forgotten about you all though. I have been doing some work behind the scenes which is how I met this month’s Mompreneur Spotlight. I have never received better customer service before and that’s the truth!

I ordered from Janet on Etsy and once I downloaded my product, I was having issues with it. I emailed her and within hours she was finding a fix for me. I also needed some additional items added to it and she was so kind and quick with those updates. The entire time I have worked with Janet, she has been kind, quick and a pleasure to do business with. I was shocked to find out during our conversations that she was doing all of this with a 3 month old! If that isn’t the true spirit of a mompreneur then I don’t know what is?! Without question, Janet is the perfect choice for this month’s Mompreneur Spotlight.

Janet Kim Dagostino
Savvy Spreadsheets

Janet Kim Dagostino is an Excel geek with over 10 years of professional experience working with Excel.

She built her Excel knowledge from working in various industries such as consulting, finance, and fashion. Her professional experience taught her that most people didn’t enjoy working with complicated spreadsheets, and realized that there was a major void for Excel templates that were approachable and user-friendly. She decided to create her own templates that she herself would enjoy using every day, and founded Savvy Spreadsheets as an online resource for her downloadable Excel templates. Savvy Spreadsheets aims to become the go-to resource for beautifully designed, easy-to-use, and fun Excel templates.

Tell us about yourself.

I am the founder of Savvy Spreadsheets, a website that offers fun, downloadable, Excel templates. I currently live in New York City and just had a baby three months ago.

Do you have an outside job or do you focus solely on Savvy Spreadsheets?

Yes, I currently do consulting work for my brother who also has his own business.

How has your business life changed since becoming a mother?

Before I had my child, I was working a full-time corporate job and working on Savvy Spreadsheets on nights and weekends. I quit my job a few months before my daughter was born, so that I could raise her at home. I took a drastic pay cut, but I don’t regret my decision for a second. I love being home with my baby every day, and pursuing my dream of running a successful business at the same time.

What advice would you give to a mother that wants to start her own business but feels overwhelmed and scared?

My advice would be to transition gradually. I know it’s scary to start your own business, especially if it means leaving a stable career. Being a mom makes it even scarier, because now you have someone who totally depends on you. Take small steps towards starting your business, whenever you have some free time. If you want to quit your full-time job but you’re worried about money, look for a part time job that allows you to start your business on the side. As your business grows, you’ll see that balancing your time between family and business is not only achievable, but gets easier with time.

What drove you to become a mompreneur?

I knew even before I became pregnant that I wanted to raise my own children. But I also knew that I wanted to work for myself. The solution was to have a business that I could run from home. An online business was perfect, because I could work from wherever I wanted, and also make my own hours.

What is Savvy Spreadsheets all about?

Savvy Spreadsheets is an online resource for downloadable Excel templates, that help si

mplify everyday life. My templates are designed for people who don’t actually like working in spreadsheets. They have eye-catching designs, bold colors, and interactive features. They don’t even look like spreadsheets! I have budgets, planners, calendars, checklists, and much more. Most templates are free, and some are compatible with Google Sheets.

Knowing what you know now, what would you do different with your business?

I would spend less time on things that don’t directly benefit my business, such as reporting, analysis, and ineffective marketing. I would spend more time just making more templates that people want. Time is precious for a mompreneur, and it needs to be spent wisely.

What do you enjoy most about being a mompreneur?

Being able to work from home, and having a flexible work schedule. These things allow me to enjoy my baby when she’s awake, and work on my business when she sleeps.

What do you enjoy least about being a mompreneur?

Since my business is still in the early stages, income is irregular. I don’t like making less than what I used to make, but my business is growing and I hope to one day surpass my previous corporate income.