I’m Martina! First and foremost I’m a copywriter, my passion is articles, fiction, and blogs but I’m also a marketing director and a magazine editor. I work on a freelance basis giving marketing advice to big brands, while producing articles for many magazines on and offline.

I’m a part time editor of Sunday Woman magazine while 5 years ago I founded The Consumer Voice. I work extensively in the lifestyle, ecommerce and beauty industry with all my projects. I began in business when I left home at the age of 14 and haven’t looked back. Becoming a single parent at 20, I set up a cleaning business to fund me while I studied for my degree and wrote my first book. I was determined not to have “latch key kids” and also wanted to be a good role model. In 2014 I won the Working Mother of the Year Award and I still think they chose the wrong person as I feel as though there’s still a long way to go to achieve what I want to! I have three children, Percy (Persephone) 4, Poppy 11 and Mitchell 15. They’re amazing as is my husband, Justin. I wouldn’t be able to follow my dreams if it wasn’t for them being so accepting and understanding.

You are the founder of The Consumer Voice, what inspired you to start that?

My father, my inspiration, died when I was 23. I’ve never got over it. He was so strong and protective. I noticed, after his death, my mum fell victim to quite a few scams, from those online to cowboy builder, roofers and gardeners, the full works. She lost a lot of money and I fought to get it back. Through the fight, I realized there were much more people who were losing life savings through not having access to the information they needed or simply not understanding their rights. I set up the Consumer Voice to fight for these people and to put a stop to companies that don’t respect their customers.

How do you manage to balance work with spending time with your family?

I don’t think I’ll ever achieve the perfect work/life balance, it’s a myth to have it all. I spend my time in a permanent state of guilt that I’m not giving 100% to my family all of the time. My husband, until this year, was a house husband which really helped. Now, I take late lunches so I’m available when the children come home from school and I work when they’re in bed. I’m conscious that they grow up so fast and so I don’t take a minute for granted, weekends are work free, as are many school holidays!

Being the editor of Womans magazine, why do you feel it’s an important resource for women?

Sunday Woman magazine was born when we realised there was a gap in the market for magazines for intelligent women over 30 that may happen to be parents. It’s a magazine that brings a little light relief while giving great tips and advice on careers, business, relationships, family and commitments, it’s not Cosmo or Good Housekeeping, it sits somewhere in between. Most magazines that concentrate on a great lifestyle, or career women, forget the parenting aspect, while parenting magazines assume that women are just mums and nothing else. We wanted to break this stereotype. We’re always looking for great guest bloggers too.

Has parenthood changed your outlook towards the way you do business?

I’m still as ambitious as I ever was but parenting has kept my feet on the ground and made me realise whats important. In the quest for the work/life balance I do stop, turn everything off, and concentrate on life away from the office. I’m not sure I’d do that without children, I think I’d just work until I dropped, I would quite easily make work my entire life, and would rarely surface for air, I’m not great at doing things in moderation! The children show me there’s more while forcing me to stop and smell the roses. I always say, in another life, I’d be a house wife as I adore making a home, cooking, baking, gardening and playing with the children.

What advice would you give to mums who are looking to start up a business?

If you are considering a business, get started now. Even 30 minutes of planning a day can get you closer to your goals. You’ll never know unless you try. Although I suffer from working mother’s guilt, my children are also very proud of me, and with my own son reaching college age, it’s lovely to learn that he sees me as a role model, whereas my daughter recently wrote a whole essay on me and my work for school. Find the balance that works for you, be it 5am in the morning, when the children are at school or midnight, and give yourself a break, you deserve to fulfill your dreams and your family will be happier, and wealthier as a result if you do! You’re an inspiration waiting to happen.