Meet Annie Makhanlall | Co-Owner & Director Of Operations

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annie Makhanlall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my business because I saw a lack of support, resources, and places that moms could go to without feeling judged and welcomed. It was very segregated, and there was a lot of mom shaming going on. It bothered me and I would never open up to share what I was going through. I also noticed moms would judge others based on their cultural backgrounds and personal opinions. I did not see inclusion and diversity in many mom groups and organizations. I knew that there were hundreds of moms suffering in silence without feeling supported. I was one of them. When the opportunity came up to launch, Broward Mom Collective, a sister company of City Mom Collective, I welcomed it with open arms. Of course, I knew that bringing businesses together, connecting moms through events, and creating a safe space for them to come into would not be accessible during a pandemic. But the will and passion were very profound in my heart. If someone tells you that starting a business is easy, they are lying to you. I couldn’t have done it without God and the ample support from my husband and family, my best friend, a network supporting me, and the desire to serve the community.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started my business because I saw a lack of support, resources, and places that moms could go to without feeling judged and welcomed. It was very segregated, and there was a lot of mom shaming going on. It bothered me, and I would never open up to share what I was going through as a new mother. I also noticed moms would judge others based on their cultural backgrounds and personal opinions. I did not see inclusion and diversity in many mom groups and organizations. I knew that there were hundreds of moms suffering in silence without feeling supported.

When the opportunity came up to launch Broward Mom Collective in the middle of a pandemic, it was the perfect time to start rebuilding the community by connecting moms through virtual and in-person events, resources, local guides, and articles written by locals moms and families. If someone tells you that starting a business is easy, they are lying to you. I couldn’t have done it without God and the ample support from my family, best friend, and the desire to serve the community.

We are connecting the community through different avenues because we are not only helping mothers and families but supporting local businesses by building solid and meaningful relationships. We strive to create a no judgment, no sugarcoating zone for moms to come together and have a safe space. We dive into taboo topics that are often hard for families to discuss. These topics include gender equality, the LGBTQIA+ community, human trafficking, sensory inclusion programs, and sex and intimacy after childbirth. Diversity in our writers and content reflects the community, educational programs, and an inclusive environment. I believe people often come from holding on to childhood memories, trauma, and learned behaviors.

Wow, let me share that this was definitely a risk because when we launched this company, it was in the midst of the pandemic. That was one of my family’s biggest concerns because they said so many people were losing their jobs and businesses, and the economy is going downhill. I kept hearing, “You are going to launch a community based business now?” At the time, it was very scary because, coming from the event planning industry, I knew the obstacles we would face. However, deep down inside, I knew I was called to do something about it because mothers and women were suffering all over the world being secluded, their mental health, their livelihood; I knew we wouldn’t be like this forever. I took a chance, trusted the process, and answered the call with my passion for supporting mothers on their journey through motherhood. My best friend of twenty years and I took a leap of faith and answered the calling to serve the community uniquely.

Success couldn’t be possible without our community, and building a brand for me is showing up daily with the same love, passion, and drive I had from day one. Staying true to who you are, not who society wants you to be, is the key to unlocking your true potential. Getting out of my comfort zone was the push I needed to grow and expand. Going to events, networking, and meeting new people was always challenging, but I did not give up and continued to show up.

Believing that there is a gap in the world here, and I was called to help fill it and help others. When I became a mom, I had no support, no community, and no trusted resources on what all the cool mom and family activities were going on. I felt lost and feelings triggered my childhood emotions again of feeling alone. The most important part was that I believed in myself.

Despite the challenges, I continue on my path of supporting mothers on their journey while making a difference in their lives. From teen moms to grandmothers our goal is to create a safe space for everyone because many people still need community, resources, connection, and sisterhood.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my bestie were in town, our first stop would be coffee at our favorite coffee shop, Clutch Coffee Bar. Then we head to Publix to grab some fruits and snacks for the beach and groceries for my husband to cook her favorite dish, stew chicken and dumplings. After we pack our beach bag, we head to Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort for lunch, wondering what our husbands packed for our kid’s lunch. Our day would consist of many selfies and planning for the rest of our week. Google Calendar is our best friend; we would plan fun activities around our busy schedule. Usually, for fun, we spend time on the beach, eating at our favorite restaurants, and indulging in ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream shop. We use this time together to get pampered and go shopping. We can’t let the week go by without going to our favorite restaurants, Tiki Tiki, Tropics, and TGI Fridays. We usually wrap up the vacation by making goodie bags filled with treats for my friend to take back to the kids!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family has been my biggest support, and my husband, Ben. Honestly, if it weren’t for him doing everything he does, I would not have had the freedom to grow and expand to do the things I love! There are so many amazing books out there; I would love to share the book, Dear Universe by Sarah Sprout; her work was extremely inspiring and has helped me understand and work through some of those tough moments. My daughter Isabella and I recently started reading this book with the intention of spending time together and learning ways to grow and keep a positive mindset on overcoming obstacles we face in the world.

Website: https://browardcounty.momcollective.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparklepreneur954/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/browardmomcollective/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrowardMomCo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparklepreneur954

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC428dRYlxOis05SypNt9wwA

Other: Book A Meeting: https://browardcounty.momcollective.com/annie/ Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browardmomcollective/