What happens when you spend nine years building a business you love, only to have motherhood completely shake your foundation? Puja Malhotra, founder of Roop Creative Agency, thought she had it all figured out. Corporate dropout turned boutique branding expert, building beautiful brands for entrepreneurs - she was living the dream. Then came IVF during a pandemic, pregnancy hidden from clients out of fear they'd think her less ambitious, and a baby that shattered the Instagram fantasy of laptop-in-one-hand-baby-in-the-other success. The false advertising of motherhood hit hard. Suddenly she was falling out of love with the business she'd spent nearly a decade building - not because she lacked ambition, but because she'd lost sight of what she wanted that ambition to look like. Two years into motherhood, something had to change. She hired a coach, restructured her priorities (putting herself first for the first time), and made the bold decision to drop an entire service offering. Social media management was bringing in income, but it was draining her soul and keeping her from the design work that lit her up. Now she only works on branding and websites - the parts of her business that make her excited to show up. She's building systems that let her pick up her son from school every day (a non-negotiable inspired by her own grandmother), protecting her boundaries fiercely, and surrounding herself with a village of ambitious moms who get it. This conversation is about relearning what success means when your life changes, understanding that freedom is the real luxury of entrepreneurship, and discovering that saying "no" to good opportunities creates space for aligned clients who light you up. Puja's journey proves that you don't have to do it all - you just have to do what matters most.

Key Takeaways:

• The false advertising of motherhood can shake even the most established entrepreneur's foundation
• Capacity is something you have to learn to honor - sometimes saying "no" to the right opportunities is necessary
• Your priorities must shift when life changes: self first, then partner, then kids, then businessBuild your life first, then build a business to support that life - not the other way around
• Freedom is the real luxury of entrepreneurship that we often take for granted
• Dropping services that drain you creates space for aligned work that lights you up
• Process and boundaries aren't rigid - they're protective structures that honor your capacity
• Going the extra mile for aligned clients matters more than discounting your services
• Your clients' success becomes your success when you genuinely care about their growth

Learn More About Puja:Puja Malhotra is the founder and creative director of Roop Creative Agency, a boutique branding studio helping entrepreneurs and creatives build aligned, impactful brands through strategy-led design. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, branding, and web design, Puja blends clarity and creativity to help clients transform their ideas into timeless, intentional brands. A former corporate marketer turned entrepreneur, IVF mom, and passionate advocate for honest conversations around ambition and motherhood, she's built a business that grows with her life rather than against it. Her work focuses exclusively on branding and websites, allowing her to show up fully for both her clients and her son.

Connect with Puja:

• Website: roopcreativeagency.com
• Instagram: @roopcreativeagency & @thepujamalhotra (more unhinged on Threads!)
• Services: Brand Kits, Website Intensives, Full Branding & Website Packages
• New Offerings: Designer Dates (quick mentorship sessions) & The Corporate Dropout (3-month intensive mentorship)
• Shop: roopcreativeagency.com/shop