Sophie Bogdis Gamble is a successful business owner and mum of three children. Sophie started her business, Special Occasions, Party Planning and Events 9 years ago before she met her husband and had her family. Now she juggles running her business with raising three children aged 5 and below.

We caught up with Sophie to talk about balancing being a CEO with looking after a family and why she was so invested in stem cell storage that she decided to store all three of her children’s stem cells when they were born.

How did you first hear about banking stem cells?

It feels like a lifetime ago now, but it was during the prenatal classes myself and my husband took. I honestly had not heard about it before and we were quite amazed with it.

Why did you bank your children’s stem cells?

Given the fact that if something serious does happen to one of our children (*knock on wood) in years to come, we actually have something we can turn to that could potentially save their lives. It was quite a no brainer to make this decision for us.

Tell us about your children. How old are they, what has your favourite moment of their development been so far?

There are 3 little Gamble Brothers in our squad – Alexander is 5, Ari is 2.5 and Apollo is 15 months. They are all so very different in their development, personalities and behaviours. We watch them grow and constantly compare, but we really shouldn’t. Alexander is off to grade 1 in September and I have no idea how that has happened so fast. Asking questions about everything constantly, to understand our world. Ari had a huge leap this year in nursery and is such a proud young man. Always forgetting how old he really is and wanting to be part of big brothers’ gang. Apollo, as he watches his older two brother everyday has obviously developed the Fastest so he can play with them!

How has your life changed since having your children?

Where does one begin to answer this question! My life before children was a completely different one that’s for sure! I thought my life was busy before the children but I really didn’t know the meaning of the word. My world and my life is not revolved around me any longer. Its all about the children, even while I work, while I sleep, no mater what I’m doing I’m constantly thinking on planning for them.

Tell us about your job and how you balance work with being a Mum?

I own an Events Company, Special Occasions Party Planning & Events in which I started all by myself 9 years ago now. I wasn’t married nor did I have any children when I did and worked around the clock! Nowadays, although my business is much much busier and growing constantly, I do still need to make sure I’m home for my children for dinner time and bed time every night. I schedule meetings when around their schedules, I plan WAY in advance so I know exactly what is happening when, with who and how for both my work and the family. I explain to them I need to work for them but I also always make time for them.

Why is it important to you to carry on working?

I have always been a worker! From as far back as I can remember I love keeping busy, creating, managing, developing and working. I wouldn’t be able to stop this even if I became a millionaire! This is who I am. And I would not be very happy if I had to stop. I also like that it shows my children that I’m a successful entrepreneur, strong and capable of working (like crazy) and being a mum.

What advice can you give to first time mums?

Go with the flow – you cannot plan the experience of having a new life in your life from reading books or watching others do it. When the time comes you need to experience it for yourself and find your own way with daily routines and just your new life in general. But one very important factor I have learnt only after having 3 children is to give them independence! Yes be a mum, guide and nurture but also allow them to develop themselves without necessarily doing everything for them when they are capable themselves (you will thank me for this later!)

Have friends or family been encouraged to store cells because you did?

To be honest its not something that is talked about very often during pregnancy, maybe its due to people not knowing too much unless they hear about it somewhere. But I do always share what we have done for our children and the sense of security it brings my husband and I.