ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Hi, I’m Jo - founder of The Mamahood Collective, mum of three, and a woman who deeply understands just how beautiful, exhausting, and overwhelming motherhood can be.

I live rurally in stunning Hindon, Otago on a sheep and beef farm that my husband Chris manages. Our days are full (and often chaotic!) with our three kids - Florence, Quinn, and Thomas - along with our miniature schnauzer Molly, Leo our mini lop bunny, six farm dogs, and a handful of pet farm animals. Life here is busy, loud, humbling, and heart-filling.

My journey into motherhood started eight years ago, and it completely reshaped who I am. With my first baby, breastfeeding was incredibly difficult. I triple-fed for 16 weeks and spent so much of those early months in tears, exhaustion, and overwhelm. It stole moments I wish I’d been able to enjoy.

That experience planted the first seed of what would one day become The Mamahood Collective.

I knew I wanted to create something that genuinely supported mums - not just physically, but emotionally. Something that honoured how tired, stretched, and depleted we can feel. Something made with intention, heart, and compassion.

Before becoming a stay-at-home mum, I was a teacher specialising in 0–5 years, and the caring, nurturing, supportive part of that work naturally carried into this space. Helping mums feel seen, supported, and nourished has always felt like a calling - long before I realised what form it would take.

The Mamahood Collective was built from my kitchen, in small batches, during nap times and late nights. Every product - especially our lactation line - was born from lived experience and the desire to make another mama’s journey feel just a little lighter than mine did.

Motherhood is the hardest, most transformative thing I’ve ever done.

It brought love, purpose, joy… and also loneliness, identity loss, and moments where I didn’t recognise myself anymore.

This space is just as much for me as it is for you.

Here, you’re not just buying a product.

You’re joining a community where you’re understood, supported, and reminded that you matter too.

Jo xx 💛

Ten Fun Facts About Me:

1) I feel like I’ve always had a deep calling to support mamas in the thick of motherhood. I knew I wanted to create a space where we could connect, feel seen, and support one another through this wild ride that changes us, challenges us - and sometimes even breaks us. The Mamahood Collective was born from that vision.

2) I had my first night ever away from my children this year, and also the first night away as a couple - it was strange, we talked about them a lot, I missed them - but it was also very much needed and we enjoyed ourselves.

3) I love fashion (I originally wanted to be a fashion designer when I left school). Shopping for new outfits used to be a favourite pastime pre-kids - oh how times have changed! Now it's mostly all for my tribe. Maybe one day I’ll fill that fashion design dream.

4) I love Netball, and it’s something I really miss playing. We’ve moved around a lot over the past 14 years and it was through Netball that I always met really good friends.

5) As a family we enjoy camping trips in our caravan, fishing, hunting, boating, walks, watching movies, spending time with friends and family, chocolate, and lately we’ve been getting into board games with the kids (turns out we’re a very competitive crew!).

6) Baking! I love baking (as you probably can tell), and I’m so proud of what I’ve created through The Mamahood Collective. I enjoy baking far more than cooking meals and definitely have a sweet tooth. I’m also gluten free and love tweaking recipes to suit.

7) I always forget to take meat out for tea (I really need to get more organised and stop getting distracted by the million things around me!)

8) I have Hashimoto’s, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid. I was diagnosed around 16 years ago but was unwell for a while before that. It’s a big reason why I’m gluten free. It’s one of those illnesses you don’t fully understand unless you’ve lived it. I’m managing it, but it does take a lot from me.

9) I’m quite shy until I get to know people and feel comfortable I guess I’m an extroverted introvert.

10) While I love fashion and dressing up, I’m at my happiest in my comfies at home with a cheeky vino and my favourite people