One Year of Isle of Mama: Vanessa Egisto on Building Community

Today we’re celebrating something special, one year of Isle of Mama! And who better to spotlight than the woman who brought it to life, Vanessa Egisto. From a standout career in Corporate Communications, where she was named Young Leader of the Year at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards, to creating a thriving hub for new parents on the Island, Vanessa has shown how courage, creativity, and community spirit can spark something truly meaningful.

I graduated with First Class Honours in Business and PR, and went on to spend the next decade working in Corporate Communications, most recently as Communications Director at a Reputation Management agency specialising in clients in disruptive markets. In 2019, I was honoured to be named Young Leader of the Year at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards.

Earlier this year, I chose to step away from corporate life to focus on raising my daughter, Bianca, and to prepare for the arrival of my second daughter in November. While I’ve loved being at home during this precious time, I do miss the energy and challenge of the corporate world and plan to return to Communications once both girls are in full-time childcare.

After Bianca was born, I realised how difficult it could be for new parents on the Island to find a central hub for resources, contacts, and real stories from others in the same boat. I was lucky to find a wonderful group of mum friends, but I knew that not everyone had that same support network, and that’s how Isle of Mama was born.

In April, I organised our first Bump and Beyond Fayre, bringing together incredible Island businesses in the baby space. We’ve also hosted a Breath & Nourish wellbeing event for new mums, with more to come in the months ahead. Today, Isle of Mama is more than just a website, it’s a growing Instagram community where mums can connect, share experiences, and support one another. Whether it’s helping a mum exclusively pumping find others on the same journey, or simply creating a space where no one feels alone in motherhood, that sense of connection is at the heart of everything we do.

Leaving a senior role I loved, and a career I had invested so much of myself into, was one of the hardest choices I’ve ever made. It felt like walking away from a part of my identity, and I questioned whether I was giving up too much of what I had worked for. At the same time, I knew being present for my family at this stage was the right decision. Starting Isle of Mama came with another steep learning curve. Building and running a website was a completely new world to me, and learning how to manage it alongside the intensity of new motherhood often felt overwhelming. There were nights where I’d be up feeding Bianca, laptop perched beside me, Googling how to fix a stubborn website glitch at 3am. There were days where she’d nap on my chest while I typed out ideas one-handed, fuelled by too much coffee and not enough sleep.

And of course, the self-doubt crept in more than once. Would anyone care about this? Was it useful? Or was I just creating something for myself? There were moments when it felt easier to pack it all in than to keep pushing forward. But then there were the messages, from mums who said they’d finally found a space where they felt seen, from new parents who discovered a local class or support group through Isle of Mama, from women who told me it made their motherhood journey feel a little less lonely. Those messages turned the doubts into determination. Every sleepless night, every “what am I doing?” wobble, suddenly felt worth it.

Amid the challenges, there has been so much joy. Watching Isle of Mama grow into a community that celebrates the highs as much as it supports through the lows has been incredible. There’s nothing like seeing a mum find comfort in another’s story, or a small local business gain recognition from our events. The warmth, honesty, and humour that mums bring to the space remind me daily why I started this in the first place.

What drives me now is my passion for showcasing the amazing individuals working in the baby and toddler space on the Island. I love shining a light on them, connecting like-minded people, and creating opportunities for parents, caregivers, and businesses to come together and celebrate the messy, beautiful reality of raising little ones.

If I could offer any advice to women starting something new, it would be to trust your instincts, even when the path feels daunting. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. And always remember the people who’ve supported you along the way, nothing worthwhile is ever built alone.

Looking ahead, my goal is to keep growing Isle of Mama and to reach even more new parents who could benefit from the community. Above all, though, I want my daughters to grow up knowing they can be and achieve anything they set their minds to.

As Isle of Mama turns one, we’re raising a toast to Vanessa, for her vision, her passion, and the way she’s built a space that supports and uplifts so many parents. Here’s to Isle of Mama’s first birthday, Vanessa’s incredible journey, and all the exciting chapters still to come!