For Joan Nguyen, building solutions for modern family life isn’t just business—it’s deeply personal. As the co-founder and CEO of Bumo—which she launched in 2019 alongside co-founder Chriselle Lim—she’s helping reshape how parents find flexible, trusted childcare, drawing from her own experience as a working mother of two (Reagan, 8, and Elliott, 7).

Raised by Vietnamese refugee parents who taught her that education is the ultimate equalizer, Joan has built her career around creating access and opportunity for families. Joan founded her first company, MeriEducation, at just 20 years old with $3,000 in savings, before growing it into an Inc. 5000 company. Meanwhile, Bumo has raised over $10 million in seed funding and recently launched Bennie, an AI assistant that finds and books childcare and camps for you.

In her Mother Essentials, the busy entrepreneur shares a glimpse into the rhythms of her daily life—from relying on early morning wakeups and her weekly one-on-one “dates” with each of her kids to small joys like a strong cup of coffee, family karaoke, and the grounding ritual of making a weekly broth in her trusty stock pot.

Bumo. “I have to start here, because it genuinely saves me every single week. Whether I need a last-minute spot at a licensed daycare or a half-day drop-in while I’m in back-to-back meetings, Bumo gives me the peace of mind that my kids are in great hands. I built it because I needed it—and I still need it every day.” Bumo.com

Cometeer Coffee. “Coffee is non-negotiable in this household. Cometeer’s flash-frozen coffee capsules mean I have a genuinely great cup in under a minute, which is the only kind of morning routine I can realistically maintain. No compromises on quality, no wasted time.” Cometeer.com

The Five Minute Journal. “I am a big believer in starting the day with intention. Even on the most chaotic mornings, five minutes of gratitude and goal-setting shifts my entire mindset. It’s a small practice that has made an enormous difference in how I show up—as a CEO and as a mom.” The Five Minute Journal, $25, Amazon.

Waking Up Early. “I guard my early mornings fiercely. Before the kids are up and before Slack starts buzzing, I have an hour that is entirely mine. I use it to think, plan, move, and breathe. It’s the single habit that makes everything else possible.”

A Great Stock Pot. “One of the ways I show love to my kids is by making them a big pot of chicken or bone broth every week. There is something so grounding about the ritual of it, and it feels like I’m nourishing them from the inside out. A good, heavy-bottomed stock pot is essential.” Caraway Stock Pot, $208, Amazon. 

Crunch Labs Build Box. “My son is obsessed with Mark Rober, and this subscription box is pure genius. Each month, he gets a new engineering toy to build, and it keeps him engaged and thinking like a little engineer. It’s a fantastic, hands-on alternative to screen time.” Build Box, $27, Crunch Labs.

Paper Airplane Folding Book. “My son can spend hours folding and flying paper airplanes. This book has taken his passion to a whole new level with so many cool and complex designs. It’s a simple, classic toy that encourages creativity and a little bit of physics.” Ultimate Paper Airplanes For Kids, $9.19, Amazon.

3D Miniature Room Stickers. “My daughter is in a very meticulous, detailed-oriented phase, and she is obsessed with these 3D sticker sets. You get to build an entire miniature room by layering stickers on top of each other. It’s an amazing activity for fine motor skills and quiet, focused time.” 3D Sticker Set, $9.99, Amazon.

Miniature Fairy Garden Supplies. “My daughter and I have been slowly building a little fairy and gnome garden in a pot on our patio. We love finding tiny new things to add to it—little mushrooms, a tiny bench, a small gnome. It’s a sweet, ongoing project that we can do together.” Fairy Garden Kit, $32, Amazon.

Our Place Wonder Oven. “This little oven is a powerhouse. It’s a toaster, an air fryer, and a convection oven all in one, and it preheats so quickly. It’s perfect for everything from morning toast to roasting vegetables for dinner, and it looks beautiful on the counter.” Wonder Oven, $129, Our Place.

Business Podcasts. “I don’t really listen to music—I listen to podcasts. Business and entrepreneurship podcasts are my constant companion on commutes and morning walks. Hearing other founders talk honestly about the hard seasons—the pivots, the near-failures, the moments of doubt—reminds me that the struggle is part of the story. A few favorites: How I Built This, Behind Her Empire, and The Tim Ferriss Show.”

Weekly One-on-One “Dates” with Each Kid. “Once a week, I take each of my kids on their own dedicated outing—just the two of us. They choose what we do. It’s our ritual for staying genuinely connected, and it’s the thing I protect most fiercely on my calendar. Quality over quantity, always.”

Time Away with Moms. “Whether it’s a quick drink on a weeknight or a full weekend away, scheduling time with my girlfriends—without kids—is absolutely essential for my sanity. It’s a space to be myself, not just a mom or a CEO, and to connect with the women who get it. We all come back better parents and partners.”

Home Karaoke Machine. “This is one of our family’s absolute favorite things. We have a karaoke machine at home and we love to have friends over and just sing our hearts out. It doesn’t matter how good you are—the kids love it, the adults love it, and it always turns into the best night. Pure, screen-free joy.” Karaoke Machine, $59.99, Amazon.

The Little Market. “I try to be intentional about where I spend my money, and The Little Market is a brand I genuinely love. Everything is ethically sourced and made by female artisans around the world. Their candles and home goods are beautiful, and every purchase feels like it means something.” TheLittleMarket.com

The Whole-Brain Child. “This book changed how I talk to my kids when they’re upset. Understanding how the developing brain works—and why a meltdown is not a character flaw but a neurological event—has made me a more patient, more effective parent. I recommend it to every parent I know.” The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, $17.71, Bookshop and Amazon.

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