MetroMom Vivian Chiang
Vivian Chiang is the VP of Sales and Marketing and part of the founding team at Orbit Baby. Prior to Orbit, she worked in marketing at Apple Computer, and as an engineer at Cisco Systems along with a host of other high-tech startups. She is mom to Chloe and Zoe (the “Oes”), and keeps a blog about her family at www.iheartoe.com.

MM - Orbit Baby came before your 2 daughters. What was the inspiration behind Orbit Baby?

Before Joseph and I had children, we travelled around the world – from the Kalahari in Botswana to Kangaroo Island in Australia. When we started talking to family and friends who had kids, they all told us to “kiss travel good-bye” once we had kids. We decided we could either have kids, and stop traveling, or have kids and just keep seeing the world as much as we could. We had the aspirations of being the active parents who could still do everything. Starting Orbit Baby together was the perfect way to realize this dream. Running a startup is very hectic, but we have a lot more flexibility and we built Orbit from the ground up to embody travel and mobility.

By Chloe’s first birthday, we had already taken her to destinations such as Prague, New York, Cologne and Taipei. At that time, we were still developing the Orbit Baby line, and incorporated a lot of solutions to our travel frustrations into the product. For example, we knew how difficult it was go to through security lines at the airport post 9-11, so we designed the Orbit Infant Car Seat and Stroller so that they would fit through the X-ray security machines. Also, our Infant Car Seat’s exclusive side carrying handles make it easier for you to manage those narrow airplane aisles, and the Orbit Stroller’s unique one-handed folding means that with just a twist-and-lift, you can quickly gate-check your stroller and be on your way.

For these and many other reasons, Orbit Baby’s slogan has always been: “Have baby, will travel.” Even so, I always point out to new parents that we’re not just making it easier for them to go to exotic destinations around the world. We also set out to make it easy for you to just get out the door to the local market or to your favorite restaurant. We’re trying to make those transitions easy – from car to stroller, to destination and back. Having a baby changes everything, but you still need to live your life to the fullest. And that’s where we hope Orbit can help.  

MM - You and your husband, Joseph co-founded Orbit Baby with another couple. How do you balance your work life and your personal life?

When I was at Stanford business school, I remember being in a class where the majority didn’t believe it was possible to work – let alone start a business – with your significant other. Fast forward to 5 years later – and I believe I have proven my class wrong. If your relationship is strong and mature enough, I believe that working together is the best of both worlds.

Joseph and I work surprisingly well together; in fact, I think Orbit would have suffered, if we weren’t in it together. Not only would we have less time to spend with each other, but we would also have grown more distant, as it is difficult to start a business without being completely engrossed in it. Some people think we’re crazy – we carpool, have meetings, and make strategic decisions together – but so far it’s worked out well. However, we’ve had to implement some rules: we don’t talk about Orbit at dinner, and we try our best not to do so on the weekends. Otherwise, we just wouldn’t be able to spend quality time with Chloe and Zoe. Having our own business also means that we have the flexibility to work from home, or take time off for the girls when we need to.

We’re also able to balance work and parenthood because we have a pretty equitable relationship. Joseph is an incredibly hands-on dad. He’s the one who gets dinner ready and packs Chloe’s lunches. While he’s fixing Chloe’s ponytails, I’m picking out Chloe’s outfit for the day. When he puts Zoe to sleep, I’m reading Chloe her book before bed. When I have to take a business trip, he knows the drill. I don’t think I’d be able to do my job – as a mom, and as a manager – if he wasn’t as involved as he is.

Things are always really crazy busy, but it’s because we’ve made it so. It’s a lifestyle that we’ve chosen. I won’t say that starting a business and having two young children (Chloe is 3.5 and Zoe is 1.5) is easy. On the other hand, it’s extremely rewarding taking on raising the babies while at the same time running Orbit Baby – you really get to see the direct impact of your decisions in so many different ways.

MM - Being an environmentally conscious parent these days unfortunately means worrying about how a lot of chemicals and products affect kids’ health. Do you have any recommendations for new parents ?

It’s difficult for me to recommend specific actions to take, because life changes so much after you have a child, and everyone just needs to do what works for them. However, my main recommendation to new parents, is to do what you can but to not worry too much. You could worry yourself sick by thinking about everything in every bottle, toy, or piece of furniture, and the only way that you would survive would be to live in a bubble. For example, it’s simply not possible for there not to be plastic around the baby. Having a child is hard work, so you can only do the best that you can; there are tradeoffs that you need to weigh and I find that a measured approach leaves you with the energy to make the important safe choices, without being frozen by every consideration. For example, while I toyed with the idea of making my own organic baby food for Zoe, I decided against it because it would take time away from breastfeeding and from hanging out with Chloe.

I do have a ton of product recommendations, including Orbit Baby of course! Orbit is the only car seat and stroller company to certify some important fabrics to the Oeko-Tex 100 standard; when I learned about how this Swiss-based standard restricts 100 substances that are either harmful or allergenic to babies, I knew that other new parents would breathe the same sigh of relief as I did if we could incorporate it into our products. With how much time children spend in car seats and strollers nowadays, I think it’s one of the most important things for parents to think about when they are considering sustainability and safety.

MM - Do you have any tips for moms who want to become entrepreneurs?

Ironically, I would say that one of the things is not to set overly high standards on yourself. It’s impossible to be the perfect mom AND to start a successful business. Things will slip, and you just have to learn to accept that. All moms know that parenting comes with a lot of guilt, but you just have to put it aside. For me, I know that I am a better parent because I’m an entrepreneur; I think I would be really unhappy if I didn’t get to be a part of Orbit Baby. And, it goes without saying that you should do what you love, and not be affected by those who are judgmental. There will be people out there who judge you and think that you should be spending more time with your kids than working on your next idea. Only you know what will make you happy as a mom and as a whole person.

The other tip is to set systems in place that will allow you to start a business. If you send your child to day care or pre-school make sure you and your child love it. A good friend of mine used to ask me if I loved the care that the Oe’s were receiving, and I would only be able to respond “it works, it’s okay.” It wasn’t until I could say “Yes, I love it!” that I really felt comfortable with leaving the Oe’s and going to work. Sure, I always worry about getting that emergency call, but I don’t constantly think about it, and I know that on a day-to-day level, the kids really do enjoy their school and daycare. Those who know me probably have heard me rave about Chloe’s school. I absolutely love it. The other morning we woke up and she started singing Route 66. And the next day, she sang Imagine: “You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” Her music teacher taught her these songs, and I thought it was the coolest thing.

MM - What is the best parenting advice that you have received?

Shortly after Chloe was born, another new mom sent me the essay “On Being Mom” by Anna Quindlen. It brought me to tears because it rang so true and was so heartfelt. Three years later, I still remember the essay, not just because of its beauty, but because it gave one of the best pieces of “advice” I have ever received. She writes, “I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.” I try to keep that in mind as much as possible – being an “A-type mom” I tend to move from one thing to the next quickly – Get dressed! Grab breakfast! Go to the park! Eat lunch! Take a nap! – and don’t enjoy the moment enough. I try to slow down more now, and to just enjoy the precious moments. Instead of getting out of bed and “go go go-ing,” we try to do more lounging around and doing nothing at all. Anna Quindlen also wisely offers, “Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything.” It’s so true: whatever works for one mom, or for one child, might not work for someone else. Keep that in mind, and you’ll be a very well-adjusted mom, with well-adjusted children!

You can read Anna Quindlen’s essay here: http://www.iheartoe.com/?p=485