81. From Basement to Brand: How Julie Cole, Mom of Six, Built Mabel’s Labels Without Losing Herself

Ashley Blackington welcomes Julie Cole, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, for a rich conversation on motherhood, entrepreneurship, and building a life and business that actually works. Julie shares her journey from lawyer to mom of six to label mogul, and all the messy, meaningful moments in between. She opens up about flexible work, raising independent kids, and the unfiltered truth of growing a business out of a basement into a beloved international brand. Expect inspiration, humor, and hard-won wisdom from someone who’s done it all, with a label for literally everything.

In this conversation:

• What inspired Julie to leave law and launch Mabel’s Labels with her sisters
• How entrepreneurship evolved alongside raising six kids (yes, six!)
• The mental load of motherhood and how to protect your identity through it
• Real talk on flexibility, burnout, and the myth of #BossMom
• The role of community, visibility, and mentorship in building a sustainable business

Questions answered in this episode:

• How do you balance entrepreneurship with parenting, especially in the early years?
• What conversations and sacrifices are required when leaving a traditional career?
• How did Julie and her co-founders grow Mabel’s Labels without social media?
• What lessons does she share with new founders and mompreneurs today?
• How can women show up as leaders and still prioritize their families?

Connect with Julie Cole:

• Website: mabelslabels.com/juliecole
• Instagram: @juliecole
• LinkedIn: Julie Cole
• Book: Like a Mother: Birthing Businesses, Babies, and a Life Beyond Labels

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com

Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822

Instagram: @andboth_podcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/