June 2026 Edition

The Weight of Growth

Your first wins don't always come wrapped in celebration.

Sometimes growth brings criticism. Sometimes visibility attracts negativity. Sometimes the decisions that move your business forward upset people, even when your intentions are good.

As part of our recent leadership development journey this month with the community, we've been reflecting on what leadership actually requires. Not the polished version we see online but the real work of making difficult decisions, protecting your team, holding boundaries and staying aligned with your values.

One lesson from a Crunchmoms member has stayed with us:

In order to achieve something, someone will get upset.

The longer you build, the more you realize it's true. No decision, however thoughtful, will work for everyone.

So expect it. Accept it. Let it go.

Leadership isn't about keeping everyone happy. It's about making the best decision you can with the information you have, accepting that not everyone will understand it, and continuing forward anyway.

Growth isn't just about revenue.

It's about resilience.

What’s New

Crunchmoms Shop Is Officially Open

Your favorite Crunchmoms merch is now available to shop and delivered straight to your door.

Because building a community isn't just about showing up, it's about wearing what you stand for.

Members of the private network receive complimentary merch as part of their membership, with additional items now available to purchase through the online shop.

Treat yourself: https://www.crunchmoms.com/shop

Work in Progress

My expertise is being replaced by AI. Work that once came directly to me is now being handed to ChatGPT or Claude.

I know I need to evolve. I know I need to build my personal brand, network more and put myself out there. But between work, two toddlers and life, I'm exhausted.

How do you grow when you barely have the energy to get through the week?

Crunchmoms Says:

The answer isn't to do more.

It's to stop expecting yourself to make up for an entire career transition overnight.

When we're tired, we create impossible standards for ourselves: launch the personal brand, attend every event, learn new skills and reinvent everything at once.

But growth rarely happens that way.

Focus on small actions that compound over time. Share one insight a week. Reach out to one new person a month. Attend one event that genuinely interests you.

Most importantly, don't wait until you're the "best version" of yourself to show up. Come as you are.

A year from now, you won't remember every small step you took. You'll simply look back and realize how far you've come.

Pivot to Power

When people think of power, they often think of scale, large teams and bigger budgets.

Sahar Karoubi is proving that growth can look different.

As the founder of Bambuyu, she's built a challenger brand with a lean team, navigating changing market realities while staying close to the numbers that drive her business. She has never outsourced her understanding of the financials, using them to make informed decisions, adapt quickly and pivot when needed.

She's embraced partnerships, collaborations and community to accelerate growth, while steadily increasing the visibility of both her products and her personal brand. What stands out most is her willingness to step forward and tell her story. To become an ambassador for the brand she's building and take up space in a category traditionally dominated by larger, legacy players.

And it's working.

Bambuyu isn't just competing with established brands, it's taking market share from them.

She's also not afraid to ask for help. Whether from advisors, board members or her community, Sahar understands that strong leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about knowing where to find them.

That's quiet power.

Knowing your numbers. Adapting when circumstances change. Asking for support when you need it. And building a brand that refuses to be overlooked.

In Brief

Social media restrictions for children

The UAE has announced plans to become the first Arab nation to introduce restrictions on social media access for children under 15, sparking important conversations around digital wellbeing and online safety.

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Women-led entrepreneurship

Female entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the UAE's economic future. While women are starting businesses at rates comparable to men, they are also more likely to close them due to a range of challenges, from access to funding and support networks to the competing demands of work and family life.

Supporting women-led businesses isn't just about helping founders succeed, it's about helping more them stay in business.

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Wills & Guardianship

Have you planned for the unexpected?

Aramas International Lawyers specialize in wills and guardianship services for expatriate families in the UAE, helping them put wills and guardianship arrangements in place with greater ease.

Use code Crunch10 for 10% off and visit wills.aramaslawexpat.com to learn more.

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Crunchmoms Summit 2026: Help Us Build It

Every year, the Crunchmoms Summit gets bigger.

And every year, we're reminded that it's never been built by one person. It's built by community.

It's built by venue partners who say yes. By founders and leaders who share their stories. By small businesses who contribute. By community members who show up and make it what it is.

We've been planning Crunchmoms Summit 2026 and we'd love your help.

Know a great venue? Have a story to share? Want your business in front of the community? Have awesome gifts to give? We'd love to hear from you. Submit this form here or email us at hey@crunchmoms.com