We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kelly Zugay. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Kelly, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, joy has looked like chasing my daughter around the backyard, hearing her little giggles, and watching her discover something new every day. I’ve loved slowing down with my husband — even if it’s just having dinner on our patio — and making the most of this sweet season in our life. Being outdoors has been such a reset for me, whether it’s a family walk, gardening, or simply feeling the sun on my face. I’ve also found so much purpose in cheering on other moms, helping them grow their businesses, and finding ways to make life at home feel lighter and more organized.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Kelly Zugay — co-founder of With Grace and Gold, where for over a decade my business partner and I have had the joy of serving more than 15,000 small business owners through award-winning brand and web design. We create designs that not only look beautiful but work strategically to help our clients connect with their audience, book more of their dream clients, and grow with purpose. What makes With Grace and Gold special is how personal every project is to us — we truly care about the people we serve and aim to make the entire process feel clear, encouraging, and genuinely fun.
Outside of With Grace and Gold, I’m the founder of Made by Motherhood and host of the Made by Motherhood Podcast, where I share practical tips, heartfelt encouragement, and easy-to-use resources for moms who want to run a business they love while being present in their everyday life. Becoming a mother reshaped the way I approach my work, and Made by Motherhood was born out of my desire to help other moms find balance, joy, and confidence in both motherhood and entrepreneurship.
I also share content regularly at KellyZugay.com, where I blend my love for motherhood, home life, and business — offering inspiration for creating an organized home, running a life-first business, and embracing a simpler, more intentional lifestyle.
While my days are centered on my work at With Grace and Gold, in the evenings and on the weekends, I’ve loved creating resources and podcast episodes that encourage moms in business, and sharing content that inspires women to simplify and savor the season they’re in. At the heart of it all is my belief that your work should support your life — not the other way around.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For more than a decade, I worked 12–15 hours a day, 7 days a week. I carried the belief that success meant being available at all times, saying yes to every opportunity, and constantly pushing for more. Over time, it became second nature — so much so that not working felt strange, even wrong. I missed holidays and milestones I can’t get back. I even found myself answering emails while in labor, just hours before an emergency C-section.
That day became the start of a whirlwind I’ll never forget. After a traumatic birth — an emergency C-section followed by a hemorrhage — I was expected to return to work the very next day. I had done everything possible to prepare for a maternity leave, but in the end, there wasn’t space for one. So I went right back to managing projects and deadlines while recovering from surgery, navigating new motherhood and breastfeeding, and functioning on almost no sleep. It was the most exhausting season of my life, but it also held the clarity I didn’t know I needed.
Motherhood changed how I see everything — my work, my time, and myself. Today, I’m so proud to say I’m an extremely dedicated mom who spends as much time as possible with my daughter, while also being more efficient, focused, and intentional in our business than I have ever been. I’ve learned that being “always on” isn’t what makes you successful — it’s being fully present in the moments that matter and working with purpose when it’s time to work.
That’s why I care so deeply about helping other moms. I know how easy it is to let work consume you, to believe that more hours equals more success. But I also know there’s another way — one where you can build a business you’re proud of and still have the freedom to savor motherhood. And I want every mom to experience that.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The turning point came when my work ethic and dedication were questioned after I became a mother. I understood in that instant how often mothers are viewed through a different lens, and how easy it is for their capabilities to be underestimated. It made me reflect on how I wanted to approach my work and my life going forward.
Rather than trying to prove myself by working longer or working harder, I chose to redefine success for myself. I began focusing on the quality of my work instead of the sheer quantity of hours. I streamlined systems, protected my energy, and learned to work with more clarity and purpose. In the process, I became not only more effective in our business, but also more present in my life as a mom.
Overcoming that moment matters deeply to me because of my daughter. I want her to grow up knowing that her value will never be defined by how much she does or how constantly she’s available. I want her to see that dedication can mean protecting your time, honoring your priorities, and building something meaningful without sacrificing yourself in the process. That’s the example I hope to set — for her, and for every mom I have the privilege of helping.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One truth I carry is that you’re allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to grow into someone new, even if that means leaving behind habits, expectations, or relationships that no longer fit. Some relationships aren’t meant to go with you from season to season — and that’s not failure, it’s growth. I’ve learned that starting over isn’t a setback; it’s an act of courage and self-respect.
I’ve also learned that the life you have now doesn’t have to be a reflection of where you’ve been. Your past can shape you, but it doesn’t have to define you. We have the power to create the kind of life we once dreamed of — one that feels safe, joyful, and deeply rooted in what matters most. For me, that means a home filled with love and laughter, meaningful work that aligns with my values, and enough space to truly be present for the people I love.
And maybe the most important truth is that joy is worth protecting. I hold tightly to the smallest, seemingly ordinary moments — my daughter’s hand in mine, unhurried mornings, a quiet evening with my husband. These are not just moments; they are reminders that we can create lives that feel full and whole. They are proof that change is worth embracing, that starting fresh can be beautiful, and that every season holds an opportunity to grow into the person you were always meant to be.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes — and motherhood was what made me see it most clearly.
In the early years of building our business, we set very specific goals: the number of clients we wanted to serve, the revenue we hoped to reach, the recognition we wanted to earn. I believed that once we hit those milestones, I’d feel complete — like I’d finally “made it.” When we achieved those goals, I was proud and grateful… but the deep, lasting satisfaction I’d imagined wasn’t there.
When I became a mother, it turned everything upside down… or perhaps the right way up. I realized how much of my life had been built around the wrong measures of success. I had spent years working toward achievements that looked impressive on paper, but didn’t leave space for what mattered most — being present for my daughter, having slow mornings together, and building a life with room to breathe. The very things that bring me the most fulfillment now weren’t even on my list back then.
Motherhood made me rewrite the definition of “success” entirely. Today, I still set goals, but they’re rooted in alignment — not just in accomplishment. I think getting what you thought you wanted can be one of the most clarifying moments in life, because it forces you to ask if it’s really what you want now. And for me, the answer was clear: I want a life I can be present in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://withgraceandgold.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/withgraceandgold
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/withgraceandgold
Image Credits
Lauren Kirkbride
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