Yolande Hylton is building a legacy through entrepreneurship and motherhood

THE journey of motherhood is never an easy one, and it gets even harder when trying to balance motherhood with your career. For founder and CEO of Hylton Insights, Yolande Hylton, this challenge is all too real. However, while some may choose to give up one for the other, she is determined to leave a legacy of excellence in her industry, while creating a better future for herself and her daughter.

“I started my business and pursued my doctorate in business administration because I want to live a life that inspires my daughter to go after everything she wants. It turns out I’m a workaholic. One day while having a heart-to-heart with my daughter, she helped me understand what it means to be truly present and supported. Despite thinking I was doing enough, I recognised that her truly feeling supported by me is what matters most,” Hylton shared.

Growing up, she always knew she wanted to have a business of her own. After graduating from university and starting her job as a teller in the finance industry, she fell in love with the field. However, it still wasn’t her childhood dream. Despite having the idea to start her own business for multiple years, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that Hylton recognised that her business idea had the potential to be something more.

Hylton Insights provides a range of services and solutions to increase individual and organisational efficiency and effectiveness. Taking up this role for other businesses — large and small — wasn’t a walk in the park, but it brought Hylton much joy. Still, as a mother, she had to learn the delicate art of balancing quality time with her daughter and investing in her business.

“I’m now getting to this point where I’m learning the importance of prioritising my obligations. I’ve always wanted to leave a legacy in some way and create a meaningful impact. However, I’m learning how I can do so but still be flexible enough to attend my daughter’s swim meetings, gymnastics meets, sports days and much more. I want her to know I’m her number one cheerleader, always.”

One of the ways in which Hylton learned to find this balance was by being part of the RevUP Caribbean training programme. RevUP is a business incubator that equips entrepreneurs and business owners with the skills, knowledge and support needed to take their business to the next level. Hylton enrolled in 2023 and has since learned a host of new strategies to pursue her passions while mastering motherhood.

“Being a part of the RevUP family has been great so far. It is also really nice to know that there are other mothers who are experiencing the same challenges and are trying to achieve their own versions of balance in some way. We are still getting to know one another, but I am looking forward to learning more from them and growing with them through this one of a kind experience,” she expressed.

Today, the dedicated mother and entrepreneur is proud to have a business that is one-year-old and going strong. She is thankful for the traits her parents instilled in her from early on that equipped her with a strong sense of independence and unwavering determination to achieve her goals.

“Education was a very big thing in my household. I was encouraged to explore and figure out what I liked and didn’t like as a child. This type of support has been critical to who I am today. It led me to encourage my daughter to pursue her passions until she figures out what she ultimately wants,” Hylton said.

Recognising that there are many other mothers out there like herself who feel the pressure to put aside their goals to help their child further to theirs, Hylton encourages them to find a balance and to be deliberate about crafting time for what matters. She urged, “I want to encourage mothers to lean on their support system and take care of themselves because as cliché as it may sound, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Being our best for our children does not have to come at the expense of ourselves. Give yourself grace. Balance will never look like the perfect 50/50, sometimes it’s 60/40, and that’s okay.”