Ambition, Motherhood & Showing Up Online as Your True Self with Puja Malhotra

When I sat down with Puja Malhotra for this week’s episode of Social Goals, I knew it was going to be good—but wow, I wasn’t ready for how real, refreshing, and deeply validating our conversation would be.

As the founder of Roop Creative Agency and the creator behind the Corporate Dropout mentorship program, Puja brings a perspective that so many creatives, introverts, and moms in business need to hear. We talked about what it means to show up online authentically, the decision to separate your personal brand from your business, and the messy, beautiful journey of navigating ambition alongside motherhood.

If you’re trying to grow a business that feels true to who you are—without losing yourself in the algorithm—this one’s for you.

Let’s be honest: there’s no rulebook for how to be a small business owner, a mom, a creative, and a human with a nervous system that doesn’t thrive on daily Reels and hustle culture.

That’s exactly why I was so excited to bring Puja on the podcast. Her approach to branding is equal parts soulful storytelling and strategic design—but what really stuck with me is how she’s embraced her whole self in business, especially after motherhood shifted everything.

Separating Personal Brand from Business: When “One Page” Isn’t Enough

Puja shared how, after nine years in business, she made the decision to separate her personal brand from Roop Creative Agency. And as someone who also juggles multiple roles (mom, founder, strategist, creator…), I could completely relate.

Sometimes it’s not about niching down—it’s about giving different parts of yourself a place to live online. For Puja, this meant creating space to talk about motherhood, identity, mentorship, and the parts of her story that didn’t quite fit on the polished grid of her design studio.

She said it perfectly:

“I’m not just websites and branding. I’m also a mentor, a mom, a South Asian woman, and an introvert. I needed a space to explore all of that.”

Content That Feels Good to Create

One of my favourite parts of our chat was when we talked about social media trends—and what’s actually working right now. Spoiler alert: it’s not always Reels.

We both agreed that carousel posts are having a moment again (and I’m loving the layered, design-forward styles popping up!). As a strategist, I’ve also noticed that people are engaging more deeply with educational or story-driven carousels. The insights are fascinating—especially now that Instagram sometimes breaks down which slides get the most engagement. Love that for us.

But beyond trends, Puja made a powerful point: Content should feel good to make. And as introverts or multi-passionate creatives, sometimes that means stepping away from what’s trendy and leaning into what’s true.

The Reality of Showing Up on Social Media as an Introvert

I asked Puja if creating her personal brand helped her show up more easily online as an introvert. Her answer? A very honest “No.”

And I loved that honesty.

She talked about how uncomfortable it can be to share your story online, especially when you’re used to being the behind-the-scenes creative. As introverts, we don’t necessarily want to be the face of our brand—but sometimes, showing up anyway is part of the work.

One thing that really stuck with me was her “Sasha Fierce” analogy. She said that when she walks into a networking event, that’s when she has to turn it on. That’s her stage. But when she’s designing, when she’s in her creative flow—that’s her true self. I felt that in my soul.

Balancing Motherhood and Ambition (Without the Guilt)

This part of our conversation hit home in such a big way.

Puja shared what it was like to grow her business before becoming a mom—and how that shift into motherhood turned everything upside down. She was open about falling for the myth that you can “just keep building” with a baby strapped to you. (Haven’t we all seen those curated Instagram posts?)

“What I had to learn the hard way was… they have a team. And that’s a photo.”

We talked about the guilt, the judgment, the invisible load of trying to do it all—and how community changed everything. I know I’ve felt that same pressure, especially when you’re the first in your circle to become a parent or start a business (or both).

And let’s talk about how powerful it was when she said this:

“My son needs to see that I’m a strong, ambitious woman—and still his mom. There’s more to me than motherhood.”

Same, Puja. Same.

Creating Structure That Supports the Real You

Toward the end of our conversation, Puja talked about some of the structural changes she made in her business after becoming a mom—like hiring a VA, building out Dubsado workflows, and leaning into automation.

It was such a great reminder that success doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means designing a business that supports your lifestyle and your energy—not one that drains you.

My Biggest Takeaways from Puja

• You don’t need to share everything on one account—especially if it’s confusing your audience or stifling your story
• It’s okay (and sometimes necessary) to create a second brand or page to explore the deeper layers of your identity
• Introverts can thrive online—when the content aligns with their strengths
• Being both ambitious and maternal isn’t a contradiction—it’s a superpower
• Community, structure, and storytelling can change everything in business

Where to Find Puja (and Why You Should)

If you haven’t already, go follow @thepujamalhotra for her unfiltered, honest takes on business, motherhood, and brand building. And if you’re curious about her mentorship program Corporate Dropout, check out Roop Creative Agency for all the details.

This conversation reminded me why I love podcasting—and why I started Social Goals in the first place. These are the conversations that don’t always happen in curated Instagram captions or shiny success stories.

We’re not meant to do this alone. And we’re definitely not meant to do it in a way that burns us out.

So here’s your reminder: You can build a business that feels like you. You can chase big dreams, raise tiny humans, and show up online in a way that honours your energy—not fights against it.

I’m so grateful to Puja for showing up fully and sharing her story. And I hope it inspires you to do the same.