Both mothers to young daughters, 30-year-old Dominique Cojuangco Hearn, co-founder of self-care and beauty platform The Collective with a background in fashion and beauty e-commerce, and 34-year-old Winnie Wong, an educator and creative content creator known for her work in art, design, and visual thinking, have taken on a new role together. They recently launched Sorto, a wardrobe inventory app that aims to help people understand their personal style and shopping habits.

Their partnership did not begin as a close friendship. “We didn’t start Sorto as best friends, which actually helped. It gave us the space to get to know each other through the work, set clear roles early on, and build trust over time,” Dominique tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle.

Winnie affirms, “Dom and I met years ago in the most unexpected ways, once at Timezone, when she was in high school and I was in college, and another time at a prom. We didn’t stay closely connected, but we kept following each other’s journeys from a distance. Over time, there was a quiet familiarity and mutual respect that built up. When we eventually reconnected more intentionally, it felt natural.”

Sorto was not built from a single habit, but from two very different ones. “Winnie is naturally organized. I’m more sentimental. I like things to be organized, but I also find it hard to let go of clothes, because I attach meaning and memory to them. Sorto was created to support both sides. We even built an archive feature so you can keep a record of pieces without needing to physically keep everything. It reflects how people actually live, especially once you become a parent and priorities change.”

For Winnie, the idea came from a desire for awareness. “I’ve always been intentional about documenting and understanding what I own, not to control it, but to see patterns clearly. Sorto was born from asking a deeper question: How do we stay aware and grounded in what we have? Suddenly, it wasn’t just about managing my own things, but my daughter’s as well, objects tied to growth, milestones, and memories. I wanted a system that worked with real life, not against it, and that helped us cherish memories in meaningful ways rather than just store them.”

That shared perspective led them to launch the app together. Dominique explains, “Sorto helps you understand what you already own so you can make smarter shopping decisions moving forward. Your stuff tells a story, our app helps you understand it.” Winnie adds, “It turns your closet into a mirror, showing patterns in how you dress, what you return to, and what you hold onto so you can make more intentional choices without being told to own less or change who you are.”

There is no fixed formula for building a company while raising a child. For Dominique, it is about rhythm. “Weekdays are a mix of workouts, school drop-offs, work, and family time. I spend the day working and make it a point to be home to spend time with [my daughter] Penelope and get her ready for bed. Nights are slower and more intentional. Weekends are for family, which can mean doing activities together or going on trips together.”

Winnie approaches it with flexibility, “We don’t follow a rigid schedule. We communicate clearly about when we’re available and work during the times we’re most effective, guided by shared action plans for the week. Some weeks are more strategic, others focus on execution or responding to what’s needed in real time. We think in seasons rather than perfect days, and that flexibility allows the business and our families to coexist without constant pressure.”

Both rely on simple systems. “My Google Calendar. Everything is color-coded by work, family, and personal time,” Dominique says. Winnie adds, “Systems help more than strict routines. Shared calendars and clear ownership reduce mental load.”

For Dominique, managing it comes down to presence. “By being present where I’m needed. Some days that’s work, other days that’s my daughter. I don’t try to do everything at once.”

Winnie frames it differently. “When things feel overwhelming, it’s less about guilt and more about pausing to reassess what actually needs attention. Sometimes that means stepping back from work, other times it means asking for help or letting go of non-essential tasks. Accepting that balance isn’t static has taken a lot of pressure off.”

Motherhood has also changed how they lead. “It’s made me more intentional with time and more decisive,” Dominique shares. Winnie adds, “It’s made me more thoughtful about communication and expectations.”

Some of the most unexpected lessons come not from work, but from watching their children grow. Dominique reflects, “Penelope has zero screen time besides a few FaceTimes with family. It’s been a big reminder of how naturally curious and creative kids are when they’re given space. It’s given me a lot of perspective on what I thought productivity looked like, learning that I don’t need to fill every minute of her wake period. And it’s made me creative in finding different ways to help regulate emotions during times where others may just hand their kid a tablet.”

For Winnie, it is about presence. “Being present in those moments, without rushing through them, has helped me appreciate the ‘now’ more deeply. It’s something I find myself doing more intentionally, even in work, and it’s changed how I think about focus and presence.”

Sorto is built on awareness, not accumulation. That mindset has extended beyond wardrobes. “It’s made me more accountable. Seeing everything clearly makes you pause before adding more. That mindset carries over into other areas of life, too,” Dominique says.

Winnie echoes this. “Yes, it has reinforced the idea that awareness comes before change. Instead of feeling pressure to optimize or constantly improve, I pay closer attention to patterns of what I actually use, what I return to, and what holds meaning. That mindset applies to parenting too. I’m less focused on doing more and more focused on understanding what’s working right now, given my context and capacity.”

Both women are aware that their paths are shaped by different circumstances, but the message remains grounded. “Start before you feel ready. It’s okay to build alongside your life,” Dominique says.

Winnie adds, “It’s hard to give universal advice because socioeconomic context matters so much, and everyone’s starting point is different. What I can say is to make the most of what you have and use it as leverage, whether that’s time, skills, support, or access. I’m very aware that I have help, and that does make things easier in certain ways, but determination still matters, just in a smart, sustainable way. Building something doesn’t mean pushing yourself to exhaustion, it means being strategic, honest about your circumstances, and moving forward in a way that actually works for your life.”

For these two mothers, there was never a perfect time, only the decision to begin.