Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Olenik.
Hi Beth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in the Philly suburbs (on the same street I live on today!), but my husband and I had moved to Seattle for work opportunities in 2012. In 2022, after a decade in Seattle, we decided to move back to the Philly suburbs to raise our boys closer to family. I resigned from my corporate finance job in order to focus on our family, and as we settled back into the area, I was reminded how many incredible places there are to discover. I wasn’t just rediscovering Philly; I was seeing it in a new way through my children’s eyes.
I started my Instagram account, Phillyburbswithkids, as a way to share our adventures and serve as a resource for other families looking for family-friendly adventures. Since moving back, we welcomed another son and now our boys are 10, 8 and 2. We continue to love all the area has to offer- from sports, history, the outdoors, to indoor play spaces, restaurants, seasonal events and more! Follow us on Instagram for family-friendly Philly area ideas!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My growth has come slowly over the years. My focus has been keeping my page authentic, rather then chasing trends. My goal has been to take opportunities, and showcase places my boys actually wanted to go, rather than making it another ‘to-do’ on our list. This has been a good approach for highlighting local businesses but also keeping my kids happy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a content creator sharing family-friendly outings in the Philly suburbs and surrounding areas. I am most proud of being able to showcase and boost local businesses, events and places that cater to families. There are so many hidden gems that people may not know about. I get a lot of satisfaction when a local business sees a boosts in followers or actual visits after being highlighted on Phillyburbswithkids. I also love hearing from followers who took one of my recommendations and had a great time.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
When we left Seattle, we initially were planning a move to DC. Plans changed and I feel so lucky that we were able to settle back to the Philly suburbs. All the pieces came together, and it’s been an absolute joy to raise my children near our families and in an area that offers so much. This set me up to be able to start Phillyburbswithkids to document and share our adventures with other local families.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillyburbswithkids/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Phillyburbswithkids-61578308171310/
