We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kalie Jackson Cory Chlapowski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kalie Jackson, appreciate you joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?
Callum and Willow was created at a time of wild uncertainty for both of us. After coming to a crossroads in our personal lives, we knew we wanted to pour our hearts into something that we felt passionate about. We sought out on a business venture that would allow us to be home for and provide for our children and families, while still being able to express the artistry and creativity we carried in our souls. We didn’t want to be stuck in uninspiring careers or working round the clock for something our hearts weren’t in. After a ton of brainstorming, we decided to look into the process of creating a toy for children. Around the same time, Kalie shared her desire to write a children’s book — and the lightbulb went off.
We set off on a journey to craft themed toy and book sets that blend these shared passions. At the time, Cory had a two-year-old son, Callum, and was absolutely in love with Montessori-style toys and learning. The beauty of the simplicity, creativity, and hands-on approach really resonated with her. For me, I’ve always been fascinated with space and found so much inspiration in the theme—it’s such a fun way to spark curiosity and imagination. This became the theme for our first set.
I had never written a book before, and while I was eager to embark on this journey, I also had to face my inner critic. Doubts crept in—questions about whether my story would resonate or if I could truly bring my vision to life. But as I pushed past those fears and focused on the joy of creating, the story just all came together effortlessly. It was such a reminder that sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come when we silence self-doubt and trust in our passion. For me, writing became not only a creative outlet but also a deeply healing process. It allowed me to reflect on and share details about things that are meaningful to me—like the spiritual connections I feel with the world around me and the beauty of nature. Through storytelling, I could weave in values I hold close to my heart, such as gratitude, teamwork, love, kindness, and believing in yourself. These themes became the foundation of the stories we created, helping us share messages that inspire children and families alike.
We believe that when you are aligned with your soul’s purpose and pour your entire heart into your mission, the only way you fail is if you give up. We’re both very spiritual, and have learned to allow any redirections in the process to come as signs to nudge us forward or to pivot onto whatever new path that is presented. This is how we knew we’d succeed, by always trusting our inner knowing and really allowing that to lead the way.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Callum + Willow, founded in the Summer of 2023, is a passion project born from the resilient spirits of two single moms determined to create a brighter future for their children. With wooden, natural, imaginative toys and themed books, our intention is to inspire creativity, exploration and a passion for learning through beautiful children’s products.
Both founders, Kalie and Cory, hold Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and have extensive experience working with children, though our previous careers took us in different directions. Whether with our own children, in roles as teachers or as nannies – our experience really provided the backbone for knowing what children are drawn to and how they like to play.
Cory has a diverse professional background, including roles as a nanny, household manager, personal assistant, in bookkeeping and years of experience in book editing and web design. Her technical skills have been instrumental in launching our business, particularly in designing the website, developing our branding, and crafting marketing materials. This journey has given her the opportunity to explore and expand her talents in digital design, ultimately revealing a few unknown creative outlets for her.
Kalie has spent much of her adult life nurturing her family while excelling in careers as a bookkeeper, flight attendant, and preschool teacher. With a deep love for creativity and storytelling, her passion for writing had been quietly growing, and teaming up for Callum + Willow gave her the perfect opportunity to bring it to life.
This process has helped us uncover strengths we didn’t know we had, allowing us to focus on what we each do best. Our creativity takes different forms, and that diversity has become a large part of Callum + Willow’s success. We always seek to work together in a balanced, harmonious way, each contributing our unique talents that complement the other. We also try to embrace and focus on the aspects of the process that feel natural and fulfilling.
We’re proud of this, because we’ve really had to expand ourselves in new ways and by surrendering to the process, have found so many hidden talents, gifts and abilities. The creative process has been a spiritual process, truly asking us to find out and continue to discover more about ourselves and our capabilities. This has become the foundation of our mission, inspiring young and old to follow their heart, their dreams and what truly lights them up.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One story that illustrates our resilience is how we turned a period of extreme uncertainty into the foundation for Callum + Willow. Both Cory and I were navigating significant life changes—divorces that left us rebuilding our lives as single moms. Rather than letting those challenges define us, we saw them as an opportunity to create something meaningful. We continued to channel our pain, or any fears about the future, into fuel.
We had no roadmap and limited resources, but we were determined to build a brand that reflected our shared values. Starting from scratch was very difficult—we had to learn everything along the way, from product design to storytelling to running a business. Balancing our work with raising our children often felt overwhelming, but we continued to persevere.
There were plenty of moments of doubt, but we leaned on each other, found joy in the creative process, and stayed focused on our mission to inspire. That resilience not only helped us create Callum + Willow, but it also taught us that challenges can lead to the most rewarding opportunities when met with determination and heart. We are so proud of what we have conceptualized and created, and the ability we have to share it with the world.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The driving mission behind our creative journey with Callum + Willow is to inspire others—especially moms and kids—to follow their dreams. As moms ourselves, we know how easy it can be to lose sight of the things you care about while balancing the demands of parenting and life in general. We want to show moms that it’s never too late to pursue a dream and create something meaningful, even when the road ahead seems challenging. At the same time, we aim to inspire kids to explore their imaginations, connect with nature, and dream big through our toys and stories.
Looking ahead, our vision for Callum + Willow goes beyond creating products—we want to make a tangible difference in the world. A major goal of ours is to grow the brand to a point where we can give back in meaningful ways, including donating to nature conservation efforts and supporting women in need. As two women who rebuilt our lives from the ground up, we feel deeply connected to empowering others on similar journeys. We truly look forward to being able to help women in the same positions we have been.
Ultimately, we hope Callum + Willow will become more than a brand. We want it to be a platform for inspiration, connection, and change—a way to embolden families to make the world a better place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.callumwillow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callumandwillow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095422293319
Image Credits
Sara Kane Photography
Angelina Eden Photography