Building a Memory-Keeping Empire: Vanessa Quigley on Confidence, Family & Chatbooks

What started as mom guilt turned into a global movement—one that’s helping millions of families preserve the moments that matter most.

In this inspiring episode of The She Believed She Could™ Podcast, host Allison Walsh sits down with Vanessa Quigley—co-founder of Chatbooks, mom of seven, and memory-keeping trailblazer—to talk about the power of confidence, simplifying motherhood, and turning personal pain into purpose.

Vanessa Quigley is a memory-keeping visionary, co-founder of Chatbooks, and mom of seven (plus grandma to two!). With a background in vocal performance and a heart for storytelling, Vanessa transformed a relatable struggle—mom guilt—into a business that’s helped millions of families turn their digital photos into lasting keepsakes.

Named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and host of the top-rated MomForce Podcast, Vanessa is passionate about making moms’ lives easier, building confidence in business and parenting, and preserving what truly matters: connection, memories, and love.

In this episode of The She Believed She Could™ Podcast, host Allison Walsh dives into Vanessa’s powerful story—from opera singer to tech CEO—and the lessons she’s learned about entrepreneurship, authenticity, and the courage to bet on yourself.

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Vanessa’s journey began with a moment all moms can relate to: a wave of guilt. Her youngest son, preparing to start kindergarten, clutched a small photo album from preschool and cried, saying he didn’t want to grow up. That album was the only printed memory he had.

Vanessa had scrapbooked for her first child—but life got busier with each of her seven children. The mom guilt hit hard. She realized: there had to be a simpler way.

And so, Chatbooks was born—a user-friendly app that transforms your digital camera roll into beautiful, tangible photo books with just a few taps.

“It’s not about creating a comprehensive archive—it’s about giving your family something to hold onto. Something is better than nothing.” – Vanessa Quigley

Vanessa understood firsthand that modern moms don’t need another project—they need a win. Scrapbooking was time-consuming, expensive, and overwhelming. Chatbooks, in contrast, was built with simplicity and ease in mind.

With intuitive layouts, fewer decisions, and auto-sync options, Chatbooks became more than just a tech product—it became a lifeline for busy parents wanting to hold onto memories.

Even better? It comes with features to automatically send duplicate copies to grandma. (Yes, Vanessa is a grandma too—and she wants those memories just as much!)

Despite her success, Vanessa openly shared how imposter syndrome almost held her back. With no business background—her degree was in opera—she felt unqualified to build a tech company.

But with support from her husband (and now co-founder), a powerful team, and a belief that her unique perspective was valuable, she forged ahead.

“Confidence is showing up—even when you’re unsure—and trusting that you can figure it out along the way.” – Vanessa Quigley

And she did. Chatbooks grew from a simple Instagram integration to a full-fledged family memory system.

Vanessa’s passion for simplifying family connection hasn’t stopped at photo books. Chatbooks is expanding into new territories with two upcoming apps:

• HeyFam: A messaging app designed just for families—like Slack, but for your relatives.

• Quilt: A private photo journaling app for those heartfelt moments you want to keep off social media.

These apps reflect a growing desire for more privacy, connection, and intentional storytelling in the digital age.

When asked what confidence means to her, Vanessa shared that it’s not about having all the answers—it’s about knowing who you are, showing up anyway, and choosing to grow through discomfort.

She credits her own confidence to her upbringing, a mother who let her try things on her own, and a belief that scary things often lead to the greatest breakthroughs.

“If something scares me, it usually means I’m about to grow. I lean into that.” – Vanessa Quigley

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🎧 Final Thoughts

Vanessa Quigley’s story is a reminder that we don’t have to be perfect to build something powerful. We just need to start. Her journey is packed with lessons on resilience, purpose, and embracing your zone of genius—no matter how unconventional it may look.

Whether you're a busy mom, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone searching for the confidence to begin—this episode will leave you inspired and empowered to preserve your own legacy.