GOAT TALES #27
Marianne Mentis - Founder, MentisandCo
8 AUGUST 2025, WRITTEN BY JACKIE BARON
Laugh Out Loud: Share a hilarious or face-palm moment you've had with your teen son that still makes you chuckle or shake your head in disbelief. That typical teen-moment or habit!
That quintessential Aussie right of passage... Getting your mates to cut your hair, posting it on Instagram (or the Snaps) and thinking that I wouldn't notice or that some other mummy friend wouldn't send me a pic (never ever ever reveal your sources!! ). Yep, I've seen it all! The Mullet, The Skullet, the RatTail and "the spock." Remember those hideous sideburns and the super short bowl cut fringe!!
Admirable Traits: Teenagers (tweens) often teach us more about life than we realise. What's one thing you admire most about your teen son, or what have you learned from him that's been surprisingly profound?
What amazes me is how honest my boys are; brutally yet beautifully honest. From the time they were little, even after pulling off something cheeky or mischievous, they always felt the need to disclose in full. No BS. No sugar-coating. No filters. Full transparency
My heart swells with pride as I now watch my 3 fine young men, communicate with honesty, compassion, humour, and heart with their friends, girlfriends and me.
Shared Passions: What's an activity or hobby you love doing together with your teen son that brings out the 'cool' in both of you, Neon Goat style?
As a self-confessed die hard music tragic of the 70s and 80s (yes I wanted to be a solid gold dancer), I LOVE IT when my boys join me in a boogie with the divas of my teens; Abba, Neil Diamond, Boney M, Michael J, Earth Wind & Fire, & Gloria Gaynor... You get the gist! It's not unusual on a Saturday afternoon with disco beats blasting, to see us all having a boogie workout.
The 'Goat' Legacy: If your teen son were to take over Neon Goat for a day, what innovative or outrageous product do you think he would create, and why?
If my sons took over Neon Goat for the day, be prepared for a full-blown kitchen takeover! Think MasterChef meets mayhem. They're all epic cooks (and refuse to use cook books because they know better than any book!). They’d whip up a feast to feed the entire team with an assortment of disco beats to set the scene...Your tastebuds will be dancing. 💃🕺🏽
Time-Travel Tips: If you could step into a time machine and visit your teenage self, what cheeky piece of advice would you give yourself about navigating the future, especially knowing what you do now about business and life?
Believe in yourself. Stay true to yourself. HAVE FUN. Laugh more. Work hard, play even harder. And, don't ever forget, life is about the #COOLSTORIES
Navigating the Teen Terrain: Teens are known for their mood swings and monosyllabic responses. What's your secret to getting your teen son to open up and engage in meaningful conversations, especially about life and your business?
Ahhh - Those 120++ hours of driving practice seem to solve all the mood swings and in hindsight are quite magical. ✨ ✨
Amazing how much your son reveals, opens his heart, talks about his fears, dreams, confides to you about his crushes, and also asks you about your day, your business and is genuinely interested.
The Teenage Perspective: Living with a teenager can be like riding a roller coaster in the dark. What's one challenge you've faced while living with your teen son, and how did you turn it into a positive experience?
It's all about the back scratch. AKA a magic potion.
Each of my 3 boys whilst very different in personality are all tactile and their language of love is touch. They need hugs, tickles, circles of love in their palms and mum's back scratch. It always seems to calm, recalibrate and soothe away the roller coaster rides. Plus it's awesome one on one time with my beautiful sons!
The Ultimate Collaboration: Imagine you're launching a special Neon Goat product inspired by your journey as a parent to a teen son. What would it be, and what story would it tell?
With it being "all about the hair" I'm thinking a range of great smelling, with cool packaging, (no microplastics!), hair care products. Over and above shampoo and conditioner - probably a gel, mousse, hair de-tangler, and of course a hair mask...And they would all have spunky names like "The Chic Magnet", "The Curls Get the Girls", "Gel to Impress", "Slick Intentions"....
Marianne Mentis is Mumma of 3 divine boys so has lots of #coolstories to tell as well as experiencing first hand the often "traumatic" smell that comes along with boys after footie, rowing or a big gym sesh (and the grotty clothes accompanying them!).
Marianne is a classic marketer with over 25 years of experience in corporate roles as well as working for SMEs.
Marianne founded her Marketing, Strategy & Business Development agency, MentisandCo, over a decade ago and helps businesses grow, by cutting through all the noise and implementing smart, strategic & targeted marketing.
@mmentisandco
GOAT TALES #27: MARIANNE MENTIS
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