The Mamalode Starter Series is an exciting opportunity for us to introduce you to some of the amazing people we get to meet. Starting something takes enormous amounts of work, faith, help and community. Every week we'll share another story of starting. So, community of Mamalode, read up, get inspired and check out these wonder-folk.
Interview with Karmi Soder, Co-Founder of NewboRN Solutions
Tell us a little bit about your business and how you started it.
NewboRN-Solutions is a Registered Nursing Corporation that started by teaching families CPR in their homes and now has expanded to be a one stop shop for all the education and comfort services families need. My business partner, Wendi Karam started the business two years ago. Wendi is a pediatric ED RN and found many families under prepared for emergencies. In her first year she taught CPR to 300 families! She was very smart about incorporating the business and working with a nurse attorney to contract with other nurses to teach CPR. Wendi and I have know each other for about nine years. I hired her to run the pediatric transport program when I was the Vice President of Women and Children's Services and Chief Administrative Officer at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco. We have about 5,500 births a year and are a part of Sutter Health. I saw on social media that Wendi had won an award, so I reached out to say congrats! We had lunch and discussed how great CPR is, yet families need much more and how we could tie in my background in program development. I left the lunch with a business partner and a business to grow. That was only five months ago! In that time, we have added 45 independent contractors in various services, everything from A to Z—acupuncture, breastfeeding, behavior, chiropractor, doula, sex therapist, yoga, and sleep. We will also become a Medela rental location and love helping families!
What do your kids think about your job?
I have four kids (ages 10, 14, 15 and 17) and they love how happy and passionate I am about my work. Dinner conversations have changed a bit to nursing bras and lactation cookies. One day, I came home all excited about bringing on a doula and was asked by my kids, “Who is Abdoullah?” They have learned a lot about parenting and the support families need. I think it’s great for them to see how much parents read, ask and get help to do the best job they can!
Tell us about a total mom + biz fail?
Sometimes Wendi and I can feel overwhelmed and we try to balance and help support each other. We are building new scheduling software and I was hoping it could be done overnight and it has taken longer than expected. Wendi has a great way of refocusing and encouraging me. I try to do the same for her and hope it works as well!
Share with us a total win (brag away!)
Meeting over 200 new people! I love networking and reaching out to new people. I’ve picked up the phone and called people that have no idea who I am or about NewboRN-Solutions and told them our story and what we are trying to build. For some of these calls I want advice, or to join our team, or just to share ideas and promote each others companies. Some on the other end are physicians, published authors, the leader in their field, have started and sold companies. Everyone has been warm, welcoming, open and love our idea!
What's your relationship with Mamalode?
I know of Mamalode through a college friend at Decorist. I love sharing information with families and all the work and research that goes into the information. I hope to share many of our experts with Mamalode readers.
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About the Author
September 2014's theme nourish is brought to you by ONE | Girls & Women
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