We speak with the Founder at Mother Nurture Foundation for our Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs series…

In recognition of International Women’s Day we’ve been speaking with the women who have used their time at business school to become trailblazers – unleashing their entrepreneurial superpowers to make a change in their industries and the world around them.

Tell us more about your company and what you do 

Mother Nurture Foundation was founded in 2017 after my first daughter Cressida was born and I learned first-hand the importance of maternal health. We provide prenatal vitamins to pregnant women who would otherwise not have access to adequate nutrition or education around prenatal care.

What inspired you to start a women-focused start-up, and how did you identify the specific needs or gaps in the market that your business addresses?

Having a child made me see the world in a different way. I quickly learned how powerful women really are and how influential a mother’s role in society is. Amongst other things, what a mother consumes during pregnancy shapes the rest of her child’s life; prenatal nutrition is something that influences every single person on this planet.

“You will be bombarded with images of what a founder should look like—even if it’s another female founder, but the world needs your unique skillset.”

Ellie Campion – Yale SOM Class of 2019 & Founder of Mother Nurture Foundation

Given that all resources are limited, I really wanted to tackle a wide range of societal issues efficiently–from the very beginning when change is the most impactful. Moms, however busy they are, love efficiency.

Trust, in products and services, is so important when it comes to your child. During my research on prenatal nutrient deficiencies, I realised that larger organisations that had the funding to help lacked the community-level relationships with pregnant mothers. Mother Nurture serves as the bridge between those two groups. 

How did your experience at Yale SOM help you with your venture?

Yale SOM greatly strengthened my analytical framework. I learned from the best and brightest who made learning incredibly interesting and rewarding, but more importantly, the school entrusted me with a network of passionate people (both faculty and students) and a platform to launch whatever I could dream of. I cannot stress enough that if you are willing to put in the work, the school is willing and able to support you in more ways than you may realise. It’s quite a responsibility to use the school’s resources wisely and one I do not take for granted.

What is your long-term vision for your business, and how do you see it evolving?

My long-term vision is to continue to forge relationships with both domestic and international partners, scale to produce our own vitamins, and provide sponsored study-abroad opportunities for physicians. It is critical for a medical professional to oversee the vitamin distribution process particularly in rural areas, and it is currently a bottleneck.

What advice do you have for other women who are interested in starting a women-focused business, and what resources or support do you recommend they seek out?

Be yourself. Trust yourself. You will be bombarded with images of what a founder should look like—even if it’s another female founder, but the world needs your unique skillset. When you are authentic, it shows. It builds confidence in not only you, but between you and the person you are interacting with. 

Slow down in your interactions with others and listen to people with various backgrounds. Honor your convictions, but remain open to new ideas. There is something to learn from everyone. You may be surprised what can come out of genuine connections. I think that’s when the magic happens. Seek out people with high character and when you find them, keep them.

Commit to something that grounds you on a regular basis whether that is meditation, yoga, prayer, reading, gardening, or movement. The act of processing, resetting, and gaining perspective is invaluable.

Interested in this series? You might also like this…