#FollowBabaDreams
We spoke to #Founder Bernie McTiernan about her business Baba Dreams, what prompted her to start it and her founder journey. Bernie has just completed the SheGenerate programme where showcased her business to our live audience, you can also read what she feels she got out of the SheGenerate process.
To get us started - how would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
Working to make my dreams reality
What prompted you to start your business?
I came up with my first baby product 6 years ago after my first son was born. I was looking for safety conscious, functional and environmentally conscious baby products and I was shocked what I learned during my research about the products I had been buying. I was buying the brand name stuff thinking surely it has to be the best and from there Baba Dreams was born. I thought about what I needed in terms of safety and convenience for taking care of my baby and also what would be most comfortable for him and that’s where our first product, the ‘Baba Bib’, came from. Since the start of my journey I have had 3 more children to include twins so I have also designed products to help make life a little simpler for those with twins/multiples. My customers will be anyone who wants to support child centred products that are environmentally conscious, innovative and safe while also being stylish.
Tell us a little bit more about you?
I am a mother of 4 from Leitrim. I originally started out in the legal world but I always wanted to be my own boss and do something I’m passionate about. I want to show my children that anything is possible but you have to try. I heard a saying once that has stuck with me, especially since starting on my founder journey, that if you do something you love you will never work a day in your life. I have found something I love that I hope will be successful and provide employment and inspiration for others to do the same.
Fill us in on your female founder journey.
I struggled in the beginning, I knocked on so many doors but was finding it hard to get someone who understood what I wanted to do or take me seriously especially as female founders are few and far between. But I really believed in my products and it was through a chance meeting with someone that I was introduced to someone else and immediately I had found my lifeline and my hope that what I was trying to do could be done. Since then I have been successful is raising funding from local authorise to allow me to research and develop my products and to make actual prototypes which has just been amazing. I think what I have learned is that we are more capable than we think we are and that you never know how just one conversation will change your direction forever. It’s important to keep the faith and keep trying.
How did you hear about AwakenHub and what prompted you to apply for SheGenerate?
I hear about AwakenHub on LinkedIn last June and I immediately loved every aspect of it. I have always said that if I made my business a success I would absolutely help any other person I could, especially females as the entrepreneurial world can be very male dominated and off putting for females. If AwakenHub had been around 6 years ago I would have definitely been able to move my business along much faster; it is the support guidance and experience of those who have gone before that is immeasurable when it comes to uplifitng female founders.
What have you gotten out of the SheGenerate process?
Since joining SheGenerate I have found the confidence and support I needed to keep going. I no longer feel alone in the big founder world.
I can honestly say that I would not have progressed the business to where it is today without SheGenerate. The founders have put together a fantastic programme where I have learned from experts. We were sets tasks and held accountable monthly in relation to business progression which is a fantastic resource especially when you are a sole founder and are working on your business as a side hustle. The buzz, excitement and drive I felt after each session was the push I needed each week to keep working on the business, especially when normal everyday life was getting on top of me.
What does success look like to you - in 12 months and in 5 years?
In 12 months I hope to be selling my products all over Ireland and in 5 years I hope to be selling them all over the world while making them in my own facility here in Ireland and of course paying the Awakenhub ethos forward to others.
SheGenerate is only a small part of AwakenHub - now that you have the community's attention - what can we/they do for you?
I am so thankful and feel so privileged to be doing this programme. I would love to get the guidance and advice of those who are in the same area as me who can help me push forward my company from prototype to sales. Ultimately, I want to be able to produce all of our products here in Ireland and any advice and guidance on how I can make that happen in the future would also be very much appreciated.
As a founder - what are your non-negotiables & words to live by?
My family is everything and Baba Dreams is a direct result of that. My non negotiables are:
· to make safe products using the highest quality materials
· to promote sustainable living
· to make products that have parent and baby comfort at the core
My words to live by would have to be ‘dream big then make it happen’.
#FollowBabaDreams
