Here at Belly Bandit HQ, a women-owned and operated company, we believe in celebrating the success of all women in business! Our “Moms Who Made It” series is our way of honoring Mompreneurs who inspire us every day.
This week we're thrilled to be featuring Julianna Shaw, founder of ZoLi. After the birth of her first baby, Juliana was surprised at how difficult it was for her to to find safe products on the market - so she got to work creating her own. Since 2008, ZoLi has produced everyday products that meet the challenges of modern parenting. And now you can check out their innovative products and get a discount!
Simply use the code BELLYBANDIT20 for 20% off the entire ZoLi website www.zoli-inc.com from May 10th to May 17th - now that’s worth celebrating!
Describe your business philosophy in 5 words:
Always innovate and develop the best products possible.
What inspired you to go into business?
My daughters, Zoe and Lila! We named the brand after them (Zo for Zoe and Li for Lila). When my kids were born, I couldn’t find many products that were non-toxic, free of endocrine disrupting chemicals and that also worked well. That’s when I decided to create my own! Since then, we’ve continued making products with my girls in mind.
When did you know you, “made it?”
I don’t think we’ve ever thought that we had “made it”. I am constantly working to create more products that can make everyday life easier. That’s why our brand is always expanding! As my daughters get older, I continue thinking of products that kids their age need. That’s why we will always be inventing products that solve everyday challenges for newborns, teenagers and adults!
Who is your mentor?
I’ve been fortunate in that I have had many women mentors throughout the different stages of my career. These have been there to guide me, inspire me, and challenge me throughout my career. Especially as I took theleap from the security of a corporate job to the risky, yet rewarding world of entrepreneurship.
What's your #1 tip for moms interested in starting their own business?
My #1 tip is to just do it - don’t overthink it. If you believe in your idea and you’ve done your research and there is a business case for it, then you need to just do it. Know that you can’t plan for everything but you need to be ready for anything. You can’t succeed if you never try.
What does “me” time mean to you?
Me time is when I get to head out the door and go for a run! Running is my way to decompress and reinvigorate myself. I do my best thinking on long runs so it is not uncommon for me to come up with some crazy ideas after a little “me” time.
What‘s on your bedside table?
Right now I’m into YA Fiction - low commitment and easy to read so you’ll find Ready Player One By Ernest Cline and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo on my nightstand. I was about halfway through Ready Player One before my daughter snagged it from me to take with her on a trip. I just got it back so need to finish before starting Shadow and Bone.
Words to live by - Share your favorite quote!
Stephen Hawkins “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”
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To learn more Juliana head to, zoli-inc.com
