What is Mighty Well’s origin story?
I had a PICC line, used for delivery of intravenous medicine needed to treat my chronic neurological Lyme disease. I was diagnosed during my second year at Babson College, and my illness derailed any hopes of me studying abroad at the time. Instead, I went west for the spring semester, taking part in Babson’s San Francisco program. I took a class taught by Bigbelly founder Jim Poss, in which students had to create a business. My best friend, Maria del Mar Gomez, and my now fiancé, Yousef Al-Humaidhi, and I used the course to refine an idea for stylish and functional PICC line protectors that we had begun prototyping several months earlier back in Boston. PICC line protectors on the market at the time were ugly and if it looked good, it didn’t function well. What started as just one product has grown into Mighty Well, a full-time startup for which I am the CEO. Together with Maria and Yousef, we are on a mission to make Mighty Well the Under Armour of the health-care industry.
What does it mean to you to be a “social impact entrepreneur”?
To me, being a social impact entrepreneur is someone who has taken a stand and said they are going to use business as an agent of change in our society. For Mighty Well, we are on a mission to turn sickness into strength, and this vision of a world where patients don’t have to be treated like a name on a chart is at the core of why we exist.
What 3 pieces of advice would you give to young entrepreneurs seeking funding?
1) Trust your gut, but don’t be afraid of taking constructive criticism
2) Network, Network, Network and build your personal brand
3) Become a thought leader in your space
Tell us about the role of collaboration in your business.
Collaboration is everything. As a young entrepreneur, my goal has been to surround myself with people who are experts in their field and that I can learn from not only to be a better entrepreneur but to help build my business. I have spent the past year building my network and my advisory board, and I am thrilled that we have been able to add the likes of former CEO of Ralph Lauren Footwear, Leslie Smith, CNBC/MSNBC Commentator, Alicia Syrett, and Scott Levine, a native Rhode Islander, and Director at Parthenon Capital Partners, in addition to a few other stand out names.
What does a typical workday look like? Do you have a daily routine or ritual that you swear by / that helps you stay focused as you build your business?
I wish I had a routine! That is something I am working on now that I have moved back to Rhode Island. A typical day usually includes a coffee meeting or a phone call in the AM, an afternoon touchpoint with one of our contractors, and the rest of the day collaborating with my co-founders. When I pitch to a crowd, have a speaking engagement, or an investor meeting, my routine is ALWAYS to get an iced latte, listen to Beyoncé, and to put on an outfit that makes me feel like a boss!
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that inspires you?
“I will fail and fail again until I succeed” -Time Draper
Where can our community connect with you and Mighty Well?
If you or a loved one are facing a health setback, join our Facebook group, Friends in the Fight! I spend a lot of time in the car and am always up for a call to connect with others. [email protected] is the best way to reach me outside of the FB group 🙂
Website: https://mighty-well.com/
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