Recently, we spoke to Sahar Jamal, Founder of Maziwa about how Real Staffing was able to propel her company forward with just one stellar contract hire.
Maziwa, Swahili for milk, was founded on the belief that no woman should have to choose between her baby's health and her family's economic wellbeing.
Breastfeeding is crucial to both maternal and infant health. By increasing the awareness of optimal breastfeeding practices, as well as the support available for breastfeeding mothers in developing nations, 800,000 infant deaths worldwide could be avoided, and billions of dollars saved, according to a 2016 study in The Lancet.
What is the history of Maziwa? How was it founded?
Sahar: My family is from Tanzania and India. I have spent the last decade focused on improving maternal and newborn health in these regions, initially in voluntary leadership roles with the Johnson & Johnson Foundation and the Aga Khan Development Network. Four years ago, I left my job as a Senior Brand Manager at J&J to pursue a MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and dedicate myself to global health full-time. Then, while working at Jacaranda Health in Nairobi, Kenya, I met hundreds of mothers who were torn between staying home to breastfeed or returning to work to support their families. That is what inspired the creation of our organization, Maziwa, which is launching the only breast pump tailored explicitly to working mothers in developing markets.
An illustration of how breastfeeding in developing countries could positively impact infants, mothers, families, and the evolution of nations.
What led you to choose Real Staffing to be your staffing partner?
Sahar: I met Real Staffing Director Andy Peters in the early stages of our launch while still at Northwestern. I mentioned our need for Engineering talent, and he shared the benefits of using a recruiting agency like Real Staffing. We decided to start the search process and found several great candidates thanks to their platform!
What was it like working with our team?
Sahar: It was great working with Real Staffing! They have an extensive network which made it easy to recruit and attract talent. Additionally, their payroll platform made it convenient for us to manage salaries and reduced the need to set up complex processes for benefits and taxes. As an early-stage start-up without any HR resources, it was crucial to have the help of an agency like Real Staffing to manage our recruitment and hiring efforts.
After finding the perfect fit, with the help of Real Staffing, Sahar added contractor Tyler Panian to her team to help with the launch of Mawia's discreet breast pump, wema.
Wema is a battery-operated rechargeable breast pump which allows mothers to express milk discreetly, efficiently and wirelessly throughout the workday.
What was Tyler's impact that helped make the upcoming go-live of the Wema Pump possible?
Sahar: Tyler was critical in launching our product. He was a great partner to work with, not only on product development but also in customer research, sourcing,supplier outreach, and business management. He understood the needs of an early-stage company like ours and was invested in our success. After engaging Tyler via Real Staffing, we continued receiving his support through his newly established medical device product development firm, Ontogen Medtech. The Ontogen team finalized our product launch by establishing overseas supplier relationships, developing our QMS and DHF, and submitting to the Kenyan regulatory authorities on time and under budget. They continue to be an integral part of my team and always provide strategies with Maziwa's best interests in mind.
What else should we know about Maziwa?
Sahar: Over the last year, Maziwa has validated product-market fit for our unique breast pump and prepared to launch our product in Kenya. We raised funding from donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have won several awards, including the MIT Solver prize, and attracted exciting press. We have built our cross-functional team, both locally in Kenya and North America, and attracted excellent distribution and community engagement partners. In the next 12 months, we will be launching our breast pump through pharmacies, clinics, and employers to create access to a better breastfeeding solution for low and middle-income working mothers in this region.
How did COVID-19 impact the market and industry from your perspective?
Sahar: We are curious about longer-term implications of COVID and how it will impact our industry. We wondered whether remote work would change the value proposition for a product like ours; however, many mothers, especially in informal employment are still required to physically go to the workplace. Additionally, we believe that the emergence of telehealth platforms as a result of COVID could open up new opportunities and distribution channels for us.
To learn more about Maziwa visit their website here.
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