LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Supamamas, an online destination of choice for discerning mums looking to connect and network.
Every mum and mum-to-be knows how important it is to learn as much as possible about being a parent and caring for those precious little ones. Seeing a gap in the market for a focused online and event platform that would bring the best information, networking and support for mums in Kenya, led to entrepreneur Christine Khasinah Odero creating Supamamas, a destination of choice for discerning mums.
LoA found out more about this great platform for Kenya’s mums and those brands that want to reach out to them.
What does your company do?
Supamamas is an events and marketing company based in Kenya and passionate about inspiring, informing and connecting mums to be the best they can be both in their personal and professional lives. You see when you become a mum, you are keen to connect with other mums to learn from each other and share experiences. You also want to know more about brands and services available for you and your child. Some of the events we have put together have been in the area of Personal Branding for professional success, kids’ nutrition, family fun days, pampering events, kids’ safety, personal finances, breast cancer awareness events and many more. We have done 40 events or so in the past 4 years. Our events are attended by on average 100 mums plus and are held almost every month. Supamamas provides a platform for mums to connect with each other, experts and with brands.
What inspired you to start your company?
When starting Supamamas, I felt that most women put who they are and their dreams on the back burner when they become mums; I wanted to provide a platform for mums to be inspired to continue to be the best they can be, by people especially some of the top women who have been there, and continue to thrive as professionals. At the same time, I wanted Supamamas to provide a platform for companies, brands and experts to connect with mums - through interaction at events we organize and online, we currently have an online following of 55,000 fans or so, providing a digital platform for brands to advertise and connect with mums.
"Supamamas is an events and marketing company based in Kenya and passionate about inspiring, informing and connecting mums to be the best they can be both in their personal and professional lives."
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We are good at connecting brands with women especially with mums in an engaging and meaningful way. Plus we have a good connection with Kenyan mums and have a wide reach, not only online but also through events. In a nutshell:
1. For mums, they benefit from the information and empowerment at the events, i.e. from various experts and other invited speakers at the events.
2. For brands and companies, events organized by Supamamas provide a niche platform to connect with mums, interact, create awareness or sell.
3. Our social media platform with a following of 55,000 people as mentioned, provides an avenue for brands to digitally connect with mums.
4. For parents in general, the website www.supamamas.co.ke provides a one-stop platform to access information, plus other useful content. The website is also used by brands, companies and vendors as an advertising platform.
"Supamamas provides a platform for mums to connect with each other, with experts, and with brands."
Tell us a little about your team
We are a team of 5 people with everyone very clear on what role they play. There is a lot of teamwork and friendship, with a deep commitment to see the events turn out well.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I stumbled into entrepreneurship after becoming a mum. I was previously employed mainly in the tourism and travel industry. The resource I mainly started with was the idea and I developed it from there. For instance, while building our social media presence, initially I thought the best approach would be to start off with a mums group. It was both a good and not so good idea - as a result, it turned into something else, I later on thought it would be better to have an online page, speak as a brand, and also engage with mums and parents. After a year or so, we transitioned to the page and later on developed the website. The website is pretty much a portal on everything of interest to mum and baby in Kenya. Secondly, getting the initial capital was not easy - getting corporate partners on board was also not very easy at the beginning. Nor was getting mums to attend the events. Eventually I learnt how to make the idea sustain itself, by creating relationships with corporates, with the mums, and by exploring the digital space. We grew event attendance through consistency and creating vibrant event themes - also by nurturing relationships with mums. Today, they also recommend us to their mum-friends and come with them for the next one.
Over time, some of some of the achievements and recognitions that I have been honored to receive include:
• Country Winner 2015, CEO Magazine Africa Most Influential Women in Business and Government
• Finalist CFC Stanbic Bank Rising Star Awards 2015, Entrepreneur Category
• Business Daily, Top 40 Under 40 Women Finalist 2014
• Top 5 Women under 40 in Business, Up Magazine, Kenya 2013
• Finalist, CEOs Magazine Africa Most Influential Women in Business and Government, 2014 SME Category
• Finalist, CEOs Magazine Africa Most Influential Women in Business and Government, 2013 SME Category
Being an entrepreneur has been more a case of learning on the job and working on continuous self improvement, and also being mentored by others.
"When starting Supamamas, I felt that most women put who they are and their dreams on the back burner when they become mums. I wanted to provide a platform for mums-to-be to be inspired to continue to be the best they can be, by some of the top women who have been there, and continue to thrive as professionals."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
More and bigger exciting events. We have done most of our events in Nairobi, Mombasa and recently Kisumu. We are now looking to extending them out of Nairobi to other counties. We would also like to bring other notable women and experts from outside Kenya to come and speak at our events. We have a good number of corporates that come and connect with mums at the events and we would like to grow our corporate customer base further. But most of all, we are working on getting more mums to come to our events to experience the Supamamas effect, where the interaction is friendly, engaging and most of all you are appreciated. For example, in June we organise a Red Carpet Event for Mums - it’s one of the events that mums love to come to. And we stay committed to also putting together mentorship and community service events as I believe it’s very important to give back. Once a year we organize a fun day that the entire family attends, as I believe we do not have adequate events to cater for families with kids under 10 years of age. We are working on making this event bigger.
"Being an entrepreneur has been more a case of learning on the job and working on continuous self improvement, and also being mentored by others."
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The impact of what we do, for example after the events getting feedback from the mums or women to ensure that they are better equipped and empowered in various areas of their lives. When we do community service events, seeing the smiles on the faces of children and unique women such as cancer survivors. One time we did a Red Carpet event for them. And the overall satisfaction that I am doing something that is within my skill set and expressing my God given talent through what am doing.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
There is never a right time to start, start with what you have and believe in yourself, no matter what.
Contact or follow Supamamas
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | EMAIL ckhasina@supamamas.co.ke
Why LoA loves it….
So often, the most successful companies and ideas stem from an identified need for products, solutions or information by a particular consumer group or audience. In the case of Supamamas, that need was to create a dedicated online portal and event programme focused on providing a place for Kenya’s mums and mums-to-be to feel their information and networking needs could be met. Christine Khasinah Odero has tapped into that need and created a wonderful solution that is appreciated by mums and leading consumer brands alike. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa
