For women in business, the idea of ‘having it all and doing it gracefully’ is held up as the ultimate feat in work-life balance.
However, for Jeannette Nguyen, founder of Mooki, being a mother-of-three and an entrepreneur is less of a balancing act, and more of a cross-pollinating ecosystem of beautiful chaos. In fact, it was the traumatic birth of her second child that sparked the idea for her innovative, hassle-free baby bottles.
“I had severe COVID and had to have an emergency caesarean before the doctors immediately placed me in an induced coma as my immunity was very weak and I had a 50/50 chance of surviving,” Jeannette tells Women’s Agenda. “For the four weeks I was in the coma, she was bottle fed in the ICU. She was quite fussy and wouldn’t take any bottles very well.”
Amidst the relief of waking up and holding her daughter in her arms, this was the moment that Jeannette realised that no two children — even her own — were alike. “I thought, there really needs to be a better option for babies, as having to buy different brand bottles is a very expensive and timely process,” says Jeannette.
It was when Jeannette’s daughter started daycare that the concept of a versatile, lid-free feeding bottle came to fruition. “I would get the bottles returned [after daycare] and they were missing all the lids, which was incredibly frustrating as we had to continually purchase new ones.”
Determined to solve this common frustration for parents, Jeannette set about sketching prototypes for a bottle that was functional, safe, cost-effective and easy for parents to use daily. The result was ‘The One’, a BPA-free bottle with interchangeable sippy teats and — in a world first — a snap-on, no-lose lid.
Entering a competitive market, there were two key things that set Mooki apart: Establishing trust with her target audience by seeking feedback, and offering a 30-day free trial so parents can try the product without hesitation.
“We provide a 30-day trial for our bottles as we understand every baby is different,” says Jeannette. “This allows parents to try our bottles and if the baby refuses or they’re not unsatisfied with our product, they can return for a full refund.”
Almost two years later, the product range has expanded to include mini and full-sized bottles, a formula dispenser, a no-splash cleaning brush and more. And as Mooki continues to flourish with over 20,000 units sold so far, Jeannette’s children have remained an integral part of the business, rather than something she strives to ‘balance’. “There are days when it feels overwhelming, but I remind myself that both roles bring unique fulfilment,” she says. “I’ve also found that being a mum actually makes me a better entrepreneur because it teaches me patience, resilience, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing situations.”
By including her children in the business, Jeannette also relishes the opportunity to teach them valuable skills they wouldn’t have learned elsewhere. “They’ve seen firsthand what it takes to build something from the ground up, and it’s instilled a sense of responsibility, creativity, and entrepreneurship in them from an early age.”
Jeannette’s story is a reminder that with the right perspective, the biggest headwinds in life can become your greatest tailwinds for success in business.
You can shop the Mooki range with a 30-day free trial here.
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