Michal Chesal, Baby K’tan
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Name:Â Â Â Michal Chesal
Hometown: A few different ones – grew up in 4 states and 2 countries.
Current Residence (City, State): Hollywood, Florida
Education: BA in Psychology
Professional Background (brief, please): Graduated in ‘94 with a BA in Psychology, and spent 2 years studying abroad. Served as Director of Academic Affairs for an overseas university. Spent 3 years as an equities trader, specializing in risk management and technical analysis for a NY firm. Upon move to FL, became sole proprietor of a regional marketing firm in Fort Lauderdale. On a volunteer basis, chair events that promote advocacy and acceptance of the special needs community, and serve as an active board member on numerous children’s advocacy organizations.
I am now devoting my time to my new baby, Baby K’tan, LLC,
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A clinical psychologist!
What you are: A wife, mother of 3, enterpeneur, inventor and business owner
Brief Summary of your Start Up: My oldest son, Coby Joshua, was born with Down Syndrome in December of 1999. Coby’s birth and disability presented the need for me to create an environment for him that would facilitate his development and provide the extra stimulation he needed for optimal growth. In addition to his developmental delays, Coby was born with hypotonia (low muscle tone) and was adversely affected by baby carriers that placed his legs in excessive abduction (legs spread too far apart). It was disheartening not being able to carry him in a forward facing position as used in traditional baby carriers. Not only did I want to hold Coby closely and show him the world, I wanted to do it appropriately. Never completely satisfied with the carriers on the market, I partially modified existing carriers to provide a position where babies can still face forward and see the world while having their legs in a more developmentally appropriate posture.
Company Website? www.babyktan.com
What inspired you? Wanting to make it on my own financially. Owning my own business. Offering the public the same great carrier we used with all our children, which was born out of necessity.
How long have you been in business? We incorporated Baby K’tan, LLC over 2 years ago, however we just launched our product (new baby carrier) 5 months ago.
How did you fund it? Personal finance. Savings/2nd mortgages
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? A few. Some great women who were a few years ahead of me in their business gave me some great guidance and contacts. I hope to do the same back! I think I’ve already started!
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Ladies Who Launch.
Current Business Challenge? Marketing within a budget. Completing all business tasks (however mundane) without hiring outside help yet.
What are you doing about it? Marketing within a tight budget (doing it all in house for now) and not hiring any outside help yet until we can afford it. Instead, working 24/7 until we get bigger as a company on our own!
Favorite motivational quote: Have to do some research to quote a good one.
Family? 3 kids (7, 4 & 2) and husband Brian. As I previously mentioned, my oldest has special needs.
If so, how do you balance family and business? I am still working on figuring that out. I am currently trying to devote time to my kids every evening when they get back from school, even if I have work on my mind. Weekends are mainly family time.
Favorite book? Again, cannot think of one immediately, have to do some research. Not much time to read lately. I heard the “Tipping Point†was a good one.
What do you do to relax? Take a break from work and go out with friends or my husband, or read a book if I’m lucky enough to get that time.
What do you want to change most about your world? I want it to be more accepting of children with disabilities, among a hundred other things!
What are you most proud of? The growth we’ve seen in our company and product in only 5 short months of being on the market! It is a good sign for the future and that all our efforts are paying off!
What advice would you like to offer other StartUp Princesses?
Don’t let any obstacles get you down so much that you consider giving up – keep on pushing. They say it takes at least 2 years to know if your business is going to succeed, and it will if you believe in it!
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Family members that offer to help in these beginning stages. Not everyone has that magic tool unfortunately.
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds. They stand out the most and on the same hand are the most understated.
Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother to another woman entrepreneur? I would love to. I might not have an abundance of free time to offer, but I would still do what I can.
What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in? Everything that involves getting started. If I stumble on something I will direct them elsewhere. I’m basically covering every aspect of my business and getting very educated very quickly.
Would you be interested in going to lunch with other women entrepreneurs for a “networking tea party� Possibly.
Would you be willing to be a facilitator of such an event? Possibly.
