We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kalifa Rodriguez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kalifa, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The journey to founding Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition is deeply personal and rooted in my own struggles and realizations during two of the most challenging periods of my life. Like so many entrepreneurs and women before me, it was during that time that I decided to transform fears and setbacks into stepping stones for success, a realization that became the bedrock of Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition.
During my pregnancies, I encountered unforeseen complications that not only threatened my health and well-being but also that of my babies. The diagnosis of pre-eclampsia was a blindsiding moment, exacerbating the stress and uncertainty that comes with pregnancy. This culminated in an emergency C-section and the premature birth of my 1st child at an alarmingly low birth weight. It marked the beginning of an arduous breastfeeding journey, fraught with challenges that pushed me to the brink of giving up as I became enveloped in feelings of inadequacy and failure. During this intensely vulnerable time I discovered a staggering statistic from the World Health Organization: more than half of mothers globally are unable to meet the recommended breastfeeding guidelines, primarily due to a lack of knowledge and support. That accounts for more than 1 BILLION mothers facing similar trials and tribulations. This revelation not only highlighted the magnitude of the issue but also made me realize that my struggles were part of a much larger, systemic problem that demanded a solution. Through these harrowing experiences, I was confronted with a stark reality: despite the complexities of my pregnancies and struggles postpartum, there was a glaring absence of nutritional guidance. It became evident that the power of proper nutrition, a cornerstone of prenatal care, was grossly underestimated, if not entirely overlooked.
This realization was both disheartening and eye-opening. Reflecting on the potential outcomes had I received some nutritional support, I was struck by the magnitude of what could have been different, during and after pregnancy. It wasn’t just about my journey; it was about the countless mothers facing similar, overlooked challenges. The oversight in nutritional guidance wasn’t merely a personal oversight; it was a systemic gap that needed addressing.
After reflecting on the personal hardships of my own pregnancies, including the premature birth of my first child, I delved deeper into the challenges of maternal and infant health. I was experiencing first hand the disheartening racial disparities affecting Black mothers: lower breastfeeding rates, higher incidences of premature births, and a stark lack of representation in the healthcare space, particularly among Black female entrepreneurs. These issues are not just statistics; they are a reflection of systemic barriers that demand attention and action.
Fueled by a combination of personal experiences and a newfound purpose, I saw an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. The logic was clear: if I could harness my experiences and expertise to fill this void in prenatal care, I could potentially transform the motherhood journeys of many women. The emotional toll of feeling unprepared and the struggle with breastfeeding further underscored the necessity for accessible, comprehensive support from the outset. The delay in receiving lactation consulting highlighted another critical gap in postnatal care, amplifying the urgency to offer immediate and empathetic support to new mothers.
Recognizing the need for early nutritional education, I authored a children’s book, ‘Eating These Foods Makes Me…’, as a celebration of diversity and inclusivity. This book aims to build a healthy relationship with food from a young age, addressing the educational gap I noticed in my professional experiences as a clinical nutritionist and new mom.
What excited me most about starting my business Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition was not just the opportunity to fill a gap but to pioneer a change. I was not only addressing a problem that was widely unacknowledged by our public health system but also offering a unique approach grounded in personal insight and professional expertise. This unique blend of personal experience and professional knowledge positioned me to offer something truly transformative: a holistic support system for mothers navigating the complexities of prenatal and postnatal nutrition.
Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition was born out of a commitment to ensure that no mother feels overlooked or unsupported during her pregnancy and breastfeeding journey. The business is not just a service; it’s a mission to empower women with knowledge, support, and resources, ensuring that they and their babies achieve the best possible health outcomes. This venture was a natural extension of my own journey, a testament to the resilience of mothers, and a beacon of hope for those facing similar challenges. It was, and remains, a deeply personal endeavor that reflects a universal need for compassion, understanding, and support in maternal health.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a registered dietitian, certified breastfeeding specialist, and the author of the award-winning children’s book, Eating These Foods Makes Me…, a vibrant exploration of nutrition aimed at fostering a lifelong healthy relationship with food among children. With a foundation in Nutritional Science from my undergraduate studies in Nutritional Biochemistry followed by a Master’s in Human Nutrition and Dietetics Credentialing from McGill University my academic journey equipped me with a robust understanding of the intricate relationship between food, health, and wellbeing.
My career began with a focused role in clinical nutrition at the Jewish General Hospital in both inpatient and outpatient settings. These experiences solidified my commitment to the field of nutrition then as a mother, I faced firsthand the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, driving me to specialize in prenatal nutrition become a certified breastfeeding specialist and found Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition.
Our Services: At Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition, we offer an array of nutrition services tailored to support pregnant and postpartum mothers. From personalized nutrition consulting and on-demand courses to meal plans, recipes, and e-books, our resources are designed to be accessible and convenient, ensuring mothers can receive the support they need from the comfort of their homes. Our flagship course, Energize & Nurture: A Nutrition Guide for Breastfeeding Mothers, is a comprehensive resource focused on nutrition’s pivotal role in postpartum recovery and milk supply enhancement.
What Sets Us Apart: What distinguishes our approach is the combination of evidence-based practice with a holistic understanding of nutrition’s role in maternal and infant health. Our commitment to revolutionizing maternal nutrition is driven by a blend of professional expertise and personal experience, ensuring every mother and child pair flourishes. With customizable options, we cater to moms at every stage of motherhood, offering the flexibility to learn at their own pace, with the added option of one-on-one consultations for those seeking more personalized support.
What I Am Most Proud Of: I take immense pride in the impact of my work on the lives of mothers and their children. From witnessing the transformation in their health and well-being to the positive feedback on how our services have supported their motherhood journey, these moments affirm the value of our mission. Moreover, the success of Eating These Foods Makes Me… in celebrating diversity and inclusivity in nutritional education among young readers remains a highlight of my career.
To Our Potential Clients, Followers, and Fans: My message to you is one of empowerment and support. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of pregnancy, breastfeeding, or simply seeking to improve your nutritional wellbeing, Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition is here to guide and support you. Our mission is to ensure that every woman has access to the knowledge and resources needed to not just survive, but thrive during motherhood.
In essence, Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition isn’t just a business; it’s a movement towards healthier, empowered generations, starting from the very first stages of life. Through dedication, compassion, and evidence-based practice, we are committed to transforming the landscape of maternal and infant nutrition for the better.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Definitely! One of the best books I’ve read that significantly impacted my approach to business was Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. As a new mom and entrepreneur, I was all over the place—setting up my website, trying to be everywhere on social media, and figuring out marketing, all while on maternity leave. My to-do list was a never-ending story, and honestly, I felt like I was drowning in tasks.
Reading Essentialism was a wake-up call. It taught me the importance of focusing on what truly matters. Instead of spreading myself thin over a million things, I learned to zero in on the few that actually make a difference for my business and my sanity. So, yeah, Essentialism was a total game-changer for me. It’s all about doing less, but better, and that’s a philosophy I carry with me every day in my work and life.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Coming from a dietetics background, I was drilled with the idea that you’ve got to be an expert in human nutrition before you can even think about becoming a Registered Dietitian. So, naturally, when I stepped into entrepreneurship, I dragged this belief with me. I had to unlearn the lesson of needing to know everything before getting started. It was a mix of fear and a touch of perfectionism, really—a daunting shadow following me as I took my first steps into the entrepreneurial world. I convinced myself I needed to nail down every aspect of the business—marketing, finance, web design, you name it—before launching Kalifa Rodriguez Nutrition. And boy, did that hold me back for over a year…
The irony was, the more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know, and this only fed into the cycle of delay and doubt. I was stepping into unknown territory, armed with a passion for nutrition and a desire to make a difference, but also carrying the heavy burden of believing I wasn’t ready or equipped enough to start until I knew everything.
The turning point came when I attended a networking event for female entrepreneurs. In chatting with various attendees, I was struck by a common theme: none of them had it all figured out from the start. They spoke about learning on the go and making adjustments along the way. This was a lightbulb moment for me. It dawned on me that if I didn’t unlearn this limiting belief, I’d never muster the courage to become the successful entrepreneur I longed to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kalifarodriguez.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.nutrition.connection/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5t_yqK7-FU12NsaBdNpHg
Image Credits
Sherina Shantelle Photography