Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tejanita Bush. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tejanita, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

My journey into birth work began in July 2020. I was a few months postpartum with my second daughter, and the airline industry, where I had worked as a flight attendant for seven years, faced potential furloughs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While I had seniority and wasn’t overly concerned about my job security, I found myself reflecting on what other paths I could pursue if the airlines were no longer a reliable option.

One morning, I woke up with the word “Doula” on my heart, as if whispered to me. I prayed about it, seeking clarity, and felt an undeniable sense of direction, guided by faith to explore this new calling. This new venture meant I needed to network for myself and create a resource list for my future clients. As I began connecting with the birth community, I noticed a significant gap in services on the west side of our rapidly growing community.

While I was in this building season, I connected with Amy from Moment of Truth. During our meeting, I shared my vision of hosting a networking event for birth workers in the West Valley. To my surprise, Amy shared that she had always dreamed of organizing something similar in her space. Motivated by this shared vision, I reached out to a few doulas I had been following on Instagram (fangirling) to discuss the idea of collaborating to bring this concept to life.

Kayler of Instinctual Birth Placenta, Carey Lauren and I first met each other at a Starbucks, where we brainstormed logistics, super excited that Amy’s space would be available to us, meaning one less hurdle to plan. I knew the only way to make this dream a reality was to announce a date and move forward, even without every detail perfectly planned. It was a learning curve—exciting, nerve-wracking, and deeply affirming. For the first time, I felt a clear sense of purpose in the birth community and where I wanted to make my mark.

In March 2021, we hosted the inaugural West Valley Birth Expo. The experience was both exhilarating and daunting. As a newer doula, I battled imposter syndrome, questioning, “Who am I to organize an event like this? Can I really make a difference?” Negative feedback filtered through the grapevine really stung, and I had nightmares leading up to the event, thinking no one would show up and it would all be a bust.

But through it all, I held tightly to my vision: Community over competition. I reminded myself that if just one family connected with one professional who aligned with their values and needs, the event would be a success.

What began as a casual networking event of 20ish vendors has since grown into a powerful platform for fostering meaningful connections among professionals and families. The West Valley Birth Expo has become a space for collaboration, trust, and alignment—a place where families find their “dream team” of care and professionals build bridges within the community.

Today, I am proud to see how this event has evolved. It has become more than just a gathering; it’s a way to give back through grants, giveaways, and valuable resources for families navigating pregnancy and postpartum. The Expo embodies the authenticity and purpose that inspired it from the very beginning, and I am deeply honored to play a role in strengthening these connections.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The inspiration behind these Birth Expos began with a simple observation: we were just a few doulas building our resource lists and recognized the need for greater networking and connection, especially on “our side of town” in the West Valley.

As a mom, I remember frequently driving 45+ minutes to see our family wellness practitioners because I couldn’t find professionals closer to where I lived in North Phoenix. I often wished for a way to meet multiple providers in one convenient location, allowing me to quickly identify who aligned with my family’s needs. Instead, I found myself sifting through countless reviews and social media recommendations, only to feel overwhelmed with decision paralysis.
As a doula, I also noticed this challenge among the west valley families I served. Many of them faced similar hurdles, often needing resources and support closer to home. After all, for families with little ones—especially those whose babies don’t enjoy car seats—driving even 10 minutes can feel like a daunting task, let alone crossing the valley.
In 2021, as the Valley of the Sun expanded rapidly during the housing boom, it became clear that more opportunities were needed to connect families with both new and established birth and wellness professionals in their communities.

The creation of the West Valley Birth Expo and what has followed has been nothing short of incredible. I’m most proud of the meaningful connections I’ve seen grow through these events. Collaborations between professionals, friendships forming, and families discovering their “dream team” of support—all of these outcomes have been deeply rewarding.

One of the core values of the expos is inclusivity. We don’t view each other as competition; rather, we embrace the belief that there is a provider for everyone. This approach ensures that we don’t limit or selectively highlight professionals—everyone has a seat at the table. Personally, I know I’m not the right doula for every family, and I have no hesitation in saying, “You’d connect really well with my sister doula so-and-so, or this collective, or that agency!” I apply this same mindset to all professions within the birth world because I believe in the power of finding the perfect match.
For me, the best part of these expos is hearing stories of families finding the providers they’ve been searching for—authentic, meaningful connections that fulfill their needs. Whether it’s a client connecting with someone to add to their birth team, like a midwife or therapist from a particular field based ff my recommendation, or accessing resources for education and support, or simply seeing families leave the expo with confidence in the available network, these moments are what fuel my passion.
This work is about creating a space where families and professionals can come together, build relationships, and thrive. And I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of it.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe my reputation within the birth community was established because I consistently showed up with intention and authenticity. I’m open to learning, and I take time to observe who serves where, making it a priority to connect with people in person whenever possible. For me, building a genuine connection is essential—it allows me to confidently and honestly refer families to professionals I’ve interacted with on a personal and energetic level.

My passion lies in serving women and their families during one of the most sacred and transformative seasons of their lives. My goal is to provide the best possible support. If I’m not the right fit to meet their needs, I want to ensure I can guide them to someone who is.

I continually seek out mentorship and embrace opportunities to learn from others in the community. I’m intentional about asking how I can be of service and encouraging collaboration by inviting ideas on how we can strengthen our network and better support families. By fostering these connections and showing a commitment to service, I’ve been able to build trust and establish a meaningful presence in the birth community.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I cannot do this work without a team. And I am so grateful for mine.

As much as I am a self-proclaimed “control freak who struggles to ask for help,” I’ve come to deeply value the importance of having a team of partners with invaluable input and strong work ethic. Their collaboration has been essential in helping the Birth Expos grow and improve with every event.

From the beginning, my founding members—Carey Lauren (who was my own birth doula and photographer for my last two babies), and Kayler (Instinctual Birth Placenta)—played a critical role in making this vision a reality. I am forever grateful for their encouragement and support during those early expos. One of my favorite memories was when our “Daddy Dude-las” stepped in at our requests to save the day, cooking for the entire event after our food truck canceled the morning of. How we pulled it off, I’ll never know, but we did it—good job, ladies!

Although the Birth Collective has never been a source of income (we are entirely volunteer-driven), I’ve experienced the spectrum of selfless teamwork: expos where I completed every task myself (with the unwavering support of my family) and others where a small group of volunteers helped with marketing, social media, and day-of logistics.

In 2023, a year of personal growth and change for my family, I remained grateful for the steadfast support of Amy Vander Linden, who has always ensured we have the space needed to host these events.

As the Birth Expos evolved, so did my core team. Lisa of Mama Doula and Michele of Believe in You Birth have become integral partners, helping me turn ideas into actionable plans and now expanding the expo’s reach across the valley.

Lisa and I first connected at the inaugural Birth Expo, where she has been an “OG” vendor since day one. She jokes that she forced herself into my life, but in reality, our shared passion for serving the community aligned perfectly. Over time, her persistence (and a little nudging) earned her a well-deserved role within the Collective, where she has been instrumental in taking on tasks and helping shape our growth.

Michele, on the other hand, brought much-needed structure and organization to our efforts. She’s the one who transformed my whirlwind of ideas into manageable pieces, creating checklists, templates, and processes that have kept us on track. Her skill in accountability has been invaluable, preventing burnout while ensuring our projects remain accessible and exciting.

Beyond being phenomenal team members, Lisa and Michele are exceptional birth doulas. Their passion for serving families mirrors the heart of what the Birth Expos stand for—building a community that thrives on connection and collaboration. I am incredibly grateful for the energy, expertise, and friendship they bring to this work.

Contact Info:

• Website: valleybirthcollective.org and nurturedempowerment.com
• Instagram: @westvalleybirthcollective @eastvalleybirthcollective @nurturedempowerment
• Facebook: Nurtured Empowerment

Image Credits

Event and Headshot by Breiana Shipley