In honor of a decade of DOB, we thought an interview was in order! Our Marketing Director, Mallory, sat down with Emily and Debbie to chat with them about the last ten years, what lessons they’ve learned along the way, and what’s coming for the future.
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When you first launched, what was your biggest challenge?
We both began our doula journeys as solo practitioners—Emily in 2003 and Debbie in 2014.
Emily: The biggest challenge was transitioning from being a solo doula and childbirth educator to running an agency that brought on trusted doulas to represent the business. With so many word-of-mouth referrals coming directly to me, it was a learning curve to shift to the mindset of, “This person is trusted by me and therefore should be trusted by you.”
What would you say was the best part of the early days?
Interestingly, that challenge also turned out to be the best part. While it felt daunting, it opened the door to supporting many more families and doing much more postpartum work than I could ever manage alone.
What was your first big win?
Emily: The first time I ran payroll for our team was a milestone! But my biggest win was bringing Debbie on as my business partner. To say that Debbie saved Doulas of Baltimore (and me in the process) would not be an understatement. She jumped in with both feet to keep the agency functioning during an overwhelmingly difficult time in my life. Not everyone would do that. Yet, in true doula style, she faced the challenge head-on, rather than shying away. In the last six years, we’ve accomplished so much together! More than that, her partnership meant I was no longer isolated as a small business owner; I had someone to share wins with, listen to me, and challenge me to always bring my best. I often think about how much harder the last several years would have been without her!
Debbie: A more recent win has been adding support staff. What a relief it is not to wear every hat as a business owner! We now have two dynamic marketing associates and an office assistant. Next up is bringing on an administrative assistant and 1-2 doula team leaders. Exciting times ahead!
What would you say your biggest inspiration for DOB has been during this last decade?
Emily: My inspiration has always been the desire to make a difference in the lives of babies and young children. The years from birth to three are crucial for childhood development. Supported parents enter their parenting journey more positively. Solid, non-judgmental support helps parents engage, care for, and communicate with their babies confidently. When cared for by connected, attentive parents, children thrive.
Debbie: It may sound cliché, but my inspiration is Emily. She single-handedly created DOB, evolving from her solo doula business to the first iteration, Baltimore Family Beginnings, and eventually to the Doulas of Baltimore we know today. DOB is Emily. Every day, I strive to ensure that my interactions with our team, clients, and colleagues reflect her incredible legacy in the Baltimore birth community.
Did you envision being where you are right now? What has changed?
Debbie: Never in a million years would I have believed that my doula trainer would become my business partner and one of my best friends!
Emily: I can’t say I envisioned being where we are now. The pandemic prompted a necessary reevaluation of our business. It forced us to rethink our emotional investments, boundaries, and how to sustain growth. We had to pull back and be intentional about what we wanted moving forward. Before the pandemic, we laid down significant boundaries, which gave us the space to focus on what truly mattered. We spent about nine months in 2021 refining our systems, ensuring we were ready when business picked up again.
What’s next? What can we expect to see in the coming years?
Debbie: We identified a need for a more expansive newborn care offering, and our clients have responded enthusiastically. We now have more people taking our four-week Essential Newborn series than our previously most popular class, Baby 101. This makes me wonder if there’s something else we need to develop that we just don’t know about yet—our clients haven’t told us!
Emily: Looking ahead, I want to continue nurturing sustainable growth while integrating systems and support staff to lighten the load. We’re focused on adapting our services based on the needs of the families we serve. Ultimately, we want to build a community that supports our clients, helping them connect with local resources and each other. We’ve long wanted to host parenting support groups, especially for working parents and non-judgmental feeding support. Having our new office has been a game-changer, providing the intimate space we need to create these offerings. I’m excited about what’s next!
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The future of DOB looks bright and we cannot thank Baltimore enough for 10 beautiful years of supporting families. Here’s to 10 more!
