Women-Owned Business Series: Cara from Big World of Little Dude
Jan 19, 2023 brooklyn,brooklyn women-owned,business owners,childrens author,community,empowerment,women-owned,women-owned business,women-owned business spotlight series
Welcome back to our Women-Owned Business Series! This time, we’re featuring Cara from Big World of Little Dude, a literacy-based children’s curriculum that teaches children social and emotional skills. Read on to learn about Cara’s journey and how her dog (Little Dude!) inspired this curriculum.
First, tell us about your business and anything special we should know about it or you.
My dog, Little Dude, inspired me to create Big World of Little Dude through our experience as a volunteer dog therapy team with The Good Dog Foundation. Combined with my background in education, I wrote a book series and literacy-based curriculum teaching children, aged 3-7, social and emotional skills. Targeting an unmet need I found myself facing as a teacher in an early-childhood classroom – we teach children the ABCs and 123s however why are we not explicitly teaching children how to be emotionally healthy? Which lead to me to creating
Why do you feel a connection to your work?
My experience volunteering as a therapy dog team, gave us an opportunity to visit schools and hospitals and deliver kindness through Little Dude giving snuggles and being company for adults and children. I realized kindness is reciprocal and I wanted to teach this idea to the children in the classroom. This core message drives my passion for Big World of Little Dude.
As a business owner, community is everything. In what ways do you serve your community and how has your community served you?
We serve our community through volunteering and teaching. The community of women in the Female Founders Collective and HeyMama have supported my business journey.
What advice would you give to young women who want to start a small business?
If the premise of the business is based on a passion, this pull will serve you though the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur.
What women inspire you and why?
The Agrawal sisters, Miki and Radha. The businesses that have built are based on creating amazing product, that serves the community and all delivered with absolute passion and flare.
What do you think are the most significant challenges for women business owners or women in leadership positions?
Oh gosh, they are many and varied. I think the biggest thing is mindset.
Limited funding, balancing responsibilities, fear of failure and inadequate support systems.
Click here to learn more about Cara and check out her three new book series: Brain Vacation; Yes, I Can; and Hello, Friend, with accompanying Little Dude and Bird character dolls!