“There is something incredibly inspiring about watching parents welcome a new baby with confidence, support, and joy rather than fear or overwhelm.”

Please share your career journey — what were you doing before, and what led you to building your own company?

I founded DOULAS by the BAY in 2009 after many years working as a nanny and independent doula. I discovered a deep calling to support families during some of their most tender moments. Becoming a doula expanded that passion, allowing me to connect with parents through a profound understanding of their joys, worries, and everyday challenges. Founding DOULAS by the BAY became a way to bring that heart-centered care to life. I built a team grounded in love, compassion, and genuine presence, all with the mission of helping parents feel confident, supported, and truly seen. This work has transformed my life, and I’m grateful to lead a team that shares my commitment to making a meaningful difference—one family, one moment at a time.

What has been the most rewarding part of building your company?

It’s always rewarding to see families thrive during one of the most important transitions of their lives. There is something incredibly inspiring about watching parents welcome a new baby with confidence, support, and joy rather than fear or overwhelm.

I love seeing parents empowered, encouraged, and cared for as they begin this new chapter. Becoming a parent is beautiful, but it can also be challenging and emotional. If we can make that journey a little easier, help parents feel less alone, and contribute to healthier outcomes for mothers and babies, then we've done something meaningful.

And what has been the most challenging aspect?

I founded DOULAS by the BAY more than 16 years ago, understanding that I was operating in a country where maternal and infant health challenges persist. I chose to center care, access, and community in my practice as a response. It’s challenging to see that maternal and infant health outcomes haven’t improved very much since I began supporting families over a decade ago. We’re committed to playing a part in improving those outcomes. When families hire us, they’re not just getting support—they’re helping us make doula care available to people who otherwise couldn’t afford it. Our sliding scale and volunteer program let us offer free or low-cost services, and they give new doulas a chance to get hands-on experience with strong mentorship. We’re also continuing efforts to expand access to essential doula services through new pathways, like enrolling with insurance providers and building our virtual library of educational materials that can be used by anyone who needs them.

What is one thing you wish you had known before building your own company?

Founding DOULAS by the BAY was a big shift from caring for families directly. I knew that I was passionate about providing support, but I didn’t realize how many lives we would touch and how much responsibility would come with that growth. I learned how to build a strong team, create sustainable systems, and balance my leadership role with serving families.

What services does your company provide and for what stage of a mother's journey?

We are a full-service doula collective serving families in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. DOULAS by the BAY provides birth, postpartum, and sibling support services, including overnight shifts. All of our doulas are CPR certified, background checked and insured.

What does self-care look like for you? What are some rituals you swear by?

I enjoy staying active and spending time outdoors. One of my favorite activities is taking long morning walks, which helps me reflect, recharge, and start the day with gratitude. I also enjoy mentoring doulas, supporting women in business, and finding ways to strengthen the communities we serve.

What does productivity look like for you? What are some tools/apps you swear by?

For me, productivity is about good systems and a strong team. When the team has clear tools and clear steps, families get better care, and nothing falls through the cracks. A few I rely on every day:

Calendly — so families can book a free consultation in seconds
Canva — for our guides, handouts, and social content
WhatsApp — to keep our team connected and moving fast
Google Sheets & Docs — for tracking and keeping everything in one place

What's next for you? Do you have any exciting projects coming up that we can support?

The biggest thing for us right now is insurance. We've started working with insurance providers, and we're so excited about it. Our goal is to bring more of our doulas into this work so we can support more families who have coverage. For us, that means care reaches more people, not primarily families who can pay out of pocket. This is new for us, and it feels like a real step toward making doula support something every family can access. We can't wait to grow it across the board!

Learn more at DOULASbytheBAY.com

How Shakila Marando Built a Business Committed to Heart-Centered Care