Bobbie CEO Laura Modi on Making the Unpopular Move

9 to 5ish with theSkimm

theSkimm

Entrepreneurship, Careers, Business

4.7 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Laura Modi’s organic baby formula company, Bobbie, thrived during a formula shortage that saw nearly 50% of the nation’s formula supply vanish. As desperate moms searched for alternatives, many turned to Bobbie, leading to massive growth—until the demand threatened the supply. Laura faced a critical decision: continue accepting new customers or pause growth so OG Bobbie babies were taken care of. Laura tells the story of how her bold choice paid off and how Bobbie has future-proofed itself through smart business decisions. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Laura shares: How growing up in rural Western Ireland taught her hospitality Why it took having a second child to push her to start Bobbie How she navigated Bobbie through a product recall just two weeks after it launched Bobbie’s recent 15% price cut, and how the company was able to do it Why implementing paid family leave federally would help alleviate moms’ mental health issues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand.
0:12.5	Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time.
0:17.5	From startups to scaleups, online, in person, and on the go. Shopify is made for
0:22.9	entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:32.1	I was in a meeting with our head of growth and she came in and she said, okay, I can't believe I'm telling you this because of my role,
0:39.5	but we have to turn off our growth immediately.
0:42.7	We have a problem.
0:47.3	I'm Carly Zakin.
0:48.7	And I'm Danielle Weissberg.
0:50.3	Welcome to 9 to 5-ish with the skin.
0:53.0	We've run into so many questions over the years and had so many moments where we needed advice,
0:59.5	and we got it from women who'd been there.
1:02.9	And that's what we're bringing you at this show.
1:05.0	Each week, we're helping you get what you want out of your career by talking to the smartest
1:09.3	leaders we know.
1:10.5	Because we know your
1:11.8	work life is a lot more than 9 to 5. All right, let's get into it. Hi, everyone. Today, our guest is
1:21.0	Laura Modi. She is the co-founder and CEO of Bobby, the Organic Baby Formula Company.
1:32.2	Laura grew up in Western Ireland, and after graduating from the Dublin Institute of Technology,
1:38.0	she worked for Google Finance on product development, then at Airbnb, as a director of hospitality.
1:39.7	Laura's own needs as a new mom led her to start Bobby.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -59 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from theSkimm, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of theSkimm and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.