Zarina Bahadur | Founder & CEO, 123 Baby Box
Zarina is a recent 2020 graduate from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She’s also the Founder of 123 Baby Box, a startup she created in college with a mission to help the working mom and provide quality products for babies aged 0-3. After participating in UCI’s 2020 New Venture Competition with 123 Baby Box and placing first in consumer products, she moved onto finals and placed first as the grand prize winner (!!!) She’s innovative, she’s scrappy, and we’re excited to see what she comes up with next.
The Basics:
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Current city: Newport Beach, California
Alma mater: University of California, Irvine
Degree: Masters in Business
Hustle: Founder & CEO, 123 Baby Box
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
My mom, hands down! She’s always been my role model ever since I was little and has really set a great example as a strong woman. She takes on every challenge with a smile and never gives up when things get difficult. It amazes me how she can do it all. I aspire to be just like her!
One book that’s made an impact on your life?
The Quran has taught me important life lessons and how to handle difficult situations. I enjoy reading it every night.
Your current go-to coffee order?
Decaf iced white mocha, no whip. Although I’m obsessed with milk tea!
When you're not working, where can we find you spending your free time?
Probably at a restaurant, I love to try new foods. Unique cuisines are my go to!
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle, providing a summary of your roles and the work you do daily.
I’m the CEO of 123 Baby Box, a monthly subscription box for babies aged 0-3 years, tailored to your baby’s age and developmental stage. It’s my job to make sure everything is running smoothly between my team, customers, and investors on a daily basis. I start my day off by intentionally not checking my phone. Instead, I have breakfast with my parents and talk about everything from business strategy and sales goals to funny TikTok videos. I take a peek at the Morning Report on CNBC, and then it’s off to my meetings, which can last for many hours. Throughout the day, I frequently touch base with my employees. Next, I check on our logistics and inventory and make sure everything is taken care of (stock levels, shipping times, etc). Once I’ve finished all my work for the day I reward myself with a milk tea or yummy dessert.
What’s been the best financial investment you've made in your business so far?
Investing in my customers' needs and wants! It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on marketing—if your product isn’t solving a problem or fulfilling a need, it’s going to be difficult to get customers. Our research team constantly gets feedback from our customers and reevaluates based on their needs. That’s why we have a 93% customer return rate, because our customers want our product and see a real need for it.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
My academic experience prepared me for running a company because of the time management and organization skills I developed. In high school, I was an honors and IB student, and I graduated a year early in high school and college, so I was taking a lot of classes. This helped sharpen my time management and organizational skills, which I now use to run my company. But my academic experience did not prepare me on the actual logistics of running a business.
How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?
I never allow gender to get in the way of my goals and dreams. I don’t see gender as being a deterrent, rather a catalyst. Having the mindset of “I can do anything” allows me to push through many barriers and obstacles. Thankfully, I haven’t had any encounters where I’ve been discriminated against due to my gender, but I know that there are many women out there who have. The advice I give is to ignore the noise and focus on your goals. As a society, we can collectively support and empower women by giving them access to more resources and genuinely help them with their needs.
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
I’m very proud that I’ve built a company that has a positive impact on people. My customers are happy with my product, that makes me fulfilled. Also, to know that I’ve taken that big leap to start a company is satisfying. It’s often scary to start, mostly due to the fear of failure, but I’m glad I took that risk because now I get to live out my dream every day, and have no regrets.
Who are some women entrepreneurs that you look to for inspiration?
Whitney Wolfe Herd, Sara Blakely, and Debbi Fields have all built massive empires. They have set a precedent and have helped pave the way for more female entrepreneurs to do the same thing.
Career and/or life advice for other babes (both inside and outside of your industry?)
Build and surround yourself with a supportive network. They will not only be able to connect you with people/resources you need, but also be there when you have a problem you can’t solve on your own.
In partnership with: 123 Baby Box
Founded by Zarina Bahadur, 123 Baby Box is a monthly subscription box for babies aged 0-3 years, tailored to the age and developmental stage of babies. Each 123 Baby Box is made with love by experts, and crafted with only the best products made by some of the industry’s top brands. Learn more about 123 Baby Box here, and use code WELCOME at checkout for 20% off plus free shipping!
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