Customer story: meet Kimberley Smith, founder of Empowered Motherhood Program

Since 2006, the number of women owning a small business has increased three times faster than the number of men. Almost 550,000 women own a small business in Australia – that’s almost 550,000 women who’ve taken a leap and said yes*. The decision to launch, own and run a small business takes optimism, confidence and energy.

This International Women’s Day, Optus Business is celebrating the Australian women who’ve taken that leap and decided to have a go – with great success.

Meet one of our amazing customers - Kimberley Smith, Founder of Empowered Motherhood Program.

What’s your business called and what does it do?

My business is called Empowered Motherhood Program (EMP). Our goal is to help improve maternal health outcomes in Australia by providing women with access to physio-led exercise and expert education for every stage of their pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey. The program is delivered completely online via a mobile app to ensure that it is accessible and also affordable for all women. 

When did you start it, and how long did it take you to make the decision to launch?

I was previously an elite athlete, playing netball for the NSW Swifts and I was also a member of the Australian Diamonds netball squad. After experiencing significant birth injuries following the birth of my first daughter, I was struck by the discrepancy between the level of care I received as an athlete and that which I was offered as a new mother. Luckily for me, I was referred to an incredibly women’s health physiotherapist, Lyz Evans who supported me through my postnatal recovery. Lyz and I recognised the gap between what the public health care system is able to offer women and the level of care women need and deserve during this transformative time. 

We started planning and filming content for the EMP in 2017 with the goal of launching the full program in 2020. We wanted to ensure that the program catered to every woman, no matter how complicated her pregnancy or postnatal journey and that it included a wide range of expert education and knowledge. 

When COVID hit Australia in early 2020, we hustled to get our program out into the market, knowing that it would be needed by so many women who could no longer access face-to-face care. 

Has your gender played a role in your business journey, if any? If so, how?

Being a woman is at the centre of our business. Having come from a background of elite sport and also corporate law, I was amazed that as soon as I was pregnant, I was treated almost like a child by some health care professionals. There is a history of wrapping women in cotton wool when they are pregnant. Lyz and I both agreed that we wanted a program that supported and nurtured women, but also one that treated them as the intelligent, strong and capable women that they are. The rates of birth trauma, pelvic floor complications and maternal mental health disorders are alarmingly high in this country. We believe that by providing women with the education, resources and tools they need, they can make informed and empowered decisions about their health and that this in turn will lead to better birth and maternal health outcomes. 

What’s the hardest part of being a business owner?

The juggle! For me personally, I started a business in the depths of motherhood. There is a constant tension between wanting to grow and expand your business and also wanting to be there for your children and give them the time, energy and attention that they need and deserve. Owning a business and being a mother is like having two 24/7 roles that you can never really switch off from. It has taught me a lot about patience and trusting in your long-term vision. 

The best part?

I feel very lucky that I get to do work that I am so passionate about and which has the ability to fundamentally change the way we support women throughout their pregnancy and postnatal journey. Both Lyz and I agree that the absolute highlight of this business is the messages we receive from our members. Knowing that this program is changing the lives of women for the better is something I will never take for granted. Some women join our program feeling broken or like their entire sense of self has been stripped away. Seeing these women regain their sense of confidence and optimism is so rewarding and makes all the hard work worth it. 

What’s surprised you along the way?

The support of health care professional around the world. We currently have over 500 health care professionals referring their patients into the program including physiotherapists and obstetricians in Romania, Austria, France, the US and the UK. We always believed that this program would sit alongside face-to-face treatment and allow pregnant women to access online support from home in between their antenatal and postnatal appointments. To see this come to life not only in this country, but around the world has been incredibly rewarding. 

Where to next?

Our goal has always been to make the EMP accessible to all birthing women in this country through the public health care system. We believe that if all women had access to physio-led exercise and education that the rates of birth trauma and pelvic floor disorders would significantly reduce. The recent inquiry into birth trauma has made this goal even more important. 

Read more about our amazing customers here

• Susie Taaffe, Founder of Skanties
• Dervla Loughnane, Founder Of Virtual Psychologist
• Emily Swift, Printhie Wines
• Kate Greenwood, Founder of Greenwood Designs

*Source Small Business Matters_June 2023_1.pdf (asbfeo.gov.au)

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