2023 Fellow Focus: Veronica Berry + TruDiary
Maternal health advocate, mother, tech founder…2023 Fellow Veronica Berry of TruDiary shares more about her journey as a social impact entrepreneur.
What life experiences propelled you into the entrepreneurial space and made you decide to be your own boss?
I grew up in a middle-class family. I’m a college-educated veteran who has worked in corporate America, which means I had great insurance…and I still wasn’t spared from having a dangerous pregnancy. I didn’t have access to the right information, understand the medical language, and I often felt unheard and alone. This is unfortunately the norm for BIPOC women in America.
This was even more apparent to me, when as a maternal health advocate, fighting for women every day, I was faced with yet another health crisis, when my son was falsely diagnosed with a life threatening heart disease and the doctor told me I could “Google” the condition. There was no concern for the misinformation, no explanation why it happened and no accountability from the medical staff. It quickly brought me back to my own pregnancy experience. What I realized is healthcare for Black America has not changed in 20 years and this is especially true for Black women who are dying at higher rates than that of their counterparts. Fortunately, my son had me to advocate for him, but this is not the case for so many women in this country. This is why quick access to health literacy, advocacy, and resources is critical for positive maternal and reproductive health outcomes.
I set out to change the narrative around maternal health experiences, by creating TruDiary, a maternal and reproductive health platform, designed to equip women with key health literacy information and resources to experience successful outcomes, before, during and after pregnancy - it’s the solution I wish I had for myself.
What do you enjoy most about being a founder?
The best thing about being a founder is knowing the impact that I have made on Black womens’ lives.
What do you wish someone had told you before you started your entrepreneurial journey?
Be realistic about your expectations in starting a business and find a mentor early, one that can guide you through some of the pitfalls of starting a company.
Tell us about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
Unafraid of Failure: Being an entrepreneur is like walking blindfolded. Sometimes you don’t know where it leads you or the outcomes. You just have to do it. I walk into every scenario with the sense that I have to try and if I fail, it is a lesson learned.
How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by envisioning the life I want to experience on this earth.
Let's talk about your legacy. How do you hope your venture will make the world a better place generations from now?
I hope my legacy will be for women all over the world to reimagine their pregnancy experience and that all women can have a quality of life experience.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
To stay in the loop about the good trouble Camelback Fellows are getting into - sign up for our newsletter!