Yvon Bock was inspired by her personal challenges as a breastfeeding mother. She faced difficulties with clunky pumping processes and lack of support, which led her to design a product that integrates pumping, storing, and feeding into one seamless system. Her third child, a premature baby, further motivated her to create a solution that prevents nipple confusion and supports working mothers.
Working in her family business, Fitson, gave Yvon Bock a comprehensive understanding of the supply chain, manufacturing processes, and client needs. This hands-on experience provided her with the confidence and knowledge to create her own brand, Hegen, and navigate the complexities of product development and international expansion.
Yvon Bock faced numerous challenges, including over 200 prototypes and five years of development. She encountered naysayers, technical issues with the design, and doubts from her father, who was involved in the manufacturing process. Her perseverance and belief in the product's potential kept her motivated throughout the iterative process.
Yvon Bock saw the Chinese market as a significant opportunity for growth. She partnered with a distributor who shared her vision and values, despite their lack of experience in baby products. This bold decision was driven by the potential to reach millions of mothers and establish Hegen as a global brand.
Live streaming played a crucial role in Hegen's success in China by providing direct access to millions of viewers. Yvon Bock used these platforms to share her story, demonstrate the product, and advocate for breastfeeding. This approach helped build brand awareness and connect with consumers on a personal level.
Yvon Bock envisions Hegen empowering 100 million mothers worldwide and establishing a presence in 35 jurisdictions. Her goal is not just to sell products but to create a movement that supports and advocates for modern mothers, helping them balance their personal and professional lives.
Yvon Bock advocates for breastfeeding by promoting the idea that breast and bottle feeding are not mutually exclusive. She emphasizes that mothers should not feel guilty for using bottles, as long as they are providing breast milk to their babies. Hegen's mission is to support mothers in their breastfeeding journey, regardless of the method they choose.
Yvon Bock learned the importance of passion, purpose, and perseverance. She emphasizes the need to face fears and use challenges as catalysts for innovation and growth. Her journey taught her to embrace failure, iterate continuously, and stay committed to her vision, even in the face of setbacks.
"So, my definition of being fearless is not about no fear, but it's having that courage to face your fear, to conquer whatever adversities that are thrown your way. it is part of the entrepreneur journey. We are always faced with fear of failure. Self Doubt is how to pick up our courage and face them and use these challenges to become your catalyst for innovation, the catalyst for growth, the catalyst for your success." - Yvon Bock Fresh out of the studio, Yvon Bock, Founder and CEO of Hegen, shares her inspiring journey from stay-at-home mom to world-class entrepreneur in her new book, "ExtraOrdinary". Yvon discusses how personal challenges as a breastfeeding mother fueled her vision to create Hegen’s groundbreaking baby bottle, overcoming five years of development and over 200 prototypes. She reflects on the bold decisions behind Hegen’s expansion into China, including leveraging live streaming to reach millions and highlights how storytelling and advocacy transformed her brand into a movement supporting modern moms. Last but not least, Yvon shares what great would look like for Hegen in the future: empowering 100 million mothers worldwide and establishing a presence in 35 jurisdictions.
Audio Episode Highlights: [0:46] Quote of the Day by Yvon Bock #QOTD [1:18] Introduction: Yvon Bock, Founder & CEO of Hegen [3:12] From Stay-at-Home Mom to Entrepreneur [3:48] The Origin of Hegen [7:43] The Role of Family Business in Yvon's Journey [15:28] Overcoming Prototypes and Doubts [22:44] Expanding into the Chinese Market [27:18] The Power of Live Streaming and Advocacy [33:49] Key Lessons for Future Entrepreneurs [35:54] Teaching Children to Embrace Failure [38:05] Balancing Breastfeeding Advocacy and Bottles [40:04] Building a Global Legacy for Hegen [40:53] Closing
You can find Yvon Bock and her new book on her personal site: https://www.yvonbock.com/ and via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonbock/
Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig
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