Social Innovation Super Mums

"Mums" are becoming big news in social innovation by using the Internet and social media to create successful brands and initiatives. The term "mum inventors" gives about 290,000 results on Google!  There is an array of products ranging from sleep aids, clothing and food products, highlighting the creativity and dogged determination of these women.

The gloomy world economy has resulted in many mums being out of work and at home with their children. Prior to having children, many of these women were highly valued, successful individuals in the workplace. Thankfully, the new digital age has given these child-raising, ambitious women choices and social innovation opportunities to exchange ideas without having to leave the house—many of them wanting to make a difference.

There's the U.K. story of Tilly Beazley, inventor and creator of The Wean Machine™. As a mum of one, Tilly came up with the idea for the Wean Machine™ when weaning her young son, which usually involves a mess of pots, pans, potato mashers, and liquidizers, just to produce a couple of teaspoons of pureed vegetables.  Thinking there must be a better way to make things easier, Tilly set to work and created her social innovation, a 'pressing' Wean Machine™. It took two years to get the idea onto the shelf, but now is a big international hit that has won many awards.

In the U.S. Tamara Monosoff is behind the site Mom Invented, which supports aspiring 'mumpreneurs,' and licenses and sells products under the Mom Invented brand. Monosoff has nearly 6,000 followers on Twitter, and her Web site has a community of about 20,000 mothers who exchange tips and offer support. Other successful U.S. social innovation sites include Mogul Mom, where mothers can satisfy their inventor spirit, while Busy Mum Boutique is an online shop that sells products made by, yes, mums.

Monosoff says, "They're engaged, they're smart, smart women. Whether they have a business background or not, they have their whole life experience to bring to the table. That's what I love. They're not constrained by business jargon or business concepts. They're like, 'I'm making this thing; how do I sell it?'" For example, there's the social innovation home business run by Blythe Weston, which started out as a hobby. Her company, Bee True Products, is an all-natural, bee-based product line. Blythe's business was inspired by her daughter who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic and progressive lung disease. This is when Blythe started a personal journey to find ways to boost her family's immune system. The answer: bee pollen! Mums are definitely smart, innovative and fun.

Photo Credit: Rob Speed