While talking shop with one of my closest female entrepreneur friends last month, I briefly explained the circumstances behind starting the company. She was absolutely shocked.
“Wait. THAT is why you started ConsumerBell?! I’ve known you for years and didn’t know that. You have to tell more people!”
As ConsumerBell celebrates its 1 year anniversary, I reflect on why I started this journey and convinced a few superstars to join in on the mission. Our team and corporate culture is that of positive energy and an optimistic viewpoint: we all do 10 pushups a day, eat gummi vitamins and encourage each other to be better people.
We love amazing products and spreading the news about quality and safety, but that wasn’t the inspiration for the company.
At 12 years old I was giving lectures on HIV prevention and Hemophilia at the Children’s Hospital of Oakland and serving as a representative for the HIV Prevention Treatment Network (HPTN).
International AIDS Conference, 1996
So it was natural that I filed for consideration of voting rights with the FDA which were granted to ConsumerBell in February 2011.
My entire life I have tried to make something beautiful out of an experience and create a larger improvement to life — something that would help everyone. And slowly during my career, I picked up the skills to bring this vision to fruition.
Growing up with a terminal ill parent is is hard on the soul: on one hand, as the child you fear for your parent’s health. On the other, you are filled with life and taught no boundaries.
My father’s story isn’t one of heartache and loss – it’s a story of triumph, love and motivation and one that I have carried with me my whole life and within our company.
Every obstacle can be creatively overcome – that’s something I knew at the age of 12. And when we reflect on all the things that went wrong in my father’s recall case and the 20,000 other Hemophiliacs involved, we knew from the beginning how the recall process could be improved by technology.
My first-hand experience with a massive recall doesn’t give me a lack of faith in manufacturers – in fact, it’s just the opposite. I want to help companies who want to do the right thing. What’s scary is with the evolution of technology, social media can be used for massive social good (see our interview here with Johnson and Johnson about the topic) and if executed extremely well, social media can completely change the way recalls are handled. But if not addressed, social media can also become messy.
(Manufacturers: see also tips on managing recalls here or read more about ConsumerBell corporate logins here.)
So here we are. One year old this week. And to be honest, it’s been the fastest and slowest year of my life. Team members have had babies, internal projects have been launched and early partnerships now feel like family members. We help consumers find recalled products and we help companies track and organize them. Are we done? Absolutely not. Safety and health is near and dear to my heart – and we’re inspired and excited to dramatically improve safety in everyone’s life in our second year.
