Woman to Watch :: Kristin Smith

For Kristin Smith, supporting new parents is more than a profession—it’s deeply personal. After becoming a mother herself at just 19, Kristin experienced firsthand the vulnerability of the postpartum period and the difference compassionate support can make.

That experience inspired her to become a birth and postpartum doula, eventually attending 112 births and supporting more than 200 families. Today, she is the founder of Well Supported Family, a nationally recognized agency dedicated to helping families navigate the newborn stage while raising the standards for compassionate, professional newborn care.

We’re excited to introduce you to Kristin Smith, a woman who has turned her own experience into a lifelong mission to make sure no new parent feels like they have to do it all alone.

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How did you get to where you are today?

I got to where I am today by seeing a real need for support for new families and building something to help fill that gap. What started as a way to connect families with trusted newborn care has grown tremendously over the years. A lot of that growth has come from listening. Listening to our families, to our team, and to what parents actually need during such a vulnerable and important season of life. There has been a lot of learning, adapting, and growing along the way!

What do you think has helped you the most with your success?

I think being willing to adapt has been one of the biggest factors in my success. I’m not afraid to recognize when something isn’t working, make changes, or try a different approach. I’ve also learned how important it is to ask for help and outsource to people who are experts in areas I’m not. You don’t have to know how to do everything yourself, and surrounding myself with people who are great at what they do has allowed me to focus on what I do best and continue growing the company.

What has been the biggest challenge you have overcome in order to achieve your goals?

One of the biggest challenges has been learning that I can’t do everything myself which, in turn, led to my success! As the company grew, I had to learn how to let go of certain responsibilities and trust other people. That wasn’t always easy, especially when you’ve built something from the ground up and are used to being involved in every detail. Learning to delegate, ask for help, and trust the people around me has been a huge part of being able to continue growing.

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the care and support I’ve put into the growth of our caregiver team. Supporting the families is great and is the whole point of course, but the ability to support caregivers in the way that we do is honestly what’s most meaningful to me. Being able to help 200 caregivers support and provide for their families, while performing meaningful work that they love is something I don’t take lightly and am most proud of.

What are three pieces of advice you could give to our readers?

1. Be kind to yourself when things get tough, every season happens for a reason.
2. Mistakes happen, it’s what you learn from those mistakes that really matter.
3. It costs money to make money. So be prepared to invest in your future.

You inspire us, but what/who are YOU inspired by?

My daughter. When she was born I was determined to not be another teen mom statistic. So I did everything I could to build a life we could enjoy.

How do you reward yourself when you’ve reached a goal or after a hard day of work?

With a dip in my hot tub! That was my biggest treat to myself and it pays itself back every day.

What is one sassy saying or quote that inspires you? Why?

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton