Meet Mandi Rodenbeck | Owner of Great Lakes Doulas. CD PCD(DONA), Certified BRM Pro

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mandi Rodenbeck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mandi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I actually never wanted to start a business or run a business. This business found me, in a way. I was once a contracted doula under Great Lakes Doulas. In 2020, the owner came to me and told me she needed to let some things fall in order to maintain a healthy life and I asked her if she needed help with the business. I ended up buying into the company at 50% and three months later she pulled out entirely and gifted me the other half. That day I was faced with a choice I hoped never to make- to run an agency blindly or shut it down. I seriously contemplated both options and sought many opinions from friends and family and in the end decided to go for it. I officially became sole owner January of 2021 and we’ve grown exponentially ever since.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Great Lakes Doulas is located in Grand Rapids Mi. We serve families in their childbearing years from conception to their first year postpartum by offering physical, emotional, informational support and advocacy. We are set apart as doulas who are intentionally focused on the physiological approach during the journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We brand ourselves as approachable, honest, and real women ready to walk along side of your vulnerable, messy, and honest journey.

I’ve really only been at this (business ownership) for two years. And I have plenty still to learn as to how to do better, but I do think that if there is one thing that has really served me in this little journey is my passion for what I do. I think people can see my raw and honest mastering and excitement for my craft and want to be a part of that flame whether it by working alongside me and my team, or by hiring us to support them as a client.

I want the world to know that we want to truly help make your experience in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum better. We are ready to work hard, get messy, and go deep with you when the time comes with a joyful willingness that only comes from a genuine passion for this work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, running a business keeps me pretty busy in my typical week, and I also am a mother of 3 small children who are not fun to take to a restaurant, so I dont anticipate my friend having a full agenda.

My theoretical best friend would also have kids. So we would hang at home and let our families play together. We would grill out and escape every now and then for a walk. My favorite go-to walk is around reeds lake in EGR.

We would for sure take a long day to Grand Haven Beach, get tacos, walk the peer, walk the shopping area, get ice cream and stay for the sunset.

I would take her and her family to my church on Wednesday for the community meal and church on Sunday.

*If* we went out to eat it would be either to a brewery of my husbands choice, the old goat in Alger Heights, or to condado Taco!

For entertainment, we’d hit up the zoo, the Meijer gardens, and perhaps find a comedy show from the improv group Pop Scholars.

We’d be simply doing life together- my favorite way to be friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Thank you to my husband, Josh for always encouraging me in this ride, and for my parents who have religiously supported me in everything I put my mind to. Everything I’ve done is possible only from the support I’ve had from you.

Website: Www.greatlakesdoulas.com

Instagram: @greatlakesdoulas

Facebook: @greatlakesdoulas

Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
@dutchmamadoulatog for birth action photos Michael Croff for team photos