Meet Sharmin Karim | CEO + Founder

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

Hi Sharmin, how do you think about risk?

Risk and I are definitely friends. We’re not as close as we used to be, but we’re those friends that don’t see each other often. And when we do, it’s like no time has passed.

I’ve taken quite a few risks in my life – from moving to new cities and states without knowing anyone, to changing careers multiple times, to traveling alone abroad. I’m a firm believer that you can’t wait for life to begin, you’ve got to just start living and experiencing, even if it’s scary or by yourself.

The most recent and probably the biggest risk I’ve ever taken was starting amma360 on my own. I quit my job as a management consultant and my last day just happened to be the Friday right before the COVID shutdown in March 2020. I was planning to take some time off to figure out what was going to be next for me career-wise. I had been traveling extensively and putting in long hours at work for about seven years; I was newly married and wanted a slower pace so I could focus on building a family.

COVID changed all of that and I felt like I needed to figure out my next career steps quickly. The first day of the shutdown I was panicking – how did I just quit my job in a pandemic without a backup plan? It was scary! I quickly lined up some interviews with other companies, but my heart wasn’t in it. I had quit my job as a consultant for a reason – I wasn’t being fulfilled nor was I passionate about the work anymore.

Fast forward a couple of months, I had joined my family business in the vitamin industry and was newly pregnant. I love to do research, so I was researching everything related to pregnancy – listening to podcasts, reading scientific journals, etc. I wanted to be informed about this new journey as much as possible. I found that most of the research stops with birth and then shifts to the baby. I just kept thinking, what about me (the mom)?

That’s how amma360 was born – I knew there was a gap in providing care to new moms and I set out to fill it. I didn’t and still don’t have a co-founder, I didn’t and still don’t have a lot of investment dollars to work with, but I’m doing it.

Every day I wake up and take a risk as an entrepreneur to make amma360 a successful business and to move the needle for postpartum care. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

amma360 is a women’s health and wellness company focused on developing supplements that are evidenced-based, research-backed, nutrient-rich, and rooted in science. We launched in December 2022 with our first two products for the critical postpartum period following child birth – Postpartum Multi+ Omegas and Postpartum Protein+

We partnered with physicians, scientists, and fertility experts to ensure our products specifically target the enhanced nutrient needs of new moms, but also support their physical, mental, and emotional health during their postpartum journey. Essentially, we developed better postpartum care in a bottle!

. All of our products are manufactured using only clean and trustworthy ingredients, have transparent formulas, and are third-party tested. After all is said in done, we’re in the business of making women, specifically ammas, healthier!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

This is a hard one! I’m a Cali girl, born and raised. I’ve spent the majority of my adult years exploring LA and love all the different pockets/neighborhoods – each has its own unique vibe! My favorites tend to be more on the east side of LA, as that’s where I spend most of my time.

Whenever I get the opportunity to do so, I’m trying a new restaurant in LA with my husband, my girlfriends, or even solo! Here are a couple of my favorites that I always come back to:

SUGARFISH – I could eat here on the daily – their fish is always fresh, and the warm rice just hits differently. This is, hands down, my favorite solo dining spot. You can’t go wrong with any of their locations in LA, but I love either the La Brea (sexy vibe inside) or the Hollywood (usually less busy for dine-in, especially at night) locations.

Hama Sushi – If you can’t tell, I love sushi! My husband and I used to go on the weekly when we lived in DTLA, pre-baby obviously! Now, we try to go at least once a month. It’s a Tokyo, street-style sushi bar with limited seating and no reservations – be prepared to wait! Everything is super fresh, and the serve primarily nigiri and sashimi. My favorites are the Black Snapper, Ikura, and Amaebi Sushi – make sure you get the heads fried!

McConnell’s or Jeni’s for ice cream – I love ice cream, and I love peanut butter. And these two ice cream shops have some of the best peanut butter ice creams around. And if you’re not a nut fan, they have a ton of other amazing flavors – you can’t go wrong with either option.

Aladin Sweets & Markets – A shout out to my Bangladeshi heritage, this is a hole-in-the-wall, mom & pop Bangladeshi restaurant with some of the best chicken and beef pastry puffs. The dough is crispy on the outside, and chewy on the inside. I could easily eat a few in one sitting, and they’re not small! It’s located in the Little Bangladesh neighborhood of LA, near Koreatown. Anytime we’re having a party, this is usually a place I cater from for appetizers. And of course, they have bomb chicken, beef, or goat biryani. One order will easily serve 2-3 people.

Yuchun – I love Korean food, and on a hot LA day – this is the best. Cold beef noodle soup, washed down with some of the best (and free) bone broth to sip on.

Raffi’s Place – My husband is Armenian and he introduced me to some of the best Persian food in LA. The portions are massive! Get the Beef Soltani, and don’t even think about sharing. You’re going to want the leftovers. Don’t forget to order the Mast Moosir – a delicious yogurt and shallot dip. I could eat this by the spoonful.

Birdies LA – Los Angeles has quickly become a hot spot for hot chicken, and this one is my fav. I was never really into fried chicken until my husband and I moved in together, and he would crave this almost weekly. The Birdie’s Spicy is where’s it’s at. A lot of hot chicken places add spicy dry seasoning onto their fried chicken, but Birdies mixes the spice into their mayo, which gives a more even heat to the sandwich along with the coleslaw. We miss this quick spot a lot now that we’re in Pasadena.

Living in LA, we’re lucky to have access to a variety of seasonal fresh fruits and veggies. One of my favorite activities is to walk a farmers market. I’ve even gotten my 2 year old son hooked! He loves all the fruit samples and the open-air market vibes. There are some big ones like the Hollywood and Melrose Farmers Markets on Sundays. But my favorite is the South Pasadena Farmers Market – it’s cozy and has a real small town vibe, with live music and dancing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

My family – parents, brother, and husband – who are all successful entrepreneurs in their respective industries. They’ve been, and continue to be, my main support system by offering encouragement, guidance, mentorship, and motivation. I started amma360 on my own, without a co-founder, so they’re essentially who I flush out ideas and strategies with.

My parents are in a similar industry so they’re constantly sharing technical knowledge and expertise with me on how to run a successful vitamin business. They started their company when I was 6, and to this day are actively involved in the day-to-day management of their business. I spent most of my summers and days after school with them in the office; and I learned early on the value of getting your hands dirty and a steadfast commitment to adapting to customer needs. Without them, my passion for entrepreneurship, or vitamins, would not have existed.

My brother is my go-to person when I need motivation or guidance on a strategy. He’s insanely passionate about business, and holds everyone to the same standards as his favorite leaders – Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Phil Jackson, and Peter Drucker. He doesn’t sugar coat anything, and is brutally honest. He definitely challenges me to strive every day to build a brand and a company that is more reputable, timeless, and trustworthy than any of my competitors.

My husband has been a successful entrepreneur and marketer for years. We met in business school at USC so we have a shared passion for business, often spending our evenings discussing work – the various wins and challenges that come with being an entrepreneur. Starting a business requires a lot of long hours, hard work, and grit, so I’m lucky to have a partner who is my pillar of strength.

And of course, my little man who made me a mom. Without him, I would never have understood postpartum, or the demands it has on your body and nutrition. He pushes me to be the best version of myself every day, and as cheesy as it sounds – to make an impact in the world any way I can. I want him to grow up knowing that women are bad-ass, successful leaders, just as I did with my mom, my amma.

Website: www.amma360.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amma360health/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharmink/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amma360health

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amma360health

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