Meet Averjill Rookwood: Doula, Benefits Strategist and Founder

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

Hi Averjill, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It was always my intention to be a doula and “somehow” make it work with my corporate career in benefits. My reasons for becoming a doula are vast and earnest in origin, all stemming from my calling to women’s and reproductive health since high school. If I am honest, somewhere deep down, I didn’t want to acknowledge that it was never going to work. There was no way I could be in an executive meeting with a team depending on me to persuade the powers that be to green light seven figure line item decisions or integral process changes all while being on call for a mother in labor. It wasn’t until Covid lay offs gave me the opportunity to dive deep into my passion for helping not just birthing people, but also their employers. My point of view, training and experience led me to prepare my business to expand in scope to fill the gaps that were widening in family benefits.

What should our readers know about your business?
While The Corporate Doula serves clients in the traditional sense in the fertility, birth and postpartum disciplines, our secret sauce is the focus on working women/parents/families. The majority of parents are part of the workforce, but are expected to separate their needs in pregnancy, family forming and raising from their careers demands. This is an impossible and unfair ask. The Corporate Doula began by giving clients additional tools and clarity to efficiently and confidently utilize their employee benefits along their journey. Through personal career experience and request from industry colleagues, it became apparent that there is an opportunity to help employers elevate their benefit strategies for family benefits. I want the world of employers to know that there is always room to elevate and sharpen their offerings in a way that benefits both the employees and the business. I also want employees to know that it is more than within reason to weigh your priorities and choose the employer that most aligns with your goals for family forming and raising. The Corporate Doula serves as a conduit for clarity for the individual and employer.

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?
My formula is simple, wherever in the world I am…eat well and get out to experience the people and land of where you visit. This allows you to go with the flow and follow your mood.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many that have contributed to my journey into business. Besides my faith in God and the love and encouragement provided by my parents, sisters and close friends, there are those that gave me a swift kick into the world of entrepreneurship that I am thankful for. I’d have to thank Dr. Camille Howard a long time friend, brilliant dermatologist and entrepreneur as well as Desiree Sprauve, a kindred spirit and doula sister.

Website: www.thecorporatedoula.com

Instagram: @corporatedoula

Linkedin: linkedin/company/thecorporatedoula

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCorpDoula

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJw4a6iRQ3q8gpQXg2UeA

Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discussions-with-the-corporate-doula/id1542749520

Image Credits
Cedrick Sutton for the peach dress picture