Meet Brenna Karis | Daycare Owner/Director

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

Hi Brenna, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
This is a pertinent question in my recent life, as I have had to wrestle with the question of whether to give up on my dreams or keep pushing forward over the last year. Business ownership is not an endeavor for the weak of heart – it takes lots of patience, perseverance, (and a touch of madness ;)) to stick it out during the inevitable ups and downs of business. We pour our hearts and souls into our businesses which can lead to burnout and can be especially disheartening when things take a downturn through no fault of our own. Personally, I have always been proactive about making changes when I feel myself getting stuck. Those changes maybe succeed and maybe don’t, but I think stagnation can be detrimental both mentally and for the success of a business. This past year I had to make a large business decision that was greatly impacting my mental health and my ability to see through the weeds to the larger goals I have for my business. I wanted to quit many times and it took a lot of leaning on my support network and a lot of pep talks to myself to remind myself that I am working hard and I CAN reach my goals. I think some of business is just relying on instinct and deciding how much uncertainty you are willing to endure before the big payoffs come. I also think that as business owners we need to remind ourselves that there are options rather than just “giving up.” Maybe you pivot your ideas, maybe you add other brains to the team to tackle the problem at hand, maybe you do more market research. Business ownership is being able to think outside of the box and never stop trying to improve and make changes that can benefit your business and future.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started Karis Family Daycare with the help of my mother because I have a passion for working with young children and I saw a dire lack of high-quality infant and toddler care options in my community. 
Currently, I am in the process of building a brand new infant and toddler center which will serve 40 children in my neighborhood, including low-income families in the nearby region.
I pride myself on providing high-quality, loving care, with a focus on growth of the whole child, fostering independence, and an emphasis on nature exploration and self-directed learning. 
I use technology to keep parents updated and involved in their child’s day and to ease paperwork and reporting for teachers and staff. 
I also pride myself on fostering strong community connections between families and staff, with many families becoming friends, getting new babysitters, and finding support when they are far from relatives (as so many of us are transplants!).
Family is my business and I want to bring that same feeling and focus to my larger center, while being able to make my community larger.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
LA has so much to offer! My favorite fun place to take friends is the Hollywood Bowl. Outdoor music and shows, picnic style, affordable ticket prices – it’s my highlight of the summer in LA! After the show you can walk down to Hollywood Boulevard for some fun bars and people watching.
Griffith Observatory is a great place to go for a quick hike, get a 360 degree view of the city, see the Hollywood Sign (and the ocean on a clear day), plus there is a free science museum dedicated to astronomy with open telescope times as well!
Dinner at Castaway in Burbank is a must for visitors – yummy food, cocktails, and views!
Weekend trips are also so easy from LA: Los Olivos (wine town!), Big Bear Lake, Solvang, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Elephant Seals in San Simeon, hiking in Angeles National Forest…the list goes on. I love getting out of the city and seeing all the cute towns along the coast and getting out in nature.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am nowhere without my support network! First of all shoutout to my mom, Andrea, for being my second-hand woman and supporting my decisions through the hard times. To my friends and family near and far for letting me vent, investing in my company, and believing in what I can do. To my assistant, Gris, for all the support and love. To my project manager, Ed, at Gibbons Construction Consulting for being my true champion and a shoulder to cry on when things get stressful! And finally to my network at the Burbank Chamber of Commerce for being an amazing, supportive community of incredible and inspiring business owners.

Website: https://www.karisfamilydaycare.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/karis-family-daycare/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/karis-family-daycare-glendale