Sascha Mayer knows what it’s like to be invisible.

Like so many new moms nursing their children, if she wanted to nurse or pump when she was away from home, her options were often limited to a bathroom stall, an unattended room, or a parked car.

But it was around Labor Day weekend in 2006 that an article in the New York Times and a confluence of other events inspired a question that would change her life’s trajectory.

“Why are these women who are so visible to me so invisible to everyone else?”

That question - and the answers that followed - led Sascha and her co-founder Christine Dodson on a seven year journey to create Mamava, a revolutionary lactation pod for on-the-go moms (and dads) who need a clean, comfortable space for nursing, pumping, or bottle feeding.

From the first location in 2013 at the Burlington International Airport to more than 5,000 Mamava locations today, Sascha has channeled her bodacious optimism for mission-driven brands into the Mamava ecosystem, transforming a topic that was once invisible into something that is now highly visible, approachable, and welcoming.

Some of my favorite aha moments from our conversation include:

The process of coming up with a memorable name and provocative logo for Mamava
Breaking down barriers and raising awareness around the topic of lactivism
Finding key partners and “pollinators” to help carry the message and mission of Mamava
Sascha’s favorite Mamava pod location and why it’s special to her
The importance of expanding the Mamava ecosystem from physical pods to a user-friendly app
The critical branding and ethnographic research lessons Sascha learned while working for Bernie Sanders and brands like Seventh Generation and Burton Snowboards

Show Notes:

Below are links to campaigns, shows, and other inspiring ideas that came up during our conversation.

Swehl Campaign in Times Square featuring Molly Baz

The Rehearsal - Trailer

Frida - The Motherload of Labor and Recovery Must Haves

The Bodacious Optimist Podcast

Heavyweight Podcast - Episode 24 - Jimmy and Mark

CR Episode 26: Emily Dickinson on Death