Sophie Dornstreich of InCircle Fertility on unapologetically setting expectations and boundaries

Website Header Template (2)

Describe your business in a few words:

My undergraduate and graduate education is in Social Work and my entire career was in the nonprofit sector until…secondary infertility knocked on my door. I emerged on the other side of my fertility journey crystal clear on the fact that I needed to turn my pain into purpose. Fortunately, my now business partner Abbe had also come out on the other side of her infertility struggle and, incredibly, had the exact same vision, at the exact same time. InCircle Fertility was founded to provide coaching services to individuals and couples all over the world and wherever they are on the path to parenthood. Our clients receive full hand and heart holding as they navigate the rocky terrain of infertility, including total support and guidance in moving forward and finding a resolution.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I have always been in the nonprofit sector, having gotten a social work education that focused on “macro-practice” social policy work. Notably, although I found fulfillment in many aspects of my work over the years, I never felt that I was fully maximizing my strengths or realizing my potential. I *always* felt like something was missing (not to mention the sad nonprofit comp!).

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I never, ever wanted to be an entrepreneur! In fact, I used to walk around saying how risk-averse I am and how poorly cut out I am for entrepreneurship. But in reality, it has been an incredible opportunity to push myself, get uncomfortable and see what I am truly made of. It is so much more rewarding to find success doing something that starts out feeling totally foreign and unattainable.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

We started out trying to build a presence on Instagram, sending emails to our respective networks and even printing hard-copy fliers to distribute to doctors’ offices and the like. We are also heavy networkers, and started out by consistently reaching out to people who we thought might be able to help us and/or lead to other meaningful connections. Our email marketing strategy is still being built and one year in, the majority of our clients come from referrals. 

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

I am most proud of my business partnership. It is HARD to work so closely with another person, on something so incredibly important to each of us. The stakes feel very high and we are two different people with strong personalities and paradigms. We are constantly learning how to manage conflict, improve communication and leverage one another’s strengths. It takes work and it is so worth it. Bottom line is that every day we choose to partner in this business instead of going at it alone and that is quite an accomplishment.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

Work/life balance feels like an outdated concept, intended for those who are punching clocks at office jobs. As I recently saw on a mom meme, “the juggle is real,” and that is the reality of being a working mom. It always has been! 

Especially with young kids, when the time and physical demands are high. The best thing any of us can do to find “balance” is unapologetically set expectations and set boundaries. With so many competing priorities, we will never be able to “have it all” or “do it all.” Maintaining integrity with the boundaries we set (with both ourselves and others) is at least a good start.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

We will be building strategic partnerships with clinics and clinic networks. We have so much value to add regarding patient care and patient support. We will also likely be adding new revenue streams, such as self-paced online courses, product sales and more. We will also always be thinking of ways to scale our one-on-one coaching services – this part of the business will grow and evolve as we figure out how to do that.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with and learn from other women forging an innovative and self-driven professional path. We are so much stronger together; sharing resources, providing support and leaning in on the wisdom of those who “came before.” I can already see the wealth of knowledge and inspiration now at my fingertips as a member of the League!

Share it!

Posted in
Tags

Leave a Comment





Katia Conte Honors Daughter’s Legacy with Childhood Cancer Nonprofit

Hi, Katia! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: My name is Katia Conte, and I am the President/Co-Founder of the Daniela Conte Foundation. Our nonprofit organization is a beacon of hope for families battling pediatric cancer. Founded in 2020, our mission is deeply rooted in the memory of my daughter, Daniela,…

Kristen Chimack Provides Real-World Coaching for Success

Hi, Kristen! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Kristen. After a 30-year stint in corporate America, culminating in a whirlwind four years leading the public relations department at a Fortune 40 organization, I decided it was time to hang up my corporate hat and chase my true passions. In…

How Dr. Sophia Yen is Transforming and Investing in Women’s Health with Pandia Health

“One in five women with menopause have considered dropping out of work, have foregone promotion. And we are just at the top of our game and to take us out at 50 is not okay. It’s about empowering women to be the best that we can possibly be.” When Dr. Sophia Yen co-founded Pandia Health,…

Amy Rees Celebrates Solidarity With Personality Plates

Hi, Amy! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Amy. Women are at the heart of Personality Plates because I could not have gotten through my difficult divorces and heartbreak without my friends and chosen sisters. I couldn’t have raised my daughters as the strong, independent young ladies they are…

How Julia Haart Reinvented Her Life at 42 from Restrictive Upbringing to Fashion Leader

“Ignorance, people, is good! Jump in. Enjoy it. Ask the questions. Study. Learn. Be an eternal student. That’s how you succeed.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Julia Haart, the founder of +Body by Julia Haart, a body-positive, technologically advanced shapewear brand that aims to empower women to unapologetically express themselves and…

The Most Common Mistakes When Starting a Business—and How to Avoid Them

When you’re first starting a business, there’s so much you don’t know you don’t know—like how to price your offerings, market your business, or hire people to support you. Every entrepreneur learns along the way, so why not save yourself some time and money (and potentially even business heartbreak) by learning from the candid stories…

Logan Rae on Her Journey to Founding a Digital Marketing Agency

Hi, Logan. Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Logan Rae, I’m 29 years old and Founder & CEO of Argon Agency. Who are your customers? Mid-size businesses mostly in the behavioral healthcare field. What made you take the leap to start your own business? I had done entrepreneurship once before…

Jennifer Jank on Helping Entrepreneurs Reclaim Their Time and Energy

Hi, Jennifer! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Jennifer Jank (JJ) is a productivity consultant helping business owners make more profit in less time and with better systems. Her goal is to help entrepreneurs, especially women, reclaim their time, energy, and attention away from busyness and towards joy… without sacrificing profits.…

How to Make an Impact as a Podcast Guest with Patrice Poltzer

“We’re being bombarded all day with so much content and noise. “Please, please. I need your attention here, here, here.” You really have to learn to think about who’s listening. Really ask yourself, what is the takeaway for the person listening? Why does that matter? And if you can’t think of that, then you don’t…

Andrea TheoJohn Helps Clients Grow and Market Their Brands

Hi, Andrea! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Andrea TheoJohn, MBA is a marketing and branding professional with over 15 years of global and corporate experience. She’s managed over 70 brand professionals in 17 different countries, handled the branding and communications efforts for 160M Euro M&A ventures and now brings that…

How Laurel Mintz Is Empowering Diverse Leaders in Venture Capital

“We transitioned almost everyone out of the company and really flipped the entire company around. It was one of the most painful few months of my entire career, but also one of the most impactful. And if we had not done that, we probably wouldn’t still be standing today.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we…

Valeria Lasak’s Marketing Agency Focuses on Fashion, Beauty, and Personal Brands

Hi, Valeria! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Valeria. Cofounder of MKT Besties and Nomad, a marketing agency focused on fashion, beauty, and personal brands, I’m also a community leader with the New Miami Girls community and host the street podcast ‘Who Is She Miami.’ This project is especially…

Leigh Burgess on Her Passion for Consulting, Coaching, and Curated Events

Hi, Leigh! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Leigh is a CEO & Founder and driven entrepreneur who is passionate about helping organizations and individuals achieve their fullest potential faster. By continuously stepping out of her comfort zone and pushing boundaries, Leigh has not only grown her own company into a…

How to Avoid Legal Challenges with Lauren Bercuson from Storylock Legal

“In the beginning, if you don’t have a team or a system or community around you, it’s very easy to feel lost. There are these amazing communities out there for amazing female founders that will really help guide and support you. So, the greatest lesson I learned pretty quickly was that you’re never alone. Or,…

The Secrets to Building a Community Led Business with Ingrid Read

“You really have to understand that, in order for you to scale, you have to learn how to do certain things and master them before you move on. If you don’t do that, then your audience is going to feel just as lost as you feel.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with…