Building a successful retail business as a doctor from scratch is no easy feat. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and resilience to turn your vision into a successful business.
As doctors, we are often swamped, and sometimes you will feel like giving up, but when you stop, you risk losing everything you've worked so hard for. However, when you stay resilient, you bring your idea to fruition, and there is nothing that feels better than getting to that point where you can proudly say that you own a thriving business. It's proof of your hard work and determination and a testament to your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit as a doctor.
In this episode of Disrupting Doctors Career podcast, Dr  Catherine Fernando, founder of Iyasu Bags, shares her journey, triumph over cancer, resilience, and inspiration in building her business from scratch in retail as a GP and a mum juggling life and everything that comes with it. She also shares the strategies on how you can become a successful creative retail doctorpreneur from scratch, from the challenges to the pitfalls you should avoid when building your business.
If you have someone looking at developing something from scratch or getting into retail and fashion, listen in to learn how to navigate motherhood, career and business as a doctorpreneur with the resilience to realise your vision.
 
What You Will Learn:

[00:01] Intro and what's in for you in today’s show 
[01:25] A bit about Dr Catherine and how she ended up on the podcast
[03:59] Dr Catherine's cancer diagnosis, her resiliency and the happy ending 
[08:08] What inspired Dr Catherine’s move towards changing careers 
[11:08] What Iyasu means and stands for 
[13:38] Iyasu bag’s design and the choice of plant-based vegan leather material 
[16:52] The first step Dr Catherine took to get going and realise the basics of her idea
[20:12] Challenges Dr Catherine faced in designing and launching her product
[21:41] Planning, launching and where Dr Catherine is now with Iyasu
[23:17] What kept Dr Catherine pushing forward with her idea despite her busy life
[24:44] What being successful means to the Dr Catherine
[25:56] Dr Catherine's advice to doctors venturing into retail alongside clinical practice
[32:13] How to reach out and connect with Dr Catherine or get her bags

 
Standout Quotes:

“You don't need a fashion degree, but you definitely need someone who has one; It is recognising who you need in your team.” - Dr Catherine [20:30]
 “You are so far in if you stop, you will lose everything, you have to have the resilience to keep pushing till you get there.”- Dr Catherine [22:51]
“It is not easy but it is a wonderful feeling when you are at that point where you can say you have all the resources and you own a business.”- Dr Catherine [24:03]
“Ultimately successful is being able to give some money for charitable causes and being able to produce special editions to support healthcare charities.’- Dr   Catherine [25:05]

 
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ABOUT THE HOST
Dr Abeyna Bubbers-Jones is a practising medical doctor and Founder of Medic Footprints: the global platform connecting doctors with diverse career opportunities beyond conventional medicine.
Her mission is to dramatically elevate health outcomes in the world by connecting 1 million doctors with diverse careers by 2030.
Continually exploring her own path off the medical treadmill, she has developed a wealth of expertise in specialist recruitment connecting industry & health tech companies with talented doctors, whilst support