Using Diversity to Educate

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Zabina Bhasin, Founder of In KidZ, located in Agoura Hills, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

In KidZ was founded as a lifestyle brand dedicated to creating connections through culture and championing unity amongst diversity. In KidZ creates kid-focused products that help children learn about cultures while inspiring them to create a world that embraces diversity of all kinds. My name is Zabina Bhasin, and I am the Founder of In KidZ. It is my journey of empowering children with cultural awareness. I encourage children to think they are more similar than they are different. Differences make us unique but do not separate us. By identifying the need for conversations about culture with my own two children within my multicultural household, I envisioned In KidZ. With social media, access to the internet, and a plethora of other technological advances, children today have access to more knowledge about different cultures and global opportunities than ever before. Yet, there is a lack of acceptance and understanding of cultural diversity. That distance comes down to us as parents, guardians, and mentors; it is our responsibility to help bridge this gap. At In KidZ, we realized that we can’t expect our children to learn about things we, as a society, have yet to understand fully, which is why we created the Culture Box.

Kids are the future, and in this beautifully diverse world, they need to see how all cultures experience life uniquely. At In KidZ, we believe that in our differences lie our similarities. We encourage our ability to understand and celebrate the differences between each culture. Our vision is for our children to ultimately accept all humans as they are, with the goal of truly making the world a better place. In this regard, a portion of each box is donated to a charity to further the advancement of children’s education. At In KidZ, we educate all ages to learn about diverse traditions the right way. We provide the tools to be knowledgeable, accepting, and culturally aware citizens of the world. Each Culture Box contains items to encourage conversation about various global cultures. Each item is hand selected, researched, and thoroughly reflective of an important aspect of the culture. The “In the Know” cards describe a cultural experience to encourage you to open your minds to the diversity of the world and to let it enter your homes and hearts. With your child, you can read and learn about traditions that, without In KidZ, you’d never have been introduced to otherwise.

Tell us about yourself

When I was growing up in the United States, being Indian and Sikh, I encountered a lot of bullying for everything from the way my food smelled to how my family dressed. When I had children myself, I realized that those issues were still very much present, and I wanted to work to change that for all children.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a small business owner, and a woman of color, for me being able to get my business into large retailers has been one of my biggest accomplishments so far. This has not only confirmed the need for more businesses that are centered around diversity and inclusion but also opened the door for more small businesses to come into these retailers as well.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Being a mom and a business owner is essentially like having several businesses at once. It is hard for me to have to be away from my children and my family, but sometimes I have to because I have to travel for my business.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Be Passionate: recognize your strength and weakness.
Try to have a conversation or sit down with someone who has already started or scaled a business.
Do Your Research: understand your target customers and existing market.
Answer the questions: what burning Problem are you trying to solve?
Write a Business Plan and grow as needed.
Start with a Narrow focus and then expand.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.inkidzco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inkidzco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkidzco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inkidzco
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zabinabhasinmd/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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