Editor’s Edition: Engineering a new business from the ground up

Irini Mikhael was at the top of her field in 2008, working as a chemical engineer at a global gas company, when she decided to quit her job. The then-25-year-old was pregnant, and she quickly discovered that finding the right daycare for her growing family was a struggle.

So Mikhael engineered her own solution. She bought a plot of land in Richmond Hill, Ont. and built Lullaboo, a brand new childcare centre for her daughter. She never went back to work at that gas company.

Today, Mikhael’s business is thriving. Lullaboo has expanded to nine locations across the province, and has several additional locations under construction.

On this episode of Editor’s Edition, Mikhael takes us through her unconventional journey and the lessons she has learned along the way. She also provides advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and takes us through the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women in the workforce.