Shannon Leslin Wyszynski
Founder, The HippMama
Shannon Wyszynski is no stranger to entrepreneurism. This Fashion Merchandising graduate had her own hand-painted clothing business for 10 years. It was her children who inspired the creation and development of the one-of-a-kind tool belt for moms and caregivers, The HippMama.
With her BA in Fashion Merchandising tucked under her arm, Shannon Wyszynski, a graduate of NorthernIllinoisUniversity, wasn't gun shy about starting her own business. She owned a hand-painted clothing business from 1991-2001. During that time, she met her husband and moved to the Chicago suburbs where the couple currently resides with their two young children. "I was fortunate enough to stay at home and help manage my husband's law practice and our real estate investments and developments," says Wyszynski. "I lived in Yoga pants and velour hoodie sets which didn't have pockets so, like a Granny, I'd put tissues up my sleeveand cell phone in my bra along with a pacifier or two."
Like most moms with more than one child, she was often carrying her newborn through the house while the two-year old dangled from her other hand. Without fail, when they would get settled in for a story or naptime upstairs, her cell phone would ring in the kitchen downstairs, echoing throughout their two-story home.
"It seemed that I was always in need of something that was not even remotely close by. Sometimes I could feel my head spinning -- cell phone ringing in the hallway amidst the changing of a diaper and the infant's screaming for a pacifier! There wasn't enough of me!"
As a result, Wyszynski, the entrepreneur, began thinking about how she could make her own life easier. There had to be something that she could keep on her person that would have everything she needed, sans the bulk of a bag or pockets stuffed full.
Using her background in fashion and sewing, Wyszynski hit the fabric store and made the first prototype of The HippMama. Like all prototypes, the design required editing. Over the next couple of years, she churned out additional versions. As a busy mom, time became sparse and the prototypes hit the shelf. It wasn't long before her little sister Tiffany started a job asa nanny for a family of four kids-- a six year old, a two year old, and four month old twins. She dialed her sister after one week on the job and said, "Shannon, you know your mommy belt you've been working on? Well, finish it. I need it ASAP!" Wyszynski took her prototype from the shelf, had the final version manufactured, and finally put it to use. Since then, she and her sister both felt the life of a mother and a caregiver become exponentially easier.
With further encouragement, Wyszynski opened Sebiza, LLC (derived from the letters of her children's names) to put The HippMama into full production so that all moms and caregivers can enjoy the freedom and assistance the tool belt provides.
"I've also found The HippMama useful for the gym, gardening, biking,running, childcare center teachers, nurses, in home care, etc. As my children grow, we're constantly finding new uses for the HippMama."
Wyszynski adds that she now has dads requesting their own HippMama (perhaps the HippPapa?). That version is in the works.