This week on #WIB, we speak to Leigh-Ann Geydien, Founder of Fertility Solutions, about turning a personal challenge into a mission to support South African women. Frustrated by the lack of local resources during her own fertility journey, Leigh-Ann was inspired to create Fertility Solutions, a platform dedicated to guiding and empowering women through every step of their fertility experience.
1. What inspired you to start Fertility Solutions, and when did the idea first come to you?
My inspiration came from a very personal place. When I was going through my own fertility journey, I kept hitting dead ends. Every resource I found was geared towards American women, and I quickly realised that South African women had very little support beyond the fertility clinics themselves.
2. How did your personal experience with infertility shape the vision for the platform?
My personal experience really was the blueprint for everything. When I was in the thick of my own journey, I found myself constantly searching for information, reading every article I could find about infertility, treatments, and options. It almost became an obsession, that desperate need to understand what was happening and what could be done about it. My own experience taught me exactly what women needed because I was that woman. Every feature and every decision on the platform comes back to that, making the journey a little less overwhelming for someone else.
3. Was there a specific moment when you realized there was a real need for a one-stop fertility resource?
At the time, I was running another directory, actually relating to Weddings, and just thought, what if I created this for women dealing with Infertility?
4. What were the biggest challenges you faced when turning your idea into a functioning platform?
My biggest challenge was getting people closest to me to understand what I was building and believe in me sometimes we think we just need the approval of those around you to make my dream a reality and yes Fertility Solutions became my dream, building the platform became my new obsession and I quickly realised I didn’t need any approval I just needed to keep on going.
5. How did you decide which features, services, and resources to include in Fertility Solutions?
I took my own journey into account, but also know what women need based on my research to give them all the options and information they require on this journey.
6. Did you face any skepticism or obstacles from others when you pitched the concept?
Absolutely, all the time, but my biggest break came from an actual fertility clinic and a fertility specialist. When I pitched the idea to them, they immediately wanted to come on board and support me financially. The skepticism came from those not on the journey or never having to deal with infertility, who would not understand the emotional and financial burden infertility brings.
7. How did you find and collaborate with experts, partners, and suppliers to make Fertility Solutions comprehensive?
Lots and lots of research and just trying to connect via social media, but also just picking up the phone and calling and trying to make the right connections and collaborations.
8. What steps did you take to ensure the platform was user-friendly and truly helpful for couples?
This is still an ongoing exercise. I have redone the site 5 times now, and busy with a new update to include everything I have ever wanted the site to be. So I am always checking it to make sure nothing will hinder a user from finding what they require on their journey.
9. How long did it take from conceptualizing Fertility Solutions to launching it for the public?
This took me 2+ years working on it bit by bit, collecting information and trying to visualize and conceptualize the offering to users as well as advertisers.
9. What has been the most rewarding part of seeing Fertility Solutions make a difference in people’s lives?
This would definitely be the interactions from women who started the journey, and I held their hand through it, helping them navigate what their next step is, and then receiving a photo of a positive pregnancy and later on the birth of their baby.
10. How do you continue to innovate and expand the platform to meet evolving needs in fertility support?
I’m constantly trying to look for new ways of expanding. Our recent addition will be our concierge service to international patients doing their fertility treatment in South Africa.
11. What advice would you give to other women who want to turn a personal challenge into a meaningful business?
Believe in Your Lived Experience. Your personal struggle is your greatest asset. Nobody understands the problem better than someone who has lived it. That authenticity resonates with customers, investors, and partners in ways that research alone never can.
To learn more about Leigh-Ann Geydien’s journey and the support Fertility Solutions offers, visit Fertility Solutions today.
