S2E10: Innovation and Authenticity with SLP Barbara Fernandes

This episode will have you captivated, motivated and in awe!  Kim and Mary feature Barbara Fernandes, an SLP, author, CEO of Smarty Ears and Smarty Symbols, advocate, and educator.  To say she has taken her business and created something so unique and on her own terms is an understatement.  She is a testament that staying true to who you are and on the path that you believe in will create a life full of joy and meaning.  

Barbara's educational journey began in Brazil, where she pursued speech-language pathology. She moved to the US as part of an exchange program at Temple University, focusing on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and completed her education in Philadelphia. During this time she mastered learning Spanish and English simultaneously as she was finishing her graduate studies.  She then relocated to Texas for a master's program emphasizing bilingual education, setting the stage for her later entrepreneurial ventures.

Barbara started her professional career in Texas public schools, catering mainly to Spanish-speaking students. This job was particularly challenging as she had not experienced the American school system as a child in Brazil. Her transition into entrepreneurship was sparked by a practical need to improve her teaching tools, leading to the development of her first app. This initiative grew into Smarty Ears, a company that now offers over 70 educational products. She managed to cover her initial app development through personal savings and gradually expanded her business without a formal marketing team, relying on direct educational efforts and word of mouth.

Initially interested in focusing on voice therapy in Brazil and working with famous singers, Barbara's career path took a significant turn when she moved to the US and landed in the world of AAC. Throughout the episode, she shares insights into the organic growth of her business, from solving immediate practical needs with basic apps to developing a comprehensive web platform integrating all her apps. She also discusses the process of creating an app, highlighting the increasing complexity and the different elements involved as her business expands.

Barbara's entrepreneurial philosophy emphasizes authenticity and aligning business practices with personal values. She advocates for the use of high-quality, modern visual aids in special education, which led her to start her second company, Smarty Symbols, to provide updated visual resources for SLPs. Her story highlights the importance of adapting and innovating in response to market needs and personal experiences, including her perspective on why the special education industry seems to be lagging behind in technology.

She also shares her views on how SLPs should be using AI, stressing the importance of understanding its capabilities and limitations to enhance their practices effectively. Barbara's approach to business and decision-making often involves taking steps without fully knowing the process, a reflection of her dynamic and intuitive management style. This has also influenced how she organizes her teams, deciding when to bring people on based on the evolving needs of her projects.

Barbara believes strongly in the value of self-awareness and authenticity, encouraging others to learn who t

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