Meet D’aja Grandberry

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful D’aja Grandberry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with D’aja below.

Hi D’aja , so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

The conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy came from walking closely alongside the people I love—friends and family—as they experienced pregnancy, postpartum, and all the transitions that come with motherhood. I witnessed the beauty, the struggle, the isolation, and the strength. And in those moments, I realized how often mothers pour into everyone else while quietly carrying so much on their own.

Being part of their support system opened my heart and deepened my understanding. I made it my mission to make sure they felt seen, heard, and deeply loved—not just in the highlight moments, but in the hard, hidden ones too. That commitment is what inspired Mommy Blooms—a space where moms can be held and nurtured in the same way they show up for others. My empathy grew from being present, listening, and honoring their stories.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m the founder of Mommy Blooms, a brand and space created with so much love and intention to support mothers during pregnancy, postpartum, and all the emotional and physical transitions that come with those seasons. While I’m not a mother myself, I’ve had the honor of walking closely with friends and family through their journeys into motherhood. Those experiences opened my eyes and my heart to how much support moms truly need—not just in practical ways, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Mommy Blooms was born from a desire to be part of that support system—to help moms feel seen, heard, held, and celebrated. What’s most exciting to me about this work is the way it blends empathy and care into tangible offerings, from thoughtful products to affirming resources and community-centered events. Everything is designed to honor a mother’s wholeness—because they deserve more than survival; they deserve to bloom.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding Mommy Blooms with new curated care packages, affirmations, and in-person connection experiences. One project that’s especially close to my heart is our upcoming pregnancy loss kits. These kits are designed to offer gentle, meaningful support to mothers navigating the pain of loss—reminding them that their grief is valid, their experience matters, and they are not alone.

Whether someone is expecting, newly postpartum, or navigating loss or transition, Mommy Blooms exists to remind them they are deeply valued and lovingly poured into.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been empathy, intentionality, and community-building.

Empathy has been at the center of everything. Even though I haven’t experienced motherhood firsthand, being present with loved ones during their journeys taught me how powerful it is to truly listen and hold space without trying to fix or rush the process. For anyone early in their journey, developing empathy starts with curiosity and presence—really showing up, asking questions, and being open to learning from the stories of others.

Intentionality shaped how I approached creating Mommy Blooms. Every product, message, and moment is designed with a purpose—to make moms feel genuinely seen. My advice here is to slow down and ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing. When you stay rooted in purpose, your impact becomes more meaningful, even if it grows slowly.

Lastly, community-building has been a beautiful and essential part of this journey. It’s one thing to have a vision, but bringing people together around that vision—supporters, collaborators, and those you serve—adds so much depth and momentum. For anyone starting out, don’t be afraid to reach out, ask for help, or share your process. Real connections will carry you farther than you can go alone.

This journey has taught me that impact isn’t always loud or fast. Sometimes, the quiet, consistent acts of care and intention are what make the biggest difference.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One book that has played an incredibly important role in my development is Pregnant While Black by Dr. Monique Rainford. It opened my eyes even wider to the systemic disparities Black women face in maternal health care—and it reinforced why the mission behind Mommy Blooms is so necessary.

One of the most impactful takeaways from the book is that being Black and pregnant in America is still a risk, not because of biology, but because of racism, bias, and inequities in the healthcare system. That truth hit me hard. It reminded me that support for moms—especially Black moms—has to go beyond comfort. It has to be intentional, affirming, and rooted in justice.

Another powerful nugget was the importance of advocacy and informed care. Dr. Rainford encourages women to speak up, ask questions, and know their rights—but also calls on the system and community to do better in listening and protecting. It inspired me to think about how Mommy Blooms can not only nurture moms emotionally but also empower them with resources and support that affirm their voices.

This book helped shape the heart of my work. It reminded me that empathy must be backed by action, and that creating safe, healing spaces for Black mothers is a radical and necessary act of love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopymommyblooms.com
• Instagram: @MommyBloomsLLC
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mommybloomsllc