Meet Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, a trailblazer in maternal health and fitness who turned her experience as a pediatric intensive care nurse into a mission to transform the lives of women and families. From her work supporting critically ill children at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to launching FitMama, an innovative health and fitness app for mothers, Mari-Carmen has dedicated her career to bridging gaps in maternal care.
Her journey is a testament to grit, resilience, and the power of authenticity – qualities she shares openly with others. Whether it’s coaching women toward healthier lives, guiding fellow founders, or advocating for women’s health policy reform, Mari-Carmen embodies the spirit of social impact.
Stay tuned as she shares her biggest lessons, proudest milestones, and how she’s reshaping the future of maternal health and well-being.
What is the biggest thing you have done to create or improve social impact?
The most significant contribution I’ve made to creating and improving social impact stems from my background as a nurse, where I spent seven years working in pediatric intensive care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, supporting critically ill children and their families. Witnessing the inconsistencies in maternal health during this time, I felt compelled to act. During my maternity leave with my first son, I launched my first business to address gaps in maternal health, fitness, and wellness.
Since then, I have empowered hundreds of women to become healthier, fitter, and happier. Building on this foundation, I created FitMama, an all-encompassing health and fitness app designed for mothers, businesses, and healthcare providers. With maternal support often inconsistent or inaccessible, and global statistics showing that 44 million women face health challenges related to poor maternal care, I’ve dedicated my expertise in prenatal and postnatal health to ensuring mothers have access to evidence-based support.
Our mission is clear: to inspire and empower current and future generations of mothers to live healthier and better lives, positively impacting families and communities at large. Through FitMama, we aim to make proactive, personalised maternal health the standard worldwide.
What would you do to improve the UK for everyone?
Improving the UK for everyone starts with addressing women’s health, which is both a critical issue and an immense opportunity. Globally, businesses lose £20.2 billion annually due to poor women’s health, and in the UK, the NHS spends £1.5 billion on maternal mental health and £45 million on pelvic health each year—yet no preventative solutions exist. The Government’s Women’s Health Strategy acknowledges these challenges, but we need real action to ensure mothers receive personalised, evidence-based support from the start of their journey, not only when problems arise.
As a mother of three and an expert in prenatal and postnatal health, I understand the struggles mothers face firsthand. Through FitMama, my mission is to create a proactive, trusted solution to improve maternal health outcomes. By reducing NHS spending, improving the lives of women, and increasing productivity, we can positively impact families, businesses, and the economy. I am committed to being the authentic voice for mothers, driving systemic change to ensure a healthier future for women and society as a whole.
What is your biggest work lesson? And why?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a solo entrepreneur is the importance of grit and tenacity. Entrepreneurship is a journey of constant challenges, requiring you to develop unshakable self-belief and the resilience to keep pushing forward even when the path gets steep. Personal development is key to building the confidence to back yourself, especially during tough times.
Another critical lesson is learning to embrace failure as a stepping stone. Every setback offers valuable insights and opportunities for growth, shaping you into a stronger and more innovative leader over time.
Can you share some key milestones or proudest moments in your career?
Some of my proudest career milestones include:
- Establishing my first business and scaling it into a profitable and widely recognised brand across Warwickshire.
- Transforming the lives of hundreds of women by helping them become healthier, fitter, and happier.
- Building a talented team to develop FitMama and successfully launching the app in 2024 as a non-tech founder.
- Being recognised as a thought leader in women’s health, featured in publications like The Guardian and The Telegraph.
- Ranking #10 in Parent Tech by TechRound.
- Securing over £70,000 in Innovate UK grant funding.
What is your most embarrassing moment at work?
My most embarrassing moment at work has been realising, during the intense demands of scaling a business, that I wasn’t living by the very mantras I encourage my clients to follow. I neglected my own physical and mental well-being during crucial times. While it was humbling, it reminded me to return to authenticity and embrace the reality that prioritising self-care is essential even when things get hard. These moments ultimately reinforce my understanding of the challenges my clients face, allowing me to lead with empathy and authenticity
What is the thing that brings you the most #workkjoy?
What brings me the most #workjoy is hearing directly from clients about the positive impact I’ve had on their lives. Reading heartfelt testimonials about how I’ve helped women become healthier, happier, and more confident fuels my passion. Equally, supporting fellow female founders who are just starting out brings immense satisfaction. Sharing my experiences, including mistakes and lessons learned, to guide and empower others fills me with purpose. Seeing others thrive as a result of my support is incredibly rewarding and reinforces why I do what I do.
What is one of your pet hates? Why?
One of my pet hates is when people are not authentic, especially when they act from a place that isn’t genuine or comes from ego rather than kindness. In business and life, I believe authenticity is key—being truthful and coming from a place of love builds trust and connection. Kindness is free and can make a world of difference, yet it’s often overlooked. When people don’t approach situations with honesty and warmth, it not only feels inauthentic but also undermines the power of real, meaningful relationships.
Who or what inspires you to continue pushing the boundaries of ethical and impact driven business practices?
I’m inspired by the women I’ve already helped and the impact I’ve seen on their lives. There’s still a significant gap in maternal health provisions, and despite the evident need, there is no preventative solution in place. This drives me to continue pushing forward, especially with the tech I’ve built. I feel a deep sense of obligation and inspiration to keep advancing until we can reach and positively impact more women, creating a lasting change in their health and well-being.
What is your favourite quote that you would like us to include? And please explain why.
Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill
This quote resonates with me because it perfectly captures the essence of entrepreneurship and personal growth. In my journey, there have been both successes and setbacks, but what truly matters is the resilience to keep going. It reminds me that both achievements and challenges are temporary, and it’s the drive to persevere that shapes the future. The courage to continue, even when it’s tough, is what leads to long-term impact.
What are your 3 top tips on career progression within the social impact space.
To progress in a career within the social impact space, my top three tips are:
- Stay Mission-Driven: Align your goals with a genuine passion for making a difference. This authenticity will drive you to make meaningful changes and stay committed.
- Build Relationships: Collaborate with others in the field to open new opportunities, exchange ideas, and amplify your impact.
- Adapt and Learn Continuously: Stay open to new strategies, technologies, and leadership practices. Being adaptable ensures you remain effective and innovative in driving social change.