GROWING UP in a crowded household full of brothers and sisters, business-owner and full-time nanny, Shada Lambert, believes that it was only a matter of time before she would start her own business.

Nanny Sharz came into fruition in the spring of last year as the first step to making her childhood dream a reality – working with families and children all over the world.

“I started off babysitting when I was thirteen and I’ve also been a dancer and drama teacher in my teens,” she recalls, “then I got recommended to a nanny position and I never looked back. I’ve been a nanny for 17 years now. So, I go to houses when people hire me, and I help them raise their beautiful children”

“I work at the moment in the UK just because of lockdown, I’ve not been able to travel, so a lot of my work is over here. But prior to that, I was working all over the world – Nigeria, Scotland, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, and all over America.”

Despite the unconventional path to finding her passion, Shada is as stringent in academia as she is in her everyday work. She has gained qualifications in Early Childhood Development and is a recent master’s graduate in her field.

However, as a successful long-term nanny, she knows that her industry needs development so businesses like hers can continue to flourish. “There is a campaign called UK Nannies Matter, that was created to help regulate the nanny industry, safeguard children and their parents and help to build up a pay scale for nannies. As nannies, we all work with children – teachers get regulated, childminders are regulated, we are in people’s homes and we don’t get regulated. So, that needs to change.”

Change is needed

For Shada, her drive for change in the industry also comes from her own experiences working as a black nanny, recalling the times she encountered racism and was kicked out of clients’ houses for just handing in her notice. It’s one of the reasons why she decided to expand her business to a more public platform.

Nannying itself is a very unique career, Shada acknowledged, but she also knows the complicated history of black women looking after other people’s children. Particularly, white children.

“The reason I took my business to social media after 17 years is because I wanted to show that black nannies do exist,” she said. “We face racism and discrimination. Nannying is a very isolating career at times, so if you don’t actively meet people you’ll be very lonely.

“I wanted to find someone online that wasn’t the stereotypical Mary Poppins – white, middle-class, straight and narrow with not much personality. People have also told me that when they think of black nannies, they of someone that is very motherly, plump, very disciplined and strict, doesn’t have much fun. I wanted to see a real representation of what nannies look like, and I couldn’t find that – I couldn’t find any black women.”

Being a “bubbly and outspoken” personality, along with her “bold earrings and bright lipstick,” it was important for Shada to get that across in the branding for her business. And when she did, she received an influx of messages from nannies of all races that were elated to finally see someone like her “be the change” in a complex industry.

“I’m a very hands-on nanny. I’m rolling around on the floor with the children, making snow angels.

‘When you think of a nannie, you don’t think of a bald head, black Jamaican lady – representation matters,” she said.

“People are always quite shocked with my discipline methods; it’s normal for you to get a licking in our culture – in Jamaican culture – but I don’t believe in hitting children personally,” admitted Shada. “I always say my nanny style is leading with love, leading with compassion and empathy.

“I believe in genuinely talking to the children and finding different techniques, such as mindfulness. When a child has a meltdown, allow them to have it and then maybe talk about it. So, I’ve always trying to find the root of why a child is behaving that way. That’s not how my mom did it for her six children, but sometimes it’s about unlearning behaviours and making that change.”

Challenges for Black Business Entrepreneurs

Shada is intentional and endlessly positive in the work she does for families and the messaging she wants to convey, but says it hasn’t always been easy. She started her business, registering as self-employed in the first post-lockdown, which she admitted was a “heavy risk” as the government plunged the UK back into tighter restrictions soon after.

Financial constraints, she conceded, was her biggest hurdle as a beginner entrepreneur.

“Funding wise, it’s been very difficult. I think there is a lack of funding for black businesses, especially for black women-led businesses. Even the process of applying for help can be very intimidating if you’re new to business, so I’ve just been self-funding from my savings and the money I make from working.

“There are a lot of goals and visions that I have, but because of the business there are other things that are taking me longer to do. As a start-up black owned business, Shada wants to see more support for people like her, particularly for those working in an wholly unexplored industry such as childcare.

Nanny Sharz began as a brand, but since has continued to grow its services to offer sleep training and potty training, while also further division of “nanny coaching” for those wanting to follow in her footsteps.

“A lot of people have come forward now saying that they want to start their own businesses because of me,” she said. “During lockdown, I offered free childcare services to single parents in south-east London who wouldn’t usually have the experience of having a nanny, some of them just can’t afford it.

“Through giving that service, they loved having a nanny and I was able to do that because of the lockdown.”

The journey into entrepreneurship has been challenging, but has enabled Shada to “step into her greatness and leave the comfort zone. It’s not for the fainthearted, dealing with early morning starts and working 12 hour days, she said, but having a real passion for what you do and a positive outlook despite the struggles is fundamental.

Although Shada is not a mother herself, she grew up in a big family, and her nieces and nephews are “her children” as well as the “nannies babies” that she looks after. She shared her desire to start fostering in the next few years as she manages her business.

“I’m very passionate about looking after children and I love the fact that as a nanny you can be an in-home child care, so you’re building a one-on-one with different children,” she said. “The nanny families that I work for become like family – it’s just so rewarding. And like I’ve always said, I was destined to be working with children anyway. It’s something I absolutely love, I love the fact that I I’m like a third parent – they just get me to do it.”

To find out more about Shada’s nannying services and coaching, visit Nanny Sharz.