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Founder and CEO,
Global Wonders

Rashmi Shrivastava Turner is a first generation American whose Indian parents raised her on the East Coast and in California. Her bi-cultural, bi-costal heritage along with her intelligence and stick-toitiveness are why Global Wonders is the success it is today.

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a major in Political Science and Economics Rashmi excelled at high-powered jobs in PR, marketing, communications, and investor relations, eventually landing a plum post as Vice President of Production, Learning and Education for Disney Interactive Studios and The Baby Einstein Company. While there Rashmi spearheaded the company’s marketing and product development and was pivotal to the growth of the Baby Einstein brand, expanding it to include DVDs, TV programs, and products in twenty five languages, boosting retail sales from 25 million to over 250 million.

In 2007 Rashmi founded Global Wonders, a line of educational and entertainment products designed to introduce children to the customs, lifestyle, music and language of cultures around the world, bringing together family, friends, and the world by celebrating our similarities as well as our differences.

What we learned from Rashmi: No matter how great your idea is you can’t launch it alone. Surround yourself with amazing people and keep your ears open.

Starting Out

Growing up I always wanted to run something. My mother was very entrepreneurial and from early on I was taught to go after what you think is right. I moved to California as a senior in high school and went on to UC Berkeley, eventually joining a PR firm launching Nintendo 64, Game Boy, and supporting the Walt Disney home video account in both consumer marketing and investor relations. Back then I remember learning so much about the meaning behind brands and products and how they had to live up to the vision. I was told I was creative  and more importantly saw clear ways to execute ideas.

From Branding to Baby Einstein

I joined Disney and the Baby Einstein Company following Disney’s acquisition of the company in 2002. Working for Disney and BEC gave me so many opportunities. I learned so much not only about various lines of business but how to develop and build brands. Additionally I learned a tremendous amount about DVD and TV production as well as about the developmental needs of children.

Leaving What You Love

I had a very hard time making the decision to leave Disney. I loved what I did but at the same time I felt I had progressed to the point that I needed to do something that would add to my skill set and leverage my knowledge. I also was trying to look ahead to where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing in five years. The time was right to strike out on my own and see where it would go.

Global Wunderkind

As the mother of two cross-cultural children, and being a first generation Indian born in the United States, I had a strong desire to teach my children about their cultural background and to help them embrace the heritage of both of their parents. I also witnessed their innate curiosity about their friends and neighbors. As a result it became clear that not only my own, but all children were interested in, and highly influenced by, one another. I saw that there weren’t any tools for them to build on what they were being exposed to. As all parents do, I wanted to introduce my girls to as much as possible. I based Global Wonders on the concept of supporting cross-cultural friendships and helping children increase their self esteem by appreciating others.

We Are the World

I founded my company in 2007. I was very fortunate to be able to bring together a team of not only children’s media Emmy award winners but other professionals I had worked with in the past. I assembled a group of executives, contributors, writers, composers, and development experts. We call the ever-changing world we live in a Cultural Kaleidoscope, where every individual culture and experience adds a more colorful global view. The Global Wonders philosophy is to highlight the beauty in our cultural kaleidoscope. And market research  was a snap – we just asked moms what they most wanted to share about their culture with their own children!

Biggest Success

My biggest success has been creating content that is not only educational but fun. Having children ask to see it over and over again and hearing what parents and children learn together and how much they enjoy the programs is wonderful.

This featured lady was profiled by Susie Lacey, a freelance writer in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

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