Women of Influence Award (2018)

In May 2018, Healthy Horizons CEO, Sheila Janakos was named one of 100 Silicon Valley leaders awarded the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence 2018 Award. Their June 2018 edition of the magazine includes Sheila’s mission to make breastfeeding accessible to all mothers everywhere and at every workplace. She is described as an “outspoken advocate for families and a pioneer in the workplace breastfeeding industry.” She is celebrated for providing mother’s room services to HR departments across United States and internationally.

Sheila has 30 years of experience in providing breastfeeding guidance and education. She has her Masters of Public Health in Public Health Education from San Jose State University and a Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education from San Francisco State University. She is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Certified Lactation Educator. She is well known for previously hosting the radio show “Babies and Beyond” on Voice America. Sheila is highly involved in community groups including Le Leche League, speaks nationally on issues related to breastfeeding, developed WIC programs, assisted hospitals to become Baby-Friendly, and develop Infant Wellness programs.

As a young mother, Sheila experienced her own breastfeeding difficulties trying to breastfeed her infant daughter while working full time. Her struggles inspired her to create a community resource where breastfeeding mothers could receive support from experts. Sheila started Healthy Horizons Breastfeeding Centers in 1991 to be a resource to support and empower mothers breastfeeding their infants. Her company was the first to bring a full-service lactation center to the San Francisco Bay Area. Today the company provides many parent support services and supports mothers through full-service lactation centers in Burlingame and Menlo Park, California. Healthy Horizons also provides breastfeeding classes for new, experienced, and working mothers, parenting classes, one-on-one lactation counseling, Skype consultations, and home visits.

In addition to the breastfeeding centers, Healthy Horizons Corporate Lactation Services provides lactation services to companies across the US, Canada, and Europe. The business supports mothers in the workplace by providing companies services for lactation programs including well-maintained mother’s rooms with hospital-grade pumps, pumps kits, and amenities. They also provide mother’s rooms for corporate events in any venue.

Sheila is dedicated to supporting mothers at home and in their careers. She is passionate about helping all the families she works with in creating health and wellness on all levels. Her belief is that if we can get babies off to the right start, by bonding with parents instantly after birth and having the opportunity to breastfeed, we can create a healthier and safer world for our little ones to grow up in.

Congratulations Sheila!