How Hospitality Created Hello Nanny—And Why it Matters So Much
Stephanie Fornaro, courtesy of Hello Nanny!
About fifteen years ago, Stephanie Fornaro learned some of the most formative business lessons from an unlikely place, a steakhouse.
You learn a ton of lessons from working in hospitality. You learn about patience, empathy, multi-tasking, and de-escalating tense (often hanger-induced) situations. However, Stephanie Fornaro’s biggest takeaway didn’t come from the customers, from the back of house, or from the long hours. It came, unexpectedly, from her employers.
As a single mom with very little support, Fornaro raised her first child while juggling school, two jobs, and motherhood. Like many mothers pushing through chaotic, demanding times, Fornaro didn’t really think about it at the time.
Her daughter’s wellbeing was at the center of every move she made, but she needed a little compassion to pull it off.
Kindness Matters
At the steakhouse, her daughter quietly doodled in a booth while Stephanie turned over tables. What could have been just another grind became something more. Because her team saw Stephanie as more than an employee, she was able to thrive.
Instead of a young employee just working a weekend job, Fornaro’s employers saw her as a human being, and as a mom trying to make a great life for her child. Their kindness didn’t end at allowing her daughter to occupy a booth during the Saturday rush, either.
Fornaro explains, “When the dinner rush slowed, they would sit with me to help with my Spanish homework, patiently guiding me through lessons and encouraging me to succeed.”
They offered her grace, support, and respect — and in doing so, they unknowingly planted the seeds for what would become Hello Nanny!
Today, as the founder and CEO of Hello Nanny!, Stephanie channels that same spirit of empathy and inclusion into every client and caregiver relationship her agency supports.
Her message is clear: when you hire a nanny, you’re not just filling a role — you’re shaping your home’s culture.
Culture Over Credentials
Of course, qualifications matter. However, when hiring for a role that requires such care, the human skills or soft skills should be paramount.
While Fornaro’s former employees could have hassled her about having her daughter around, they led with empathy. This is a lesson that is baked into the core of Hello Nanny!
Stephanie and her team specialize in creating what she calls “values-based matches.” That means prioritizing shared rhythms, parenting philosophies, and communication styles. The right nanny is more than a CPR certification or a perfect driving record.
The right nanny doesn’t just fit your schedule or budget. They fit (and enrich!) your family.
When you welcome someone into your home, you’re inviting them into your most intimate spaces. This is why Hello Nanny! encourages parents to treat their nannies or caretakers not as employees, but as partners working together to keep a family healthy and happy.
That connection has to be rooted in clarity, trust, and mutual respect — not just resume bullet points.
Human First
In a world that can feel increasingly powered by robots and bottom lines, Hello Nanny! prioritizes the humanity of the relationship between a family and their nanny or family assistant.
Her steakhouse managers didn’t have to support her, but they did.
That human-first approach taught her that how you lead and how you care create ripple effects far beyond the workplace.
It’s a lesson she’s carried into her leadership at Hello Nanny!, where both nannies and families are treated like full participants in a relationship, not just a business transaction.
Communication is (Usually) the Cure
If you take a moment to think of some of the biggest failures that you’ve experienced, whether personal or professional, we’d bet that 99% of them happened through some communication error or lapse.
One of the core values at Hello Nanny! is rooted in setting expectations, communicating goals, and keeping an open and respectful dialogue.
Families who take time to communicate their parenting styles, household routines, and goals set a partnership on the road to success. But the communication part doesn’t end there.
Another huge piece of the communication puzzle is the appreciation piece. A well-timed “thank you” works wonders. It shows that you see the person, that you feel the impact of their support, and that you appreciate their time, effort, and care.
This is a lesson we value enormously at Carter House Copy, and it’s also why we admire the culture that Stephanie Fornaro and her team at Hello Nanny! uphold.
Hello Nanny! A Better Way to Build Your Home
Hello Nanny! is more than a matchmaking service. It’s a movement.
We have all seen the headlines, and we are all aware that supporting our families, caring for our children, and creating a culture of care are both huge responsibilities and grossly overlooked by our society. It’s an ugly truth, but one that can be unraveled within a singular household.
Your home deserves caregivers who align with your values, and trusted caregivers deserve a workplace that recognizes their humanity!
So if you’re hiring a nanny (or anyone!) take a cue from Stephanie’s journey.
Look beyond the resume. Ask yourself:
Do we communicate with respect?
Are we clear about expectations and boundaries?
Are we building a culture where everyone—parents, kids, caregivers—can thrive?
Because ultimately, the way you show up sets the tone. And Hello Nanny! is here to help you show up right.
At Carter House Copy, we love a good hospitality lesson — and we believe that everyone should do a little tableside, counter, or retail work at some point in their lives.
It helps fill in the details of humanity, colors how we can treat each other with kindness, and the enormous impact of even the smallest gesture.
