Today we’d like to introduce you to Stuart Dupuy.
Hi Stuart, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My entrepreneurial journey started long before I knew what entrepreneurship was. In middle school, I mowed lawns in my neighborhood and discovered that I enjoyed serving customers, earning my own money, and building something from scratch. My wife, Kathy, and I made it official in 1994 when we founded Mom’s Best Friend, a nanny placement agency in Austin that we still own today. What began as a small family business grew into a lifelong entrepreneurial adventure. Over the years, we’ve founded and operated several other businesses, including a senior care agency, an assisted living facility, and multiple dance studios. While the industries have been different, the common thread has always been finding ways to serve families and create opportunities for others.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Unless you consider a roller coaster a smooth road, I’d have to say no. Entrepreneurship is incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with responsibilities and pressures that never fully go away. As a business owner, you’re responsible not only for the survival of the company, but also for the livelihoods of the employees and families who depend on it.
Over the years, we’ve faced challenges ranging from economic downturns and changing demographics to rapid technological shifts and labor shortages. Like many businesses, we also had to navigate the uncertainty of COVID, which forced us to adapt quickly and rethink parts of our business. Some of our biggest lessons came during the most difficult periods.
What I’ve learned is that resilience matters more than perfection. Every challenge presents a choice: focus on what you can’t control or focus on finding the next solution. The entrepreneurs who survive are usually the ones who keep learning, adapting, and moving forward even when the road gets bumpy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about I own multiple businesses?
While I’m involved in several businesses today, the common thread through all of them is serving families and helping people through important stages of life.
My primary professional role is serving as Brand President of Jovie, the nation’s largest nanny and sitter franchise system, which is owned by Bright Horizons. Jovie’s network employs more than 11,000 professional caregivers and serves tens of thousands of families across the country. In addition to my corporate role, Kathy and I own Jovie franchises in Austin and Houston, giving me the opportunity to stay closely connected to both the strategic and operational sides of the business.
Kathy and I also own Mom’s Best Friend, the nanny placement agency we founded in Austin in 1994. More than three decades later, we remain passionate about helping families find trusted childcare and household support.
We are also the owners of Balance Dance Studios and The Dance Spot, which Kathy leads and manages. Together, these studios have impacted thousands of children and adults through dance education, performance opportunities, and a strong sense of community.
What sets us apart is that we’ve never been focused solely on building businesses. We’ve focused on building organizations that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Whether it’s helping a family find a nanny, supporting an aging loved one, or giving a child the confidence that comes from performing on stage, we’re at our best when we’re helping people thrive.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the fact that many of the families we served decades ago are now returning as parents themselves. That kind of trust isn’t built through marketing; it’s earned over years of consistently showing up and delivering excellent service. To me, that’s the most rewarding measure of success.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If there’s one thing I’d like to share, it’s the importance of living intentionally. Too many people drift through life and hope things work out. I’ve found that you’re much more likely to achieve your goals if you first decide what matters most to you and then consistently move in that direction.
That doesn’t mean everything will go according to plan. It certainly hasn’t for me. But having a clear sense of purpose helps you make better decisions, stay focused through challenges, and avoid being pulled in a hundred different directions.
Whether it’s your career, your family, your faith, your health, or your business, I believe the key is to be intentional rather than accidental. Decide what kind of life you want to build and then take the next step toward it every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jovie.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartdupuy/
