Brooke Menyuk shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Brooke, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’d say I’m most proud of the trust I’ve built behind the scenes. When families come to Malibu Nannies, all they see is the perfect match — a nanny who fits right in and feels like family. What they don’t see are the late nights, the background checks, the endless phone calls, and the thought that goes into making sure that match is right.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s the heart of what I do. That behind-the-scenes effort is what gives parents peace of mind and helps nannies feel truly supported, and that’s what makes it all worth it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I started my career as a nanny for high-profile and high-net-worth families, including some of today’s top actresses. Those years gave me a front-row seat to the unique needs of families in Malibu and Calabasas, as well as the challenges nannies face working through large, corporate-style agencies that can feel impersonal.
When I became a mom of two boys myself, I knew I wanted to create something different — a boutique agency where relationships come first. Malibu Nannies was built to be small-scale and close-knit, where I personally spend the majority of my time interviewing, getting to know each nanny, and thoughtfully pairing them with families. My goal is always to create more than just a placement — it’s about finding the right fit so families welcome not just a caregiver, but another member of their family.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My very first job was at 15, living in Maine. I couldn’t drive yet, but I found a family on Craigslist looking for a mother’s helper for their four kids. At the time, life at home wasn’t always easy, and this family quickly became my second family — my escape and my sense of normalcy. They showed me what a loving, close-knit household looked like, and they treated me like one of their own. They even took me on some of my first big trips, to places I never dreamed I’d see.
Over the years, they welcomed a fifth child, and I took a break to attend college for medical assisting — I’ve always been a caretaker at heart. But I couldn’t stay away; I went back to work with them because being with those kids meant so much to me. This was over 15 years ago, and to this day, I’m still incredibly close with them. Moving from Maine to California was a heartbreak, but we’ve stayed connected, shared visits, and even introduced each other’s children. Now, most of those kids are in college, and one has a baby of her own.
I learned everything about work, family, and life from them — how to travel with kids, how siblings bond, how mothers balance it all. They shaped me in ways I can never thank them enough for, and they gave me the foundation for the work I do today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have definitely been moments when I felt like giving up. Starting a business while raising two young boys hasn’t been easy. There were nights when I was exhausted from being up with my baby and then staring at a laptop at 2 a.m., wondering if I could really do it all. There were times I felt pulled in a million directions — wanting to be fully present as a mom, but also wanting to give families and nannies the care and attention they deserve.
What kept me going was remembering why I started. I wanted to build an agency that truly supported both families and nannies, something small and personal in a world of big, corporate-feeling agencies. And as a mom, I knew how deeply families needed that peace of mind and how much nannies needed to feel valued.
So yes, there were moments I almost gave up — but every time, I reminded myself that if I stopped, I’d be walking away from something that could change lives. That perspective kept me moving forward, one step at a time.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect most is trust. In childcare, trust is everything — parents are inviting someone into the most sacred part of their lives, and nannies are trusting me to connect them with families who will respect and value them. Without trust, it all falls apart.
That’s why I’ve kept Malibu Nannies intentionally boutique and personal. I don’t want it to feel like a big, corporate agency where people become numbers. Every decision I make — from the time I spend interviewing nannies to the care I take in pairing them with families — comes back to protecting that trust. It’s what makes families feel safe and what makes nannies feel supported, and I won’t compromise on it.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell the story of someone who cared deeply — both as a mom and as a business owner. I want to be remembered as the kind of person who built something meaningful out of love and trust. For my boys, I hope they remember a mom who worked hard but was always present for them, showing them what it looks like to build with purpose.
For Malibu Nannies, I want families to say that I created a safe space where they felt cared for, and that I helped bring incredible nannies into their lives who became like family. I hope nannies remember me as someone who valued and supported them, not just as workers, but as people.
At the end of the day, my legacy isn’t about titles or accomplishments — it’s about relationships. If people remember me as someone who built bridges of trust and made life a little easier, safer, and more joyful for families, then I’ll feel like I’ve done my job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://malibunannies.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/malibunannies
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/malibunannies
Image Credits
Logan Inglesby @loloelizabethphoto
