Keanna Sanders is revolutionizing childcare for modern families who don’t work traditional nine-to-five schedules. As founder and CEO of Sanbridge Early Learning Centers, she operates 24-hour facilities and extended-hour locations throughout the DMV area. Her vision addresses the reality that many parents juggle multiple jobs, side businesses, or unconventional work hours.
The fashion-forward mother of two appeared on the Mompreneurs podcast to share her entrepreneurial journey. Host Nancy Redd heard how Sanders transformed her childhood passion into a growing childcare empire. Her story demonstrates how personal experience and community needs can inspire successful business ventures.
Grandmother’s Childcare Work Inspired Lifelong Passion
Sanders’ expertise in childcare traces back to her own childhood experiences helping her grandmother. “I was always around children,” she explained during the Mompreneurs episode. She regularly babysat neighborhood kids, family members, nieces, and nephews throughout her youth.
This early exposure to childcare shaped her career trajectory and business vision. “Being able to take that love for children and working with my grandmother helped me get to where I am today,” Sanders reflected. By her early 20s, she had earned all her childcare certifications and graduated with her bachelor’s degree.
Started Small With Eight Children at Winter Mill Location
Sanders launched her first Sanbridge Early Learning Center with modest resources and ambitious dreams. She began “with eight children and three staff at my Winter Mill location.” The early days presented real challenges as she established her business model and reputation.
However, the business gained momentum once word spread about her quality care and flexible approach. “Children started coming from everywhere. I wound up growing that business so fast,” Sanders recalled. Her commitment to meeting families’ actual needs rather than industry standards drove rapid growth.
Learned to Navigate State Grants and Small Business Funding
Sanders educated herself on available financial resources to fuel her childcare expansion. She learned how to tap into state grants and small-business funding opportunities successfully. This financial savvy proved crucial for scaling beyond her initial single location.
She now shares this knowledge with other aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to enter the childcare industry. Her mentorship extends beyond childcare operations to include the business fundamentals that enable sustainable growth. This willingness to help others reflects her commitment to elevating the entire community.
Purchased Real Estate and Expanded to College Campus
Just three years after launching her first center, Sanders made a strategic property investment. “I bought the real estate as well,” she shared, demonstrating her long-term thinking about business ownership. Owning property provides stability and equity that renting cannot match.
Her expansion continued when she won a competitive bid to operate on a college campus. “I won that bid, and I just kept on expanding. And here I am today,” Sanders stated. Each successful venture built momentum for the next opportunity, creating a cycle of growth.
24-Hour Facilities Address Non-Traditional Work Schedules
Sanders recognized from day one that standard childcare hours fail many modern families. “Everyone doesn’t have a nine to five, right?” she observed accurately. Today’s economic reality requires many people to work multiple jobs or maintain side businesses.
“These days, everybody hustles. Either they have some type of side business going, or they’re working three jobs,” Sanders explained. Her facilities accommodate parents who need care beyond the typical 6 p.m. closing time. Some Sanbridge locations stay open until midnight, while others operate around the clock.
Extended Hours Make Quality Childcare Accessible
The availability of non-traditional hours removes a major barrier for working parents. “A lot of parents need non-traditional hours, which are extended hours past 6 o’clock,” Sanders noted. Her centers fill a critical gap in the childcare market that traditional providers ignore.
“So we’re able to aid those parents and accommodate their schedules,” she emphasized. This flexibility enables parents to accept work opportunities they might otherwise have to decline. Quality childcare during unconventional hours directly impacts families’ economic stability and opportunities.
Building Franchise Model to Become Household Name
Sanders currently focuses on scaling Sanbridge into a nationally recognized childcare brand. “You have to be creative in how you can expand. That’s what I’m going through right now,” she told host Nancy Redd. She’s developing a franchise model that will allow other entrepreneurs to operate under the Sanbridge name.
“I’m expanding, I’m creating a franchise model, and it’s a lot of work,” Sanders acknowledged. The franchise approach enables rapid growth while maintaining quality standards across locations. Her ambition extends far beyond operating a few successful centers in one region.
Vision to Become World’s Leading Childcare Provider
Sanders articulates a bold, clear vision for Sanbridge’s ultimate destination. “My vision is to be the world’s leading childcare provider and provide quality services,” she stated. This ambitious goal drives her daily decisions and long-term strategic planning.
Her aspiration to lead globally demonstrates confidence in her business model and service quality. Sanders believes that flexible, family-centered childcare can succeed anywhere families struggle with traditional options. The universal need for better childcare solutions supports her expansion dreams.
Baltimore Dynamic Women Offers Mentorship Beyond Childcare
Sanders’ commitment to supporting families extends beyond her childcare centers. She leads Baltimore Dynamic Women, an organization providing mentorship and entrepreneurial guidance. The group offers advice on “life skills, business plans, and different aspects of being an entrepreneur.”
“Every woman is dynamic in their own way,” Sanders emphasized about her mentorship philosophy. Her serial entrepreneur mindset drives her to uplift other women pursuing business ownership. This community-building work amplifies her impact beyond Sanbridge’s direct services.
Two Teenage Sons Grew Up in Business and Now Help Out
Sanders’ two sons, now 16 and 19 years old, witnessed their mother build Sanbridge from the ground up. They grew up receiving care at Sanbridge facilities before becoming old enough to contribute. Now both teenage boys work alongside their mother, helping care for younger children.
“I made sure that I had them involved as well,” Sanders explained about her intentional parenting approach. She wanted her sons to experience entrepreneurship firsthand rather than just hearing about it. “So everything that I did, they did … They were part of it, so they got to experience those things with me as I began the journey.”
Creating Generational Wealth and Legacy for Children
Sanders’ ultimate motivation centers on securing her children’s financial future. “My dream is to create a legacy for my children,” she stated clearly. The business represents more than personal achievement—it’s an inheritance and foundation for future generations.
“I’m about generational wealth. I want my children to be able to have something to fall back on,” Sanders emphasized. This long-term perspective shapes how she builds and structures her business ventures. Her sons will inherit not just assets but also entrepreneurial knowledge and experience.
Fashion-Forward CEO Brings Style to Business Leadership
Sanders brings distinctive personal style to her role as childcare CEO. Described as “fashion-forward,” she challenges stereotypes about what childcare entrepreneurs look like. Her appearance on Mompreneurs showcased how business leadership and personal expression can coexist.
This combination of style and substance makes her relatable to diverse audiences. Young women can see themselves in Sanders’ example without sacrificing their identity or interests. Her presence expands representations of who can succeed as a childcare entrepreneur.
Mompreneurs Platform Highlights Black Women Building Businesses
The Mompreneurs show specifically spotlights Black women entrepreneurs balancing business and family. Host Nancy Redd, a New York Times bestselling author, creates space for these important stories. Season 4 continues featuring brilliant women building enterprises with strength and style.
New episodes appear every Monday on MadameNoire’s YouTube channel and the Urban One Podcast Network. The show provides inspiration and practical wisdom for aspiring mompreneurs. Sanders’ episode contributes to this growing library of Black women’s entrepreneurial success stories.