Today we’d like to introduce you to Radha Patel.
Hi Radha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Rowan Clubhouse, Co-Founders; Radha Patel and Barkha Naik have been friends for many years and come from very different professional backgrounds, Barkha spent over two decades in early childhood education and Montessori leadership and currently has a successful Montessori school in Dallas. While, Radha built her career in finance and consulting. We were both navigating motherhood and asking the same question: Why is it so hard to find a space that truly supports families, without feeling overstimulating, transactional, or impersonal?
As moms, we were constantly looking for places where our children could play safely and meaningfully, while we could also slow down, connect, and feel supported. Too often, we found spaces that were either all play with no intention, or cafés that weren’t designed with children — or parents — in mind. We didn’t want another drop-in play space. We wanted to build something that felt thoughtful, calming, and community-driven.
Rowan came together at the intersection of our experiences. Barkha brings deep expertise in child development and play-based learning, shaped by years of running a Montessori school. Her experience ensures that every element is thoughtfully designed to support how children actually grow, explore, and learn. Radha brings the operational, financial, and strategic lens to help turn that vision into a sustainable business that could grow with its families. Together, we designed Rowan to feel warm, intentional, and welcoming — a place where play has purpose, parents feel seen, and community happens naturally.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting here wasn’t linear. We built Rowan while juggling careers, families, and life. There were moments of uncertainty, but the mission always stayed clear: to create a space we wished existed; one that supports both children and the adults raising them!
Like many first-time founders, we underestimated just how complex it would be to bring a physical space to life. Navigating permits, inspections, construction timelines, and vendor delays required far more time, patience, and resilience than we expected. Every step depended on another, and even small delays could have a ripple effect.
For Radha, the journey was happening alongside major life events. Building Rowan while navigating motherhood and health challenges which added an emotional layer that isn’t often visible from the outside. There were moments when progress felt slow, when plans had to shift quickly, and when simply showing up each day required a lot of grit.
For Barkha, managing her Montessori school while navigating motherhood came with daily challenges. It meant late nights, meetings squeezed in between appointments, and constantly aligning schedules. Running a Montessori school often required being called in at the last minute, even when she already had commitments at Rowan. It took a great deal of juggling, and that was before adding the demands of toddler life on top of it all.
Another challenge was staying true to our vision while making practical decisions. It’s easy to compromise when costs rise or timelines stretch, but we were intentional about protecting the things that mattered most: safety, wellness, thoughtful design, and a calm, developmentally supportive environment for children. That often meant taking the longer or harder path.
That said, every challenge reinforced why we started Rowan in the first place. Each obstacle forced us to be more intentional, more collaborative, and more grounded in our mission. The road wasn’t smooth but it shaped Rowan into a stronger, more thoughtful space, and shaped us into more resilient founders!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What we’re most proud of is that Rowan is not just a beautiful space, it’s a thoughtfully built one. Every decision is intentional, from how children move through the space to how parents feel when they walk in the door. We didn’t follow a franchise model or copy an existing concept; we built Rowan from the ground up around how families actually live today!
What sets us apart is the balance we bring as co-founders and as moms. We blend deep expertise in child development with disciplined business execution, while designing from lived experience. We understand the emotional, logistical, and developmental needs of modern families because we’re living them ourselves. That perspective allows us to create a space that feels both elevated and deeply human; one that grows with the families it serves
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
We didn’t have a mentor. We dove in headfirst, doing extensive research on play equipment, having countless conversations with friends and family, and brainstorming what Rowan could become. We truly believe that if you believe in your business or your ideas, they will come to life. You just have to stay committed and see it through.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Rowanclubhouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rowanclubhouse
Image Credits
Destynie Plotke https://www.instagram.com/destyniepaige/
