Meet Marissa Goldstein, CEO and co-founder of local brand Rafi Nova.
Moms don’t get the recognition they deserve! As a business run BY local moms FOR local moms, Boston Moms is excited to showcase the hard work local moms are doing — both at home and in their professions.
Boston Moms is proud to feature Marissa Goldstein for this “Meet a Boston Mom Monday!” You may recognize Marissa’s face from recent features on your favorite news channel. As the co-founder and CEO of Rafi Nova, a sustainably sourced fashion brand that makes masks, bags, and accessories, Marissa and her company have received several well-deserved accolades over the past few months.
As they navigated business ownership during a pandemic and shifted the majority of their production to making (and donating!) masks, Rafi Nova has become a nationally recognizable brand, has escalated production, scaled their team, moved to a larger facility, and donated over 100,000 masks to people in need. Boston Moms has been a cheerleader for Rafi Nova since early spring, and we are so excited for their success.
Join us in celebrating local mom Marissa and the important contributions she makes at home and through her work!
We asked Marissa to share a bit about herself. Get to know her here!
Full name: Marissa Goldstein
Occupation/business name: Rafi Nova
Children: Eyva and Noa (5), Efi and Raya (2.5)
Hometown: Needham
Favorite local restaurant: The James
Favorite local business or brand: French Press
Tell us a bit about your work/job: I am the co-founder and CEO of Rafi Nova, a sustainably sourced fashion brand that makes masks, bags, and accessories. We are located in Needham/Newton and now have 30 employees. My favorite thing about my work is the ability to give back to those in need. We’ve donated over 100,000 masks since April!
What is the one thing that surprised you the most about motherhood?: Finding out that there is very little “me” time (although it’s important to make that time) but being OK with never being perfect.
What is one piece of advice you’d offer another working mom?: Don’t sweat the small stuff — there’s no time to do everything, and you don’t need to be the best at everything. Be proud of how much you are able to accomplish each and every day.
What is one way you take care of yourself?: Go for a run every morning (early) and listen to a podcast.
Is there anything else we should know about you or your work?: We were a traveling family pre-Covid, spending six months in Vietnam and six months in Boston. I find it a lot easier to be out of the house, doing things with our two sets of twins, than staying home!
List two women who inspire you: My sister, Vikki, and Michelle Obama.
You can read more about Marissa and Rafi Nova here. Follow her at @twinsonthegox2 on Instagram.
