Learn about Tauranga Girls' College alumnae and their accomplishments beyond our school gate. This edition we profile Emma McCarthy (nee Davey), 2007 - 2011. Please send any potential recommendations to news@tgc.school.nz

We love seeing innovations of alumna like Emma McCarthy (nee Davey), 2007-2011. Emma established Pretty Childish an activity book shop in 2018 and says Design was definitely her favourite subject at school!

Emma left school at the end of Year 12 and worked full time before being drawn back to her passion of design. She studied graphic design at polytech whilst holding several jobs, including working for an app company.

When Emma became a mother at aged 20 her son Jax loved books and kept ripping the pages and was obsessed with buttons and fiddling with everything! Emma saw an opportunity to use her design skills and meet a need in the market. After lots of experimenting, three years later Pretty Childish was born!

Emma designs and creates sensory books made from fabric materials for children and babies. The books aim to develop a child's cognitive powers through sight, touch and movement. The pages are filled with unique sensory motor activities, beautiful colours and unlimited learning!

"All of my favourite subjects seem to be the ones I use the most now; Science, Art, Design, and Computing. When I was at school trying to think of a job that included what I loved it was really hard, until I realised I could make it up myself. Creating my own business with everything I loved to do instead of trying to fit into a typical job category has been perfect for me" says Emma.

Her successful home run business is pushing into wholesale this year as parents and children around Aotearoa and the world are keen to get their hands on her designs that aim to inspire kids imagination.

"When you love every part of your job it no longer feels like work, so I'm really lucky to have my business" says Emma.

Check out the photo gallery to see some of her work.

Alumna, Alumnae, Alumni, Alumnus: What's the difference?

Alumni: Is the plural noun for a group of male and female graduates

Alumnus: Is one male graduate

Alumna: Is one female graduate

Alumnae: A group of female graduates