This article is part of the Back to Work Moms new series interviews with moms whose stories can inspire. This series includes tips and intervews with human resources experts, resume experts, and successful moms with stories that inspire as well as taking a look at resources to help moms looking to dip their toes back in the workplace water or jump right back in. It's for stay at home moms, work at home moms, moms who work part time and moms that have gone back to work full time.
Back to Work Mom: Bradi Nathan
Co-Founder, MyWorkButterfly.com
2 Children: Jack and Drew (ages 10 and 7, boy and girl)
Twitter @bradinathan
www.MyWorkButterfly.com
Examiner: Why did you start MyWorkButterfly.com?
Bradi: I started MyWorkButterfly.com to provide support, advice and solutions for return-to-work and working moms. I strongly believed that there needed to be an online community for smart and savvy women that embraced the notion that we can in fact have it all.
The site was conceived after I left Corporate America as an Ad Executive for Hearst Publications in favor of raising my kids. Shortly after, I created a mommy-and-me business called For You Two and learned from the moms who have taken my class that they were all struggling with the notion of going back to work (or not), in what capacity AND if flex options even existed. As a mom who had left the workforce I recognized, and clearly felt, their frustration. In turn, I aimed to create an online community where moms could be successful on all fronts.
MyWorkButterfly.com was built off of the conversations had by the 1,000+ women who've taken For You Two. Add to those conversations, extensive focus groutaken aps and an online national survey and you have the foundation of butterfly. This is what we learned:
Reseach proved moms want:
1. flexible hours or part-time jobs
2. work from home opportunities
3. affordable daycare options
4. resume and career related advice
5. psychotherapy to help them overcome the guilt of having to leave their children to return to work
6. financial independence
7. adult stimulation
8. answers in how to address the gap in employment (after having stayed home to raise kids)
9. knowledge on how to use transferable skills
10. equal pay for equal work (men vs. women)
Examiner: What's your number one piece of advice for moms returning to the workplace?
Bradi: The number one piece of advice: Wow, that's hard. Face the fear and do it anyway. You will gain a sense of self and financial independence you might not have had otherwise and will be a wonderful role model to your children in the process!
Check out more interviews in the Back to Work Moms series HERE!
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