Since the early days of Zylo, we’ve been committed to supporting the communities where we live and work. Our success wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community, so we’re proud to partner with Pledge 1% to support nonprofits in Indianapolis and beyond.
One key way we support our community (and our world) is by taking action to protect the environment. Because let’s face it: we want our planet to thrive for generations to come.
As individuals, it’s easy to feel powerless when we’re up against a big issue like climate change. But in reality, small, simple changes can have a big impact — especially when we’re all working together.
Here are a few of the ways team Zylo is pledging to protect our planet not only on Earth Day, but throughout the year.
2021 Earth Day Plans
This Earth Day, we’re focused on celebrating and protecting the planet in ways that work in today’s virtual, socially distant world. We’ve set up safe, socially distant volunteer options for employees, including the opportunity to lend a hand with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
Some of our team members have made plans to gather in small groups outdoors to go hiking, plant trees or participate in other outdoor activities to celebrate the planet.
Finally, we’re also holding a virtual Earth Day Zoom hangout and we’re encouraging employees to explore their favorite place in nature (or discover a new place) and share a picture via Slack.
A Look Back at Year’s Past
Here’s a look back at some of Zylo’s past Earth-focused events and initiatives, too. Our hope is to bring back a lot of these things in the future — when it’s safe to do so!
Car Free Day
Did you know that there are one billion vehicles on the globe? Car Free Day, an international event held each September, challenges motorists to forgo their cars for a day, opting instead for greener modes of transportation. Each year, Zylo participates in Car Free Day. And our employees happily take part, seeking out alternate transportation methods that are better for the environment. In fact, in 2020, we won the Indianapolis area contest!
Here’s our team celebrating our big win.
Zylos Taking to the Streets
Twice a year, all of our employees come together to do a volunteer project. It’s a great way to foster teamwork — and give back to the community that’s given us so much.
On more than one occasion, we’ve laced up our sneakers, grabbed our bags and hit the streets to pick up trash from our local neighborhoods and parks.
Of course, our volunteer projects have looked a bit different over the course of the last year. But the pandemic hasn’t held us back from doing our part to protect the planet. In 2020, Zylo organized a virtual cleanup. At a designated date and time, all employees came together (virtually) to clear litter from parks or neighborhoods close to their homes.
VTO for the Environment
Each year, Zylo gives each employee eight hours of volunteer time off (VTO) to give back to the community. Oftentimes, employees opt to use this time to support the environment — whether it’s by cleaning up parks and trails or helping to plant a community garden.
Earth Day Bingo
On Earth Day 2020, Zylo’s entire team was working remotely. But we wanted to find a way to engage our employees and encourage them to take small (but impactful) actions to give back to the planet.
So, we developed Earth Day Bingo. Each space on the Bingo card offered a way to “go green,” such as using reusable grocery bags or ditching disposable water bottles. Employees who took actions (and completed Bingo patterns while doing so) won prizes — and bragging rights!
In-Office Recycling and Composting
It’s been a while since team Zylo has all been in the office together. But when we were, we had built a successful recycling and composting program. This made it really easy for everyone to do their part to reduce waste going into landfills. And it’s a program that we’ll pick back up once employees are back to working in the office.
Happy Earth Day!
It’s our responsibility to take action to protect our planet on Earth Day — and throughout the entire year. Remember: small changes can make a big impact, especially when we’re all committed to doing our part.
Written by Dan Ammann for Pledge 1%.
Sometimes terrible events can be clarifying.
Last fall I wrote about the spike in auto fatality rates and the record-breaking wildfires, and how both situations further underscored the need for safer, cleaner transportation options. Autonomous vehicles aren’t just a nice-to-have. They’re essential for a better future.
But the pandemic also clarified something else for us.
AVs aren’t just a future promise. They must serve the urgent needs of our communities today.
As soon as the shelter-in-place began, food insecurity skyrocketed. In San Francisco, the number of people dependent on The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank nearly doubled, from 32,000 households to nearly 60,000. Cruise responded by committing part of our fleet to delivering groceries and meals alongside the food bank and the SF New Deal.
And we didn’t just deliver a few. Our vehicles delivered over a million meals to primarily low income communities across the city.
The realization was almost startling. The ground our small, inaugural fleet was able to cover and the impact we had in a single city far exceeded expectations.
What happens if we scale that?
We’re going to find out. Today we are officially announcing Cruise For Good, our dedicated social impact program. At the heart of this program is our commitment to pledge 1% of our fleet to serving local communities in need – not just in San Francisco, but everywhere Cruise goes. By joining the Pledge 1% movement, our commitment to our communities grows and scales with us.
As a CEO in an emerging industry, this is a rare opportunity to infuse social impact into our company DNA right from the beginning, and hopefully challenge others in our space to do the same.
As we expand our presence in new markets, it’s incredibly exciting to think about the different ways in which our technology can make a difference. We have so much flexibility, whether we’re providing mobility or delivering necessary supplies, or both. Which is the beauty of AVs. It also means we can keep our Cruise For Good charter clear and maximize our potential for impact:
- Partner with nonprofits and organizations that know their communities the best
- Serve people who are the most vulnerable
- Go where the need is greatest
Cruise for Good represents the best of what our new technology is capable of – improving the quality of life in our cities, especially for people underserved by the limitations of transportation today.
As former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said, “This could be a game changer for millions.”
I couldn’t agree more. And I invite others in our industry to join us. Together, we can be transformational for communities in need all over the world.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Jen Bayford, Co-founder & Marketing Director at Growth Animals.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
My role at Growth Animals is to understand each client’s goals, situation, customers, challenges and opportunities. I work with each unique business to develop the best growth marketing strategy for that organisation, including identifying key ‘growth accelerators’ to focus the business on plans that will make the most difference.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I started my career journey 20 years ago with a marketing degree, and worked my way through growing several different beauty and luxury skincare brands, before moving to the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex to grow the motorsport businesses. That’s where I met my brilliant two business partners Chris Thornhill (our tenacious and clever CEO) and Jerin Micheal (our digital and content marketing wizard). We set up Growth Animals to drive our ethos of ethical marketing practices as we are determined to make marketing that informs, helps and inspires, rather than manipulates, the industry standard.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Hands down it was the decision to take voluntary redundancy during lockdown 1 (or was it 2?!) with Jerin and Chris, who were my two colleagues (from jobs at Goodwood we all loved I might add!) to start our own marketing company. I’ve learnt so much and have been able to make such a difference and help so many businesses grow.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
I’ve learnt to embrace the at home working to create a work life balance and enjoy the flexibility. I’ve learnt that to make the most of that I need to be disciplined and have boundaries. I have always worked in house throughout my career, office-based in companies with standard ‘hours’ and therefore have relied on my parent’s support for helping me raise my son who is now eight. But now I feel I can proudly be both a mum and a businesswoman (although I would never call myself that!)
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
I am very lucky to have two business partners who I feel very much equal to and who both feel passionately about equality for everyone. We actively promote diversity and inclusion and have it as a core value to guide our business. I find it challenging to hold my own in certain older, male dominated networking settings and therefore gravitate towards more gender balanced opportunities. I therefore feel I am missing out on building relationships with more senior, exec level people who are often the decision makers within the businesses we aim to work with. I tend to leave this level of chat to Chris, knowing he can command more respect and have more “business” conversations. This is perhaps in my head, but I am not an unconfident person in other settings, so need to overcome this.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
Yes I have a fantastic mentor, Sara Jamison, who was my first ever director back in my first marketing job. Sara has been an inspiration to me, I admire her business style and presence and she has helped me hugely overcome confidence challenges during my career. I have her to thank for the progress I’ve made where I’ve been gently encouraged outside of my comfort zone. We have met regularly for a good number of years and I appreciate her time and effort so much. I have started to give back by volunteering for Young Enterprise as a business advisor for an all girls school’s business studies cohort, with a view to empowering young females to know they can achieve what they want to in their careers.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Please be yourself. Identify your super strengths and dial them up. Pepper all your bios and profiles with your personality and what makes you brilliant and unique. Write these in a place you can see them and play to your strengths. I wish someone had told me this when I was starting out as I spent years being mediocre, trying to fit what I thought was expected of me. My career and progress really took off when I started to identify what I was good at, and sing that proudly, and turn up each day as me.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Creating a culture where flexibility is absolutely the norm for everyone and where trust is high. So that everyone can fulfil their role at home and in their work on their own terms. Working long hours or making unacceptable sacrifices should never be accepted or be considered a badge of honour. We should nurture each other to get to the position we want to get to, and not put obstacles of working hours, compulsory office working, guilt tripping and competitiveness in the way.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Our goal is to create a thriving business where we are helping our clients grow on an ongoing basis.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
Myself and my fellow Growth Animals feel very passionately about ethical marketing. Our founding principle is to help businesses sell more, but the key thing is that we’re not willing to do that at any cost and to the detriment of others. Ethical growth marketing, at its core, is a mindset and process, tenaciously focussed on sustainable growth, in which everybody wins. It means that the growth we create for our clients is not short lived and instead creates the platform for long term sustainable growth, and that our activities are human first and our team is always conscious of choosing methods, media and partners that are socially responsible too. Ultimately it has to be Win, Win, Win, whereby our clients, their customers and society all win. We support marketing that is inspiring and informative, not manipulative or misleading.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
We’ve only just joined Pledge 1% in the last quarter. We were already considering donating our time to support not for profit organisations and the Pledge 1% gave us a way of focusing on that goal and celebrating each other’s efforts. It is extremely rewarding to use our marketing skills and experience to help organisations grow in order to create bigger impact in their chosen area, for example, dementia support, music therapy and young females in business.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I love running and yoga. I have run three marathons and too many half marathons to count. But I’ve ditched my GPS watch and now run without agenda, focused on enjoying being outside in nature, moving my body and getting fresh air.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I listen to the AmazingIf podcast, created by two empowering women Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, who developed the concept of the squiggly career. They release regular content which discusses ways to grow, develop, overcome and thrive in our not-so-linear career paths. They are entertaining and leave me buzzing with inspiration and drive.
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
Yoga on Zoom. HotPod yoga thankfully put all their classes on zoom so we can all unite virtually from our own living rooms. It has been a god send and has helped me remove myself physically and mentally from my home office, making me a calmer, more focused mum, partner and Growth Animal!
At Pledge, our mission is to ‘Power Generosity,’ and impact is at the heart of everything we do.
We are committed to connecting brands and individuals to the causes they care about, including sustainability and protecting our planet – not just for Earth Day, but every day. Our hope is to inspire and serve as a catalyst for change through innovative technology as well as the example through which we lead to better our planet for future generations.
We believe that everyday moments are opportunities for impact – from your Zoom meetings and birthdays to your Clubhouse chats or your online shopping experiences. Every interaction has the potential to become more meaningful by adding a donation element, allowing you to pledge.to the causes you care about most. Through these everyday moments of impact, there is a multiplier effect that creates exponential progress around the globe. In order for our planet to sustain, we must recognize our roles and responsibilities to each do our part in its survival – from individuals to nonprofits to companies.
Everyday we witness people’s commitment to create this change and better our planet, using Pledge to fundraise for any of the 2+ million nonprofits and charitable organizations within our database. And with that, we see a future that is bright and capable of so much good. Here are a just a few recent examples of pledges for the planet, all powered by Pledge:
- Fashion Makes Change pledges to provide greater sustainability measures as well as women’s equality within the fashion industry, utilizing our round-up solution through Shopify to power their donations at checkout.
- Blueland pledges to clean up our planet by cleaning up our homes – and donate profits toward environmental-friendly organizations.
- Warner Music Group pledges to help save our delicate coral reefs through their partnership with SeaTrees.
- Beachly’s subscription boxes pledge to fund beach clean-ups in Southern California through their nonprofit partner, Heal the Bay.
- Hot as Hell pledges to plant a tree with every order through One Tree Planted.
Whether you are a business looking to find more accessible ways to engage your audience while also giving back, or donating towards a cause you care about as an individual or community, there are many ways you can join us in the #PledgeToDoGood this Earth Month. Together, we can protect our planet and sustain a healthy future for all.
We all imagine ourselves traveling to distant lands in the summer, getting sunlight and snow on our ski vacations in winter, or taking a picture of our loved one in front of a gorgeous landscape. What can often stay hidden in that lovely perspective is how we impact those desired lands with our daily choices.
Do we think of greenhouse gas emissions and plastic reduction when we plan our next vacation? Maybe, maybe not. The Appfire family thinks it’s time to start.
That is why we joined the Earth Month Ecochallenge this April to connect the dots between our values and our actions! Our team, called The EarthWhile Project, strives to show how small actions lead to global changes. It takes several days to build a habit, and that is exactly what our team of changemakers is planning to do.
Let’s dive into some of our achievements throughout the month:
- Supporting local food systems with buying the weekly groceries from a farmer’s market;
- Spreading the word about energy alternatives like solar energy and wind turbines;
- Growing herbs, spices, or even veggies in our home-gardens;
- Planting local sorts of trees to places that desperately need forest restoration;
- Reducing food waste by cooking and eating mindfully, store food properly, and be cautious about foods’ expiration dates;
- Choosing led bulbs over incandescent ones;
- Learning more about the products that contribute to deforestation and remove them from our current lifestyle.
And these are just a few items from the big list of common choices each of us makes daily. Imagine thousands of people switching to public transport, walking or biking. Imagine everyone buying their morning breakfast with a reusable lunchbox. It’s not so hard, right?
We all want to enjoy the stunning beauty of nature, breathe clean air, and see how our kids grow in pure and healthy lands. Every day is a good day to take a step in this direction! Join the Ecochallenge today and keep it forever.
(Header) Photo of the mountains in Bulgaria courtesy of Cody Wooten.
Originally appeared on Businesswire.
Coinbase Announces Update Regarding Conversion of Shares of Class B Common Stock to Shares of Class A Common Stock
Remote-First-Company/PORTLAND–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Coinbase Global, Inc. (“Coinbase”), today announced that, as of April 12, 2021, there are 130.7 million shares of Class A common stock (“Class A common stock”) outstanding and 68.5 million shares of Class B common stock (“Class B common stock” and together with the Class A common stock, “Common Stock”) outstanding.
Coinbase also announced that, as of April 12, 2021, Coinbase had a fully diluted capitalization of 261.3 million shares of Common Stock. This fully diluted capitalization share count includes the shares of Common Stock outstanding and all outstanding stock options and restricted stock units but does not include shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under Coinbase’s equity compensation plans or its Pledge 1% commitment.
Only shares of Class A common stock will be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Trading of shares of Class A common stock is expected to commence on April 14, 2021. Each outstanding share of Class B common stock is convertible, at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class A common stock.
Coinbase has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that registers for resale shares of Class A common stock and that was declared effective on April 1, 2021. A copy of the prospectus related to the registration statement may be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website or via the investor relations page on Coinbase’s website at investor.coinbase.com under the “SEC Filings” section.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the date on which Coinbase’s Class A common stock will be available for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potential,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” and “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations, assumptions, and projections based on information available at the time the statements were made. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including risks and uncertainties related to: whether or not Coinbase will consummate the proposed public direct listing, prevailing market conditions, investor demand for shares of Coinbase’s Class A common stock, and the impact of general economic, industry or regulatory conditions in the United States or internationally. Further information on risks that could affect Coinbase’s business and the proposed public direct listing are included in Coinbase’s filings with the SEC including the Form S-1/A filed on March 23, 2021. Except as required by law, Coinbase assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
About Coinbase
Coinbase is building the cryptoeconomy – a more fair, accessible, efficient, and transparent financial system enabled by crypto. The company started in 2012 with the radical idea that anyone, anywhere, should be able to easily and securely send and receive Bitcoin. Today, we offer a trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader cryptoeconomy.
Originally published on Appfire.com. Written by Cody Wooten.
In 2015, Appfire formally joined an impressive network of organizations across the globe who have committed to philanthropic efforts through the Pledge 1% movement. Since 2018, across all Appfire products, we have donated millions of dollars in free products to non-profit and educational organizations around the world.
We have contributed donations to charities such as Feeding America, Rise Against Hunger, Room to Read, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society, and many others. Giving back is an integral part of our business and a key component of our company DNA.
Further elevating our philanthropic commitments was a critical element of entering into our new partnership with TA Associates and the strategic investment they made in Appfire earlier this year. Today Appfire is excited to officially announce that we will donate 1% of the equity in our business to Pledge 1% to continue their movement to inspire, educate, and empower companies to leverage their assets to be a force for good. This also means that Appfire has grown our Pledge 1% program to all four pledge types — product, profit, equity, and employee time.
“From day one, we’ve been committed to giving back — not just once we grew larger and could afford to do so, but starting day one, wherever we could, however we could,” said Randall Ward, co-founder and CEO, Appfire. “We strongly believe in the Pledge 1% movement and are thrilled to enter into this next phase of charitable giving.”
As a Pledge 1% Builder, Appfire invests time developing program content, supporting local communities, and helping spread the word about Pledge 1% to recruit new member organizations. Pledge 1% membership has grown to over 12,000 companies in 100+ countries thanks in large part to its flexible framework.
“Many of today’s hottest and most successful companies are setting aside equity for social impact on their road to a liquidity event. By formalizing their equity pledge, Appfire is once again demonstrating their leadership in the Pledge 1% movement and inspiring other companies to join them in leveraging all of their assets for good,” said Amy Lesnick, Chief Executive of Pledge 1%.
“By generously directing their equity to fund Pledge 1%, Appfire is taking this new normal a step further and helping propel the Pledge 1% movement forward. This is setting a strong example for how today’s business leaders can have an exponential impact. We are immensely grateful to Appfire — it’s through leaders like Randall and the Appfire team that we can accelerate the movement today and for years to come.”
We are so proud to be a part of the Pledge 1% community and encourage other companies to take the pledge. Learn more at www.pledge1percent.org.
(Author’s note: We want to give a big THANK YOU & CONGRATS to Randall Ward and the Appfire team for formalizing their #Pledge1 commitment! We are so grateful for your leadership. -Pledge 1%)
Every year to celebrate Earth Day, we post tips and challenges in encouraging you to make your #PledgetoPreserve! This year, we are excited to work with a number of our members on collecting and sharing 22 tips and strategies for you, your teams, your customers, and your families to protect the planet. You can read the tips below or download our complete Climate Action & Green Recovery Playbook, co-written by Salesforce, DocuSign, and Silicon Valley Bank, to build environmentally-friendly practices into your business operations!
Here are 22 ways for you to rethink your environmental impact whether you’re at home or at work:
- Reduce energy use by adjusting your thermostat. Did you know you can save 10% by dialing your thermostat back for just 8 hours? You can also experiment with your refrigerator temperature.
- Unplug devices when not in use. Products that are plugged in may still suck up energy. Avoid “vampire energy” loss and remember to unplug when you leave the room.
- Opt for energy efficient bulbs. Look for labels that tell you the product is energy efficient, such as EPEAT certified and ENERGY STAR in the US.
- Repair leaky faucets: Small leaks are often overlooked and can lead to massive amounts of wasted water, a higher water bill, and potential property damage.
- Update your showerhead: Low-flow showerheads reduce water and are easy to install. Newer designs that add pressure make it so that you may not even notice a difference.
- Buy local, in season food. Support sustainable farms and fisheries that utilize sustainable farming systems. These products are often noted with an indicator but don’t be afraid to ask your local grocer for suggestions as well!
- Plant a tree! The original act of protecting the planet. Find a tree species native to your region that you like, then visit your local nursery to purchase and plant your own tree seedlings!
- Grow an herb garden–indoor or outdoor. Growing your own herbs is an easy and fun way to directly connect with your food and to save money while sprucing up your meals. Plus, herb gardens can be grown indoors and take up minimal space.
- BYO whenever you can. Reduce your footprint by bringing your own bags when grocery shopping, reusable utensils for takeout, etc.
- Invest in a DIY project. Save some money while protecting the environment by opting to build your own product vs. buying something new. The DIY Network is a great resource.
- Educate yourself. There are a number of free resources that you and your teams can take advantage of to better educate yourself on the effects of climate change and what you can do as an organization to mitigate it. Check out this module from Salesforce: Create a Sustainable Future
- Plan activities around themes for the week. It’s easier to uphold your commitments when they sound memorable. Try going for Meatless Mondays, Waste Less Wednesdays or Forest Fridays.
- Volunteer in a cleanup program. Go solo, invite a friend or bring your entire team along! Barrel Bag invites individuals and businesses to conduct a quick community cleanup in support of Earth Day. Collect litter in your neighborhood, the beach, or a hiking trail where they aren’t supposed to be. Apps like Litterati collect data on discarded trash and are user-friendly!
- Lessen food waste. Practice home-cooking responsibly by planning your meals ahead. If you can’t avoid food delivery, skip the utensils and leave a note asking for the least amount of packaging possible!
- Learn how to compost. Your food waste shouldn’t end up in landfills which release methane gas. Throwing it in a compost bin will not only save the planet but also your wallet!
- Fix and recycle items worth saving. Be creative and look for solutions instead of buying something new! Check out this list of Earth Day activities to do with kids.
- Use cold water when doing your laundry. The enzymes in cold water detergent are designed to clean better in cold water. Also, reducing your loads to twice weekly can save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
- Watch documentaries about environmental issues. Switch your usual movie night to something more educational. Some of the most groundbreaking nature films and television series can be viewed online.
- Go digital. Move away from printed documents where possible. Learn how technology can help the planet by improving your digital skills for the workplace.
- Shift your purchases to local vendors. Not only is it an important way to keep money circulating within the local economy, but it also helps reduce the amount of carbon emissions from transport and shipping.
- Pick out rarely used items from your household or garage for resale. Protect the environment from generating more waste when others may find your items useful! Why not make a few bucks while you’re at it? Take a photo, send it to close friends, or upload it on your favorite online marketplace.
- Join advocacy groups or follow their pages. Sharing is caring! Learning from practitioners is also useful in fostering climate-friendly habits.
For more tips, tools, and advice from our members, visit our Twitter page or follow the hashtag #PledgetoPreserve from now until Earth Day (April 22)!
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Carrie Kwan, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Mums & Co.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
As the Co-Founder and MD of Mums & Co, the movement empowering Australian business-owning mothers, I am a community leader, Mumbition Ambassador, commentator and mentor. With a focus on networking and upskilling, we equip working mums with the resources, emotional support and introductions to achieve their personal and business goals.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I started Mums & Co when I was pregnant in 2016, backed by Australia’s largest general insurer IAG, to create a safe online space for business-owning mums. I fit the bill, partly because I had successfully founded and grown the popular digital lifestyle guide, Daily Addict, partly because I was passionate about mentoring female business owners in the early days of their business journey.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
I recognised that to be a successful business owner, learning the craft of pitching your business was a fundamental skill. I started my career in marketing and PR, so I understand the importance of leveraging brand exposure, the media and partnerships to share the important work we do.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
At Mums & Co we call it “Digital Serendipity”. It’s achieved by using online introductions and networks to connect with people you wouldn’t normally cross paths with. This works well for so many women working from home, running their own businesses and juggling motherhood. Networking is so valuable but COVID has limited the chances to increase the size of your professional network. We need to embrace digital serendipity opportunities to find spontaneous connections, knowledge sharing and creativity.
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
Women shouldn’t have to choose between their families and their careers, however, the competing modes and time pressures of the equally demanding tasks of motherhood and business ownership are undeniably challenging. I’ve learnt to rely on routines and rituals and identify transferable skills in managing business and home life. I’ve learnt to ask for help and recognise the important role men, my family and my support network play.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
I’ve had the fortune of some great mentors that have helped me along the way. Mentorship is a two-way street and a great mentor partnership allows both parties to contribute and continuously learn. Business-owning mothers are passionate about their product or purpose, but are not necessarily experienced in marketing and business operations. Mentorship can provide the helping hand they need to achieve their goals. At Mums & Co we have 35 experts that our members can access for immediate help, and to grow and learn.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
It is challenging and scary to establish a new business and it takes courage and determination to do so. You are unsure of the market, reception to your product and what lies ahead. I would like to say to aspiring business mums that you don’t have to choose between career and family, and just go for it! At Mums & Co, we label it mumbition: the unapologetic blending of motherhood and ambition.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
A Mums in Business research report completed by EY Sweeny for Mums & Co found that flexibility was a key motivation for Australian mothers to consider alternatives to a corporate career and start their own business. Companies need to drive change around flexible working arrangement and entitlements, eliminate the culture of parental guilt, address childcare and other care responsibilities, and dissolve the gender pay gap.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
We are excited for the return of our annual Be MPowered conference on 2 June, this year with a new format set to lead the future of events. The hybrid face-to-face and digital conference is specifically designed to suit working mothers and will be broadcast nationally in real-time.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
At Mums & Co we advocate for women to harmonise their ambition, livelihood and wellbeing. We promote self-care and confidence to help women feel empowered and practice kindness and positivity as a mindset to achieve wellbeing.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
Since April 2018 if I recall correctly. Paying it forward has been ingrained as a way of being since my teen years and has echoed throughout my two businesses and pro bono mentoring work.
At Mums & Co, our team make their domain expertise available to small business owners through brief coaching sessions – we know that the vast majority of these women doing incredible work don’t have the dedicated support of big teams. We work hard every day to advocate for her specific needs and strongly believe that we all have a duty to make our families and communities stronger, and impact lives in positive way.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
If I have an opportunity for some time to myself, I love a good spa or massage. I enjoy skipping and have this routine that I do in my head involving a combination of speedy cross-overs. If I’m spending time with my family you’ll find us beach-combing for our shell collection jar. My youngest (4.y.o) loves doing our local trail walk together.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I recently started reading Maternal Optimism by US academics Jamie Ladge and Danna Greenberg. It’s filled with research and stories that support the notion of women owning and feeling confident in the choices they make, as they navigate a complex series of work and family transition. The Founder Coach with Dave Bailey podcast has some great interviews and insights I’ve found useful as a founder.
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
During COVID, Mums & Co moved from about 75% digital to 100% digital. We introduced a Chatbot feature and monthly online events, like ‘Practice your Pitch’ and small-group member meet-ups. Many business mums work from home, work on their own, or have flexible work arrangements, so it’s important to find ways to stay connected, feel supported and build confidence.
All Pledge 1% members are warmly invited to join Mums & Co and experience the networking and business features via our free 14-day trial, it only takes a minute to sign up via www.mumsandco.com.au.