The Arize Approach: Empowering Working Parents
In the bustling office of Arize, the age-old saying ‘it takes a village‘ rings especially true for working mothers. Meg Keogh, COO and mum, reveals the rewarding yet demanding experience of trying to balance parenthood and career, and how it has shaped Arize as a company.
More Zoom, less Bluey
I have been a parent for almost 12 years. I have been an employee and an employer. I have been the first person in a company to take maternity leave and return part-time.
I know the juggle and emotional rollercoaster of dropping children off at 8am and picking them up at 6pm. I understand how scary it is to return to the workforce when your world is different and the doubt that comes with that.
Yet, I appreciate the value of being able to contribute meaningfully to a team, a company, and having financial agency. I also know the joy of drinking a hot coffee and discussing something other than Bluey.
Many hands make light work
Drawing from my own experiences and those of colleagues and friends, Arize strives to foster a supportive atmosphere for parents with children of all ages, empowering new parents in their journey.
Being a parent is challenging, let alone being a working parent. However, with the right support, flexibility, understanding, and role models, balancing parenting and work can be as fulfilling as it is demanding.
Since COVID, how we work has changed. For a communications agency like Arize, a hybrid work environment is now the new norm. Chatting with the team as I make lunch has become routine, just like wrapping up work at 3pm to collect the kids from school when needed. The saying ‘it takes a village’ couldn’t be more important for parents in the workforce, and your workplace is a vital part of that village.
Finding your passion alongside parenting
My advice to working parents is to view parenting as a partnership. Where possible, look at household income and not individual outcome.
Don’t look at whether a parent should return to work based on the net outcome of dollars they earn versus the cost of childcare.
Working gives people a sense of worth, financial agency, and the ability to maintain their skills. The childcare fees eventually end, and if you have been lucky enough to work for a company that has supported your career in those early years, you can continue building your career rather than starting again.
Parenting is a marathon, not a sprint – and as any athlete can tell you having a support team is essential for success. For parents, this team comes from all corners of life.
Arize is dedicated to providing that support. We have been working to ensure our policies reflect the needs of parents, including paid parental leave and wellness days. We understand that parenting demands extend beyond the baby stage and provide flexibility, so that parents can be present for their families as their needs change.
Family or work doesn’t need to be an either-or proposition, but it will take a community shifting its views of what ‘balance’ looks like in both the office and home to effect change.
