Now Is Best Time To Network: Mom Project Gives $500K to Extend Jobs, Projects
Kayla Tekus, director of marketing at The Mom Project, with her daughters.
“Now is one of the best times to network,” says Kayla Tekus, director of marketing at The Mom Project, a Chicago-based talent and coaching company focusing on career paths of women and mothers, with a community of over 250,000 professionals and more than 2,000 companies.
““Now is one of the best times to #network,” says Kayla Tekus, director of marketing at @The_Mom_Project, a talent and coaching company focusing on career paths of #women and mothers. ”
The latest news for the company founded in 2016 by CEO Allison Robinson is that they are offering $500,000 in their Stronger Together Fund to small and medium sized businesses to retain female employees or hire new ones on contracts, with $1,000 to $5,000 grants. Thirty grants have been given so far.
“The Stronger Together Fund is an extension of our commitment to the potential of moms in the workforce and we will invest in what we are uniquely qualified to do; bring companies and moms together to make businesses and families stronger,” Robinson says.
Read more in Take The Lead on The Mom Project
With the core mission of focusing on helping mothers in marketing, creative, administrative and technology sectors, Tekus says, “The real goal is to find jobs for more moms, while the financial impact now is experienced more by women.”
“With the core mission of @The_Mom_Project to help #mothers in marketing, creative, administrative and technology sectors, Tekus says, “The real goal is to find jobs for more moms.””
According to The Mom Project, “The economic impact of working moms’ coronavirus-related anxiety is estimated at $341 billion, and approximately 60 percent of the jobs eliminated in the first wave of pandemic-induced layoffs were held by women. More losses are expected as stay-at-home mandates are being extended in many states, and the timeline for an eventual reopening of the economy (and childcare options) remains unclear.”
Tekus, herself a mom to two daughters at two and half years old and nine months, says she has been with The Mom Project since November 2019. She started her career in tech communications after graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011 in communications, then headed to the Bay Area.
She spent five years working in tech marketing for Trulia, Braintree and Twitter. In 2017, she moved back to the Midwest and then to Chicago.
“During this time, we want to support those affected by inequities and support women who are disproportionately affected” by COVID-19 layoffs and shutdowns, Tekus says.
““During this time, we want to support those affected by inequities and support women who are disproportionately affected” by #COVID19 layoffs and shutdowns, Tekus says of @The_Mom_Project. ”
Read more in Take The Lead on career comebacks for mothers
During this unprecedented time of economic hardship and uncertainty, The Mom Project offers Pro-Bono Career Coaching, Tekus says.
“During this unprecedented time of economic hardship and uncertainty, @The_Mom_Project offers Pro-Bono #CareerCoaching. #SupportWomen”
“The Unity Program was initiated to match individuals impacted by COVID-19 hardships, pairing them with pro bono professional coaching and resume review services. To date, The Unity Program Matching has supported over 500 requests for assistance with more than 1,000 hours of professional coaching offered in the coming weeks,” according to The Mom Project.
“We want to support women getting back into the work force during this time,” she says.
Other avenues to support working mothers affected by the economic downturn, Tekus says, are offering remote job opportunities through its job marketplace.
The Mom Project connects its talent community with full time, part-time, and project-based roles at family friendly employers, now with an increased emphasis on 100% remote roles, which have grown by 318% since February of this year.
“@The_Mom_Project connects its talent community with full time, part-time, and project-based roles at family friendly employers. #RemoteWork #WorkingMoms”
CEO Robinson has raised $11 million in funding for The Mom Project and earlier this year Serena Williams joined The Mom Project as a Strategic Advisor to further mobilize the mission.
Since the acquisition of Werk.co earlier this year, The Mom Project has launched WerkLabs, a hub of research and support that in addition to its Employee Experience Index and Remote Experience Index, will offer data and research with behavioral science and predictive analytics on DE&I, benefits and policy advisory, and M&A transitions.
WerkLabs will gather insights on WFH impacts on employees and be able to help company leaders best address the needs of workers in the new company culture post COVID, Tekus says.
“How do isolation, stress and family demands” impact a worker’s role is the focus of the research, Tekus says.
Read more in Take The Lead on mothers working
Other pandemic response resources are the Resume Rev product and 5-Day Resume Guide, Tekus says, allowing moms to quickly produce a crisp, clean resume that can be used to apply for jobs on The Mom Project job marketplace, or downloaded to apply for jobs anywhere a resume is needed.
“Resume Rev and 5-Day Resume Guide allow moms to quickly produce a crisp, clean resume that can be used to apply for jobs on @The_Mom_Project marketplace. #WorkingMoms”
The Unity Program Matching has supported over 500 requests for assistance with more than 1,000 hours of professional coaching offered in the coming weeks.
“Can you reskill or upskill now?” Tekus suggests. “You can take online courses, classes” and get placed in a new niche, she says.
““Can you #reskill or upskill now?” Tekus suggests. “You can take online courses, classes” and get placed in a new niche, she says. #JobSeekers ”
While the downturn in the job market affecting women especially is grave, with close to 15 percent unemployment, the lowest in this country since the Great Depression, Tekus says it is also a great time to network.
Read more in Take The Lead on career coaching, workshops and more
“People who would maybe not be available before are available now,” Tekus says.
“It is also a great time to #network. “People who would maybe not be available before are available now,” says Tekus, director of marketing at @The_Mom_Project.”
With the capacity to connect across virtual platforms, Tekus says digital advising is replacing meeting for coffee or scheduling in person chats.
“Networking is important now more than ever,” Tekus says.
Even job hunting now can be simpler, Tekus says. Without having to take the time, energy and risk to travel, new job opportunities can be explored virtually.
Adjusting to the disruptive demands of working from home, Take The Lead has moved all events and workshops to virtual offerings. Beginning June 1, Take The Lead is launching the online course, “9 Leadership Power Tools: The Sure Steps To Advance Your Career.” Check out events, online courses, coaching, and trainings for you or your company. Click here to join our mailing list and be notified of new virtual offerings and sign up for the course.
