Career & Finance Fridays

“So many people think that they are not gifted because they don’t have an obvious talent that people can recognize because it doesn’t fall under the creative arts category—writing, dancing, music, acting, art or singing. Sadly, they let their real talents go undeveloped, while they chase after fame. I am grateful for the people with obscure unremarked talents because they make our lives easier---inventors, organizers, planners, peacemakers, communicators, activists, scientists, and so forth. However, there is one gift that trumps all other talents—being an excellent parent. If you can successfully raise a child in this day in age to have integrity then you have left a legacy that future generations will benefit from.” ― Shannon L. Alder

Many of us are told from a young age to strive for a career that we'll love, so we go to school, get training, and begin working up the ranks of a career field we think we'll be in forever. But life has a way of adding plot twists to each of our stories. For these eight moms, stepping into parenthood opened a surprising door of opportunity for a fulfilling career change—even while changing diapers and juggling busy schedules.

If you're wondering how to find a new profession that better aligns with your role as a parent, check out what these smart moms have to say about building a new career while raising little ones. You might just get inspired enough to take that leap of faith into a new, exciting job!

01of 08

Wall Street Banker Turned Baby Gear Site Founder & Author

Allyson Downey

With an MBA in finance and management from Columbia Business School and a pre-baby career ranging from publishing to politics, Allyson Downey eventually worked on Wall Street only to get sidelined after her first pregnancy. An entrepreneur at heart, she founded weeSpring (known as "Yelp for baby gear") and authored Here's the Plan: Your Practical, Tactical Guide to Advancing Your Career Through Pregnancy and Parenthood.

Downey's best tip: "Your personal network is the most valuable career asset you have. When I meet someone new, I ask myself, 'Who do I know who could help this person?' and introduce them. Investing time in supporting other people has come back to me tenfold."

02of 08

Nephrologist Turned Founder of an On-Demand Mobile Health Care App

Dr. Renee Dua / Heal

Renee Dua, M.D., formed Heal, an on-demand mobile health care app, with her tech entrepreneur husband after an agonizing experience in the emergency room with her then-infant son. Aiming to reduce wait times and offer more affordable, convenient options for family medical care, the service offers highly-vetted doctors to your door, 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, for an affordable cost, and is covered by Medicare.

Dua's best tip: "I asked for help. I asked my parents; I got a nanny, and I had someone help me with my practice so I could focus on learning how to run a totally novel business. I also learned everything I could about the business model from the ground up. For example, I put together my own kit using my own medical record system and seeing patients in my neighborhood while Nick drove me around—so we could understand routing and how to time visits."

03of 08

Feature Film Producer Turned Founder of a Flexible Child Care Company

Karen Beninati / WeVillage.com

A feature film producer before becoming a parent, Karen Beninati found the travel and unpredictable demands of entertainment and filmmaking nearly-impossible to reconcile with parenthood. Finding flexible child care for her working hours was an ongoing problem (late nights/weekends/no contracts), so she created the solution she needed with WeVillage.

Beninati's best tip: "Don't be afraid to create something that doesn't exist! If you see an opportunity, take it and never look back. I saw the need for my business idea and had little capital, but I knew I wanted to create it, and everything fell into place. It doesn't have to be perfect from day one, just make a day one."

04of 08

Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Turned Kids' Hat Designer

Kyla Dahrling

Being denied a part-time work option when her second child was born (after serving 10 years at her previous company), Kyla Dahrling took a risk and quit her longtime and beloved job. She created Tiny Trucker Company (starting with a line of family-themed trucker hats for parents and kids) from her home with the goal of providing other parents an opportunity to work flexible hours while providing for their families working for the steadily-growing California brand.

Dahrling's best tip: "I work a lot of late nights and early mornings—before the kids wake up and after they go to bed. I also work some weekends with the support of my husband. I've turned my garage into a storage facility to cut costs of renting a space for my hats, and I've relied on family to help with the kids more since I work all hours of the day. There's good reason 'Hustlin' Mama' is one of our best-selling hats!"

05of 08

Kindergarten Teacher Turned Founder & CEO of a Marketing and Event Company and Author

Lyss Stern / DivaMoms.com

A Kindergarten teacher up until the day she had her first son, Lyss Stern launched her national, NYC-based marketing and event company to "get her groove back" after baby.

Divalysscious Moms (also known as DivaMoms) now has a database of more than one million parents across the country—connecting high-end brands, including Fendi Kids, UPPABaby, Stokke Strollers, and more, with an elite group of parents and children in the New York area.

Stern is also the co-author of the best-selling book If You Give A Mom A Martini. Stern is also co-author of the book Motherhood Is A B#TCH, 10 Steps to Regaining Your Sanity, Sexiness, and Inner Diva.

Stern's best tip: "Do your research. It's very important to not just 'jump in' without researching your new job and/or idea and prepare yourself for the change. Also, don't be afraid to ask friends and family for help."

06of 08

Commercial Real Estate Attorney Turned Digital Influencer

Rachel Pitzel

An attorney who once worked in commercial real estate and specialized in transactions between $20–100 million, Rachel Pitzel sought family flexibility and launched ClubMomMe, a Los Angeles-based event company for expecting and new parents when her firstborn was 2 months old. (She then sold the company in 2015.) Pitzel is now a digital influencer, working with top-tier lifestyle brands in the fashion and family space.

Pitzel's best tip: "Free up your schedule of tasks you don't need to be doing to focus on your new career path. Outsource things like grocery shopping with Instacart, Google Express, or Postmates, automate things like diaper shipments…streamline anything else that takes up time you could be spending working."

07of 08

Magazine Publishing Ad Exec Turned Founder of a Club for Expectant Moms

During her decade-long ad sales career, Lindsay Pinchuk got her side hustle on by hosting educational and social events in Chicago for expectant parents—and it all started so she and her personal friends could bond over new parenthood!

Seven years later (after quitting the ad sales gig because BCB started growing and she wanted more family flexibility), Bump Club and Beyond hosts events in cities across the country and has over 250,000 parents engaging, connecting, and getting educated about new-baby life.

Pinchuk's best tip: "Take baby steps, set goals, and take everything one step at a time. Ask for help. I never could have built my company without the support of my own village—my spouse, my parents, my friends, my staff, and my customers! I work now more than I have ever worked before, but I work differently, and I am able to see my kids and be there for them. I have never regretted my decision."

How to Create a WFH Schedule With Kids That Won't Stress You Out

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Coffee Business Owner Turned Baker, Party Planner, and Author

Jenny Keller / Kelly Clare Photography

A Seattle native, Jenny Keller lost interest in the "grind" of the coffee biz after her first child was born and taught herself how to bake. Now, Keller is an entertaining expert, crafting stylist, and "Baker to the Stars"—actresses Tori Spelling and Tiffani Thiessen included—with her work appearing in People, US Weekly, Brides, OK!, Life & Style, InTouch, Romantic Homes, and more.

Her book, Eat More Dessert, demos how to design the perfect dessert table and guides how to choose a theme to style your sweets using multiple desserts ranging from simple, crowd-pleasing sugar cookies to show-stopping, over-the-top cakes.

Keller's best tip: "Use nap time if your kids are babies! I baked, blogged, and party-planned during nap time for years while building my brand."

Employment & Career

What do you think is the most challenging part of going back to work after being a stay at home parent?