071 | Raising kids while creating purposeful workplace spaces and experiences with Melissa Marsden | PT 1

PT 1: Melissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist, founder and Director of COMUNiTI and a parent of four kids. She is a published author, speaker and host of the Work Life by Design Podcast.

This is the first of three mini episodes of our conversation. In this interview, we talk about going through a life cleanse, starting her own company and designing with flexibility in mind.

THINGS WE TALK ABOUT:

• How she went through what she calls ‘a life cleanse’ where she went through a separation when her daughter was two years old, quit the company she was working at and started her own business
• What her current childcare situation looks like without local family support, school drop off and blocking her time designed for an ideal week
• How a misalignment of values in her former company led her to start her own business
• Incorporating flexible work and childcare to support her employees, integrating family life into corporate branding and the overall approach to running a business
• Her experiences working in the traditionally male-dominated industry of architecture as a trained interior designer and how she is getting creative with flexibility to retain talent

Thanks to Melissa for taking time out of her day to speak with me about her current childcare situation, integrating flexibility into her business to support employees and attract ideal clients.

Season 5 has been sponsored by the Startup Women Fund, presented by Startup Canada, Scotiabank and UPS.

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ABOUT MELISSA MARSDEN
Melissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist, founder and Director of COMUNiTI and a parent of four kids. Based on decades of research exploring human behaviour, her specialist team guides clients through the transformation of their workplaces for a new world of work. She is a published author, speaker, host of the Work Life by Design Podcast and has won numerous business awards and been featured in Architecture & Design media and industry events across Australia.

CONNECT WITH MELISSA
Website melissamarsden.com.au
LinkedIn @melissamarsden and @COMUNiTI
Facebook @melissamarsden.com.au
Instagram @melmar and @wearecomuniti
Read her latest book The Next Workplace

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ABOUT MIXING BABIES AND BUSINESS™
Where parenthood meets professional development:
As a social impact movement and community, I'm focused on producing parent-friendly professional development, digital resources and more inclusive and flexible work solutions for primary caregivers. This podcast features solo episodes from me covering my journey bringing my kids into business settings and guest interviews where we chat about all things parenthood, entrepreneurship, flexible and remote work with kids. Thanks for joining me and sharing with your network of parents!

- Amy Lynch (+ Family)
Founder | Event + Podcast Host

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