Empowering Working Parents: Navigating Challenges and Cultivating Success
Michelle Yu, MPH, is Co-founder & CEO of Josie. Named after her daughter, Josie’s vision is to transform the working parent experience.
Michelle Yu
Michelle Yu, MPH, is Co-founder & CEO of Josie. Named after her daughter, Josie’s vision is to transform the working parent experience. After navigating the many challenges associated with two pregnancies, two leaves, and two returns to a busy healthcare consulting career, Michelle developed a longing to create a more empowered and supported transition into working parenthood. Prior to Josie, Michelle was a founding member and partner within The Advisory Board Company’s strategy consulting practice and continued on through its acquisition by Optum. Michelle also spent time on the strategy consulting teams at Booz & Company and Deloitte. Michelle received her Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan and Bachelors degree from the University of Illinois.
Understanding the Challenges of Working Parents
Working parents face unique challenges, such as balancing their professional responsibilities with the demands of family life. In this episode, Dr. Gertrude Lyons and Michelle Yu discuss the challenges of working parents. They highlighted that many working parents experience feelings of isolation. Despite having peers and friends who have gone through similar experiences, parents often feel alone in their journey. The pressure to conform to the idealized image of parenthood portrayed on social media adds to the stress.
One critical issue is the expectation that working parents must maintain the same level of commitment and performance in their careers after having children. Many parents, particularly mothers, experience imposter syndrome and self-doubt, fearing they may no longer possess the skills necessary to excel in their roles. These pressures contribute to burnout, and working parents often feel alone in facing these challenges.
The Power of Support
One of the valuable aspects of Michelle's work at Josie is providing working parents with the support they need. The organization offers coaching and educational programs designed to empower parents with the tools they need to navigate the complex intersection of career and family. The importance of having someone to talk to, who understands the unique challenges of being a working parent, cannot be overstated.
The post-program surveys conducted by Josie provide organizations with rich insights into the sentiments and challenges their working parent employees face. By sharing aggregated data and feedback, companies can better understand how to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for working parents. As Michelle noted, the ability to be more intentional about their working parent identity is a game-changer for many parents.
The Value of Working Parents in Organizations
Michelle emphasized that working parents, particularly mothers, bring unique and valuable qualities to the workplace. They tend to be more empathetic, create collaborative environments, and excel in prioritization. These skills are crucial in fostering an inclusive and dynamic work environment, making working parents an asset to any organization.
Studies from organizations like Bright Horizons and McKinsey have shown the concrete benefits of supporting working parents in the workplace. Retaining working parents contributes to higher profits, improved retention rates, and overall employee happiness. It's an investment that pays off.
Get in contact
Website https://myjosie.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-m-yu/
Show highlights
Michelle Yu discussed alarming statistics regarding working parents' burnout and challenges, especially new mothers.
The power of community and overcoming parental isolation was a key focus.
Josie’s unique approach integrates coaching, education, and organizational support for working parents.
Working parents offer transformational benefits to organizations, contrary to common misconceptions.
The conversation highlighted self-mothering as a crucial theme for parents' well-being and work-life balance.