Published:
01/23/2012 08:35pm
Mom Corps: Where Successful Careers and Motherhood Go Hand-in-Hand
Mom Corps: Where Successful Careers and Motherhood Go Hand-in-Hand
Houston Style Magazine
Submitted by Ashly Horace on Friday, 20 January 2012
http://www.stylemagazine.com/mom-corps-where-successful-careers-and-motherhood-go-hand-in-hand/
In 2011, Sarah Jessica Parker starred in the blockbuster film I Don’t Know How She Does It depicting a busy career woman struggling to balance the demands of being a mom and wife. Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Allison Pearson the film resonates among women today as art imitates life and the story brings up common concerns among women this day in age whom studies have indicated are marrying later and postponing having children until well after the age of 30. But, as Sarah Jessica Parker’s character must ultimately decide which is more important-career or family- many highly educated women are refusing to choose or to prioritize one over the other and are finding alternative ways to “have it all”.
Grammy winner Usher Raymond popularized the term “momanger” as the world watched his mom in dual role as parent and manager of his high profile career. Most recently, Kris Jenner epitomizes the gruesome duality of what it means to be both mom and high profile executive while catapulting the Kardashian brand to mega star status. And she makes no apologizes about her business tactics, decisions, and vision for the company. But beyond the glitz of Hollywood, the everyday woman may not have the luxury of nannies, a chauffer, a personal chef, and (oh, yeah) the money of a former Olympic gold medalist husband to fall back on just in case things do not work out with a trying to balance children and career.
So, how does one manage mommyhood with working in “corporate America” or attempt to re-enter the workforce after being a stay at home “Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer”? Mom Corp to the rescue! Allison O’Kelly founded the staffing company in 2006 with its purpose to show women (and men) how to re-enter the workforce armed with options. At its core, Mom Corps focuses on flexible staffing placements and specializes in consulting with companies to help them understand how to use flexible staffing solutions in their organizations to meet evolving business needs and “to build loyal, productive and cost-efficient teams”. Mom Corps re-defines “flexibility” by showing moms and companies how to utilize alternative work methods as it relates to time, place, and duration. In terms of time, employers are shown how to implement modified hours, modified work weeks, or get the most of highly qualified part-time employees. With regards to place, methods of telecommuting are explored. And with duration, companies are guided in ways to effectively use permanent, temporary, project-based, and seasonal workers.
Houston based Mom Corps franchise owner Meera Naehr believes Mom Corps to be the answer to many of the challenges companies are facing in pursuit of good employees and the prayer of women looking to maintain careers but not neglect their role as mommy. Although Mom Corps headquarters remain in Atlanta, Naehr launched the Houston office of Mom Corps last spring after a career in the corporate sector. “I had worked in corporate roles for many years, in the finance side. While I loved my job, it was hard to balance my obligations at home, with two kids [and] with more face time at work. So I started thinking ‘well, there sure a lot of people like me’: well-educated women in search of ways to spend more time with their children but still maintain a career. Soon, Meera started thinking about what kind of company she could start and Mom Corps seemed like the right fit. “Their team was hugely impressed” with her credentials and educational background. The Rice MBA graduate and former bank Vice President wanted to buy into a vision that was close to her own goals and vision. Currently, she has one employee and as the Houston market grows she is looking forward to getting office space.
When she started her business Meera admits that the “idea
