Using Maternity Leave To Start A Business
A corporate marketing exec uses her paid time off to launch a business that gives her more work-life balance.
Women Entrepreneur:
Most people expecting a child would look for ways to make life less complicated. But not Stacey McClenathan, who, while pregnant with her third child, created a business that’s not only thriving, but also allows her time with her family.
3 years ago, while on bed rest from her job with Motorola due to a problematic pregnancy, McClenathan had some forced thinking time. She realized she wanted to use her energy and resources in a way that allowed her to spend time with her family while also providing a fulfilling career and opportunities to work for charitable causes she was passionate about.
She assessed her strengths. Because of her background in senior-level leadership positions for major companies, she had the skill set to marry 2 very important business functions – identifying growth opportunities and understanding the marketing mix needed to achieve growth. And as a veteran corporate marketer, she saw a big business opportunity.
McClenathan, 37, also realized that with a home based business, she could spend more time with her children, work with her husband and control her schedule. If she built the business the way she wanted to, everyone in her family would eventually be involved. It would also allow her to spend time helping charitable organizations she cared about by volunteering her business savvy and donating a portion of her revenue to fund those organizations.
Still, McClenathan returned to work after her maternity leave and spent 4 months working her day job, and nursing her child and entrepreneurial pursuits in the evenings. ‘It was a tough period of time to be working full time, being a mother to 3 children and laying the foundation for my business,’ she says.
But after that period, she launched her new company, Bee-Line Communications Inc., which helps organizations grow. ‘Every client is different and has different needs based on their years in business, market opportunities and competitive environment,’ says McClenathan. ‘It’s my job to help them navigate that and be a voice of reason to help them plan for achievable and realistic goals.’
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