Who knew that six years after wheeling my 10-month-old baby and his stroller into weekly breakfast workshops beginning at 7:30 a.m. in order to access business resources and qualify for an Ontario Gov enabled startup funding grant, I’d be invited to a roundtable featuring seven local entrepreneurs to speak about my experiences and challenges with Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade for Ontario.
Last week’s roundtable was hosted by non-partisan national organization, Startup Canada, and Amazon at their Ottawa HQ, and during my four-minute speech, I attempted to cover:
- • workforce participation
• inclusive business spaces
• funding educators and early years jobs and facilities to enable parents to have childcare and schools which don’t close due to staffing shortages
• postpartum mental health supports
• funding for domestic violence programming
• safe housing and more.
As my three children grow up, I see the many layers of policy across governmental departments, ministries on all levels (Federal, Provincial, Municipal) which impact parents’ ability to design a life that works for them and their family.
This is not a short-term fix, creating parent-friendly corporate spaces, events, experiences and cultures are a small drop in the bucket as it relates to what is within our control as citizens, company owners, leaders, employees, educators, decision makers, caregivers and more.
But please know that you showing up, as you are, with your kids, could start to affect the changes you’d like to see.
For once, I didn’t bring one of my kids with me but please also know that two out of three of them were up in the night, and my attendance at the meeting was only made possible for me to go solo thanks to my partner taking a few days of summer leave and the kindness of our neighbourhood parents organizing play dates.
We now have created a bit of our own local village to connect our kids into, as with my activism and work Mixing Babies And Business™ … it only took about six years to get here!
Photo of me (far left), with Minister Fedeli and other Ottawa-area entrepreneurs, Tristan Smyth of Warshield, Stephanie Mitton of Beacon North Strategies, Akil M. of The Box Of Life, Komal Minhas of Karseva Company, Henry Assad of Happy Goat Coffee Co., Naina Kansal of Tapri Chai Canada and members of the Startup Canada team at Amazon’s HQ.
“If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” — Elizabeth Warren
This quote has been attributed to many different people over the years, but I wanted to share it as a follow up to my meeting because:
🚼 Becoming an accidental activist has meant I do a lot of written, spoken and recently, government relations work, on behalf of parents and primary caregivers because I don’t want to experience inequalities…but I also don’t want our future generations to experience it if we can collaborate to make a difference NOW.
💸 I don’t get paid to attend non-partisan roundtable events with politicians in Federal and Provincial Canadian Governments, but when the invitations arrive I almost always say “YES” on behalf of Mixing Babies And Business™, parents and primary caregivers in Ontario and across Canada.
📢 That means from 2021–2023 I’ve participated in three roundtables virtually and in person, one formal dinner in Ottawa and one private meeting at Canada’s Parliament Hill with members of Federal and Provincial Governments related to entrepreneurship, the budget, gender equality and economic development, where I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Members of Parliament (MP) and Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP):
• Ruby Sahota, Dean Allison and Gord Johns
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Rachel Bendayan
• Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) Karen Vecchio, FEWO members Leah Gazan and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development the Hon. Jenna Sudds
• Chair of Cabinet and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario the Hon. Victor Fedeli
I started showing up with my kid(s) to speak at events in 2016.
Not asking for a seat at the table, on the panel or for permission.
Focusing on creating safer space for parents, primary caregivers and their children, while sharing information with others who were curious to learn more.
Through open conversations, designing and testing new experiences, contributing to public policy, providing feedback and showing up as we are, little by little things can change.
📆 With back to school starting for my kids this week and my youngest entering daycare, I’m preparing to sit at more tables as a representative for parents and primary caregivers in 2023-2024.
If you’d like to invite me, please reach out via my contact form or LinkedIn.
And if you’d like to learn more about showing up with your kids in corporate spaces, my podcast, newsletter or volunteer mentoring chats are the best places to start! Also linked below. ⬇️
For corporate events and guest speaking: https://mixingbabiesandbusiness.com/contact/
For parents seeking more info / podcast / newsletter:
https://mixingbabiesandbusiness.com/podcast/
Mentoring for parents and primary caregivers:
https://startupwomen.mentorly.co/en/mentors/amylynch
Let this be your Monday reminder to keep showing up, whatever stage of parenting or business you’re at.
– Amy (+ Family) xx
Founder of Mixing Babies And Business™
Lead blog post photo of me (Amy Lynch) holding my baby and a microphone to speak on stage at CreativeMornings Ottawa in front of a crowd of adults, while my toddler walked toward us, hosted at the Ottawa Art Gallery. Photo by Finn Lin for CM Ottawa, April 2019.
📬 If you’d like to keep in touch with me:
• Sign up to or stay on my email list (linked below, sent monthly but newsletters will slow down until April)
• Follow the Mixing Babies And Business™ Company Page on LinkedIn
• Follow / Subscribe to the Mixing Babies And Business™ Podcast
Looking for more info about Flexible + Remote Work?
I’ve steadily chugged along to 80+ episodes of the Mixing Babies And Business™ Podcast (hosted and produced by me, Amy Lynch, from my home office and other third spaces).
Download the free template:
Remote Work (With Kids) Time Blocking Made Easy [DOWNLOAD]
Subscribe to receive my free monthly Work + Life newsletter focused on travel, international family life, creativity and flexible work: http://bit.ly/AmyMaureenLynchNews
I wrote a book:
Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience is based on my journey as a blogger, writer, founder and parent to date.
You can download the Amazon Kindle app for free from the Apple Store and Google Play.
You can then purchase, download and read the eBook version of my book from your mobile, tablet or device!
Notes From Another Land 