Working Mothers Conquer Challenges in Columbus

Did you know that Columbus was ranked as the top city in America for working mothers in 2012? We all know that women face many challenges when it comes to being a working mother, but how does a city become one that is good for working moms? Many factors were examined, but Forbes says it is a combination of qualities that make this city No. 1 for moms in a world where mothers often face the dilemma of choosing between traditional motherhood and economic need. Luckily, improved opportunities for women and better workplace environments often mean that women can have the best of both worlds.

More than 70 percent of American women with children are in the labor force today. Three out of four working moms work more than 30 hours a week, while still finding time to spend with their kids. In 29 percent of two-person-income families, women are the primary breadwinners. There are many positive aspects of being a working mom, both financially and personally. Moms aren't the only ones benefiting from the work they do; families reap the benefits of working moms, too. Not only do these women provide financial security, which helps to alleviate daily stress between couples regarding regular expenses, but they also set wonderful examples for their children by being problem solvers who teach their children independence.

Building a career helps moms receive more adult interaction, compared to their stay-at-home counterparts. The time away from home often provides the woman with a sense of well-being that can make her happier and more stable. The added independence and security that working mothers feel depends on the work environment they experience. Working outside the home isn’t right for every woman, but many companies are trying to make it easier for those who choose to do so. Flexible schedules, paid maternity leave, onsite daycare and work-from-home opportunities help moms succeed in the workplace.

In Columbus, a city of more than 1.8 million residents, more than 44 percent of the workforce is women. Higher-than-average salaries and a high quality of living, based on high-ranking schools, an abundance of childcare options and excellent doctors, help make Columbus a great place for working moms to thrive. An unemployment rate of 5.7 percent, a low cost of living, and lower crime rates add to the attraction of this fantastic city. One of the most important concerns for working mothers is the time away from their families, so an average commute of 25 minutes in Columbus makes heading off to work a whole lot easier.

Working Mother's Magazine’s “2012 Working Mother 100 Best Companies,” also named several companies with a large presence in Columbus, to their list. Among these companies are:  Cardinal Health (a Columbus-based company), Abbott Nutrition, Deloitte, and PNC Bank.

Photo by Walker Evans, courtesy of http://www.ColumbusUnderground.com.

New Directions Indeed!

Springtime.

It signifies strength, growth, rejuvenation. Can you think of a more appropriate time for New Directions Career Center to hold its annual Women of Promise fundraiser?

Or for that matter, can you think of a more appropriate honoree than Stephanie Barry?

After all, we’re called “New Directions” for a reason.

On April 19 Stephanie was recognized as our 2012 Woman of Promise, and when you hear her story, you’ll understand why she was chosen as this year’s winner. She changed her life from something merely to be endured, with “dead-end jobs, a terrible marriage, and no self-esteem,” to something to be celebrated. Quite literally, she learned to live her dreams. Or as she put it, “I felt empowered to move forward and meet my destiny.”

 

In 2007 when she entered the New Directions program, she was at a personal and professional low point in her life, with marital problems and a job that was going nowhere. “I went through the daily routine of my life as if in a dense, impenetrable fog,” Stephanie said.

But New Directions teaches women strategies that can change their lives. Stephanie says of her time at New Directions: “We learned the skills that would make us competitive in today’s challenging economy — everything from professionalism to self-marketing to effective interviewing. Our plan for change, for achieving our career goals, was very real by the time we graduated.”

And with those skills she gained something else: confidence and the ability to imagine a new life for herself. “New Directions Career Center (NDCC) taught us all a great deal about dreaming big and creating the lives we envisioned,” said Stephanie.

After graduating from NDCC, she began taking graphic design classes at Central Ohio Technical College and Columbus State Community College, eventually earning a certificate in digital media.

But that was just the beginning for Stephanie. As she put it, “These successes prompted me to dream bigger and bigger. I dreamed of Hawaii and a much different life.” Realizing she had outgrown her marriage, Stephanie and her husband divorced; she accepted a position as an instructional designer and earned her master’s degree at the University of Hawaii.

After three and a half joyous years living in Hawaii, she made a new home for herself in Silicon Valley and now enjoys a fulfilling career as an instructional designer, creating online classes for Altius Education. And her journey isn’t over. “I am still a girl who dreams big,” Stephanie says.

And why shouldn’t she? Why shouldn’t any of us? Stephanie may have received this year’s Woman of Promise award in recognition of her amazing accomplishments, but she could be any of us, any woman seeking self-sufficiency, a new beginning … a new direction.