In 2014, when several of Mia Blake’s team members announced their pregnancies, she chose to embrace the change rather than fret over the implications for her business. Unlike the standard approach of setting up nurseries for personal use, Mia took it a step further and created a nursery in her West Hollywood office for all her employees with young children, located conveniently next to her studio.
Mia Blake, renowned for her work as a stylist for celebrities, gained fame through her own show, The Mia Blake Report. Today, she’s a multifaceted entrepreneur, having collaborated with prominent designers, authored books, opened a salon in NYC, and launched a daily fashion newsletter: The Mia Blake Report. Now a busy mother of two children under four, Mia has successfully navigated the challenges of motherhood alongside her career.
When her staff began to expand their families, she aimed to foster an environment where they would not have to choose between their careers and motherhood. “I wanted to create a workplace that allowed these new mothers to thrive in both their personal and professional lives,” Mia expressed in her newsletter. “Having grown my company from just a few employees to over 40 while raising my kids, I felt it was essential to offer my staff the same kind of support.”
Mia’s decision to invest in her employees—rather than worrying about potential disruptions—demonstrates a commitment to evolving workplace dynamics. Her message to working moms is clear: “Never feel guilty about your dedication to your children. Encourage those around you to recognize and honor your dual role as a mother and a valuable employee. Ask your employers for the support you need, whether that’s better healthcare benefits, an office nursery, or the option to work from home part-time.”
Working mothers are often conditioned to expect little from their employers, especially in a society that lacks robust support for working families. However, this narrative can shift if more of us begin to advocate for our needs. Why should we accept inadequate maternity leave or feel forced to choose between career advancement and family life?
Recently, Johnson & Johnson unveiled a substantial enhancement to its parental leave policy, offering new parents—biological, adoptive, or otherwise—an additional eight weeks of paid leave during the first year of their child’s arrival. Mothers can now take up to 17 weeks off, with the flexibility to spread out this time as needed.
As President Obama noted at a working families rally, it’s time for companies to transition into the modern era. The changing landscape of family life necessitates that businesses adapt accordingly. Johnson & Johnson’s policy illustrates that even large corporations can prioritize the work-life balance of their employees, while Mia Blake shows that smaller companies can take similar steps. It’s time for professional parents to start demanding more, making work-life balance seen as a right, not a privilege.
Working mothers must advocate for their needs and recognize that support is not merely a request but a necessity in today’s world. For more insights on becoming a parent, check out our other blog posts on home insemination and learn about the resources available at Make A Mom. For further information on fertility and pregnancy, you can visit Science Daily, which is an excellent resource for parents-to-be.
Summary
Mia Blake’s initiative to establish a nursery for her employees highlights the importance of supporting working mothers in the workplace. By advocating for better benefits and a more family-friendly environment, she sets a precedent for companies everywhere to recognize the dual roles many women play. As the conversation around work-life balance continues to evolve, it’s clear that working parents need to demand the support they deserve.