Today I’m talking about planning for maternity leave with Arianna Taboada. We cover a ton of information specifically for expecting entrepreneurs, but even if you are looking at planning for the future and taking a leave in your business, this is a really helpful episode. We talk about how a baby is going to affect your business and Arianna’s tips for babyproofing while you’re still in the planning stages. She also gives us tips on changes we can make to our website and how we can let our current clients know what our plans are in advance so everyone is prepared for what’s to come. She also talks about building a support network when we find out we’re pregnant and why it’s important to have a transition time to learn the balance between new motherhood and business.

Arianna is a maternal health expert, author, and owner of a consulting firm that helps female founders intelligently design maternity leave plans that meet their business model and personal needs.  Prior to her consulting practice, Arianna worked on maternal health issues for over a decade as a health educator, a social worker in a mental health clinic, a reproductive health researcher, and a yoga therapist. She draws from her expertise as a maternal health professional, combined with her experience as a business owner and mother, to provide highly personalized services for service-based entrepreneurs. She is deeply committed to providing on-going, multi-faceted support that meets the professional, physical, mental, social, and emotional needs of entrepreneurs as they babyproof their business and navigate new motherhood. Arianna lives, works, and plays with her family in Berkeley, California.

Topics Discussed:

• How having a baby affects your business as an entrepreneur
• Tips for babyproofing your business while you’re pregnant or when you’re thinking about starting a family
• Changes you can make to your website to help as you plan for maternity leave
• How to let your current clients know about your leave plans
• Building a support network for the post-partum period
• The importance of having a transition time as you get back into business after having a baby

Resources Discussed:

• Workbook to help you build your support network

Action Steps:

1. Review or develop your standard operating procedures for your core business operations.
2. Conduct a time audit for 2 weeks.
3. Learn from other entrepreneurs with similar businesses and what they did for maternity leave.

Connect with Arianna:

• Website
• Book