At CAKE, we believe in creating flexible work environments that support our team members’ personal and professional lives. Today, we’re excited to spotlight Emilee Nichols, our talented social media expert who has been with us since April 2022. Emilee’s journey from corporate life to flexible parenthood and her own work-life balance is not just inspiring—it’s a testament to the power of innovative work models.
Emilee’s path to motherhood was unconventional and challenging. After facing health issues and a relationship breakdown in her early 30s, she made the bold decision to become a single mother.
“I had quite bad endometriosis. So the advice was to freeze my eggs,” Emilee recalls. “It was a really hard journey and a really long few years wondering if it was actually going to work out.”
Despite the obstacles, Emilee’s determination paid off. Today, she’s the proud mother of Florence, her 18-month-old daughter. “We’re the perfect little family. I love our life together,” she beams.
While on maternity leave from her corporate job, Emilee faced the daunting prospect of returning to a rigid, full-time office position. That’s when she discovered CAKE through a podcast featuring our founder, Kelly.
“I listened to it and I was like, yes, yes, yes! Kelly is my person. I need to reach out to Kelly,” Emilee shares.
This serendipitous connection led to a partnership that would transform Emilee’s work-life balance.
At CAKE, we offer a flexible work model that stands in stark contrast to traditional corporate structures. Emilee explains, “With CAKE, there is 100% flexibility. It doesn’t matter when I get the work done, or how I look getting the work done, it’s just that it gets done.”
This approach allows her to prioritise her daughter’s needs without compromising her professional commitments. The impact of this flexible model on Emilee’s well-being has been profound. “I have a very happy, healthy child, and I wonder often, would she be so happy if she was in daycare five days a week for 12 hours a day? I can’t imagine what my mental health would be like either,” she reflects. This balance has allowed Emilee to create a life that works for her family while staying professionally challenged and fulfilled.
Despite working remotely, Emilee feels deeply connected to her CAKE collaborators. “It feels like I’m working as part of a team again, which is what I do miss working for myself,” she says. Our virtual weekly meetings and collaborative approach ensure that everyone feels supported and valued.
The CAKE model not only benefits our team members but also our clients. As Emilee points out, “You get a team of people who are all experts and only need a certain number of hours to do their specialty each week. It has to be more beneficial to business’ to run this way.” This approach allows us to deliver high-quality work efficiently, often at a lower cost than a full-time in-house marketing team.
Emilee’s journey offers valuable insights for other parents navigating the work-life balance. Her advice? “You just have to do what’s right for your family because as I’ve heard over and over again: anyone can be replaced in the workforce. I probably thought that I couldn’t be, but you can be. Anyone can be. But you definitely can’t be replaced at home.”
As Emilee puts it, “I have created a life that works for us… And I’m challenged in both aspects, both professionally and personally, but so happy and so content with both aspects.”
At CAKE, we’re proud to support professionals like Emilee, proving that with the right approach, it’s possible to have a rewarding career and a fulfilling family life.
We’re excited to continue growing and evolving our flexible work model, supporting more parents in creating lives that work for them.
As Emilee says, “You’ve got a teammate for life, if you’ll have me. I really admire what you’re doing and your vision for CAKE. It’s really progressive and just amazing for people like me.”
We believe it takes a village to raise a child and to have a career. We’re committed to being that village for our team members, fostering an environment where both personal and professional growth can flourish. Emilee’s story is just one example of how we’re redefining work-life balance for parents in the modern world.
