Balancing Motherhood and Career: Finding the Right Work-Life Balance with Emilee Nichols

A different road to motherhood

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.

Finding CAKE

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.

What 100% flexibility looks like

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.

Staying connected as a remote team

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.”

It takes a village

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.