Boulo Solutions isn’t just Childcare Resources’ presenting sponsor for the 2023 Champions for Children Charity Breakfast, they are an industry-leading recruiting agency that focuses on getting women, mothers, and caregivers matched with flexible jobs that work for them.
Boulo prides themselves on bridging the gap between their qualified members and employers, and bringing optimism and hope back to the job search and hiring process.
We were extremely excited to sit down with Delphine Carter, founder and CEO of Boulo, and find out just how she manages to continuously find these “hidden talents,” and truly appreciate Boulo’s commitment to supporting hard-working mothers in our community.
What gave you the idea to start Boulo?
I was in my dream job, doing what I loved. I felt like I was excelling at work, but there was one thing missing: time with my kids. I felt guilty leaving the office every day at five in the evening to get my kids from daycare. Because of this guilt, I’d work from home nights and weekends. I was putting performance expectations on myself because I felt guilty for mom-ing, which meant more time away from my family.
I knew there had to be another way to feel successful as a mom and at work.
During this time, I met moms who wanted to return to work but couldn’t. They couldn’t find their way back into their career in a way that also worked with being a mother. That’s when the idea of Boulo came. I realized if companies could understand the value of keeping mothers in the workforce by offering flexibility, everyone would thrive — mothers and companies.
What are some of the main challenges that women are facing in the workforce today?
There are two kinds of challenges women face today in the workplace — external and internal.
External: Outside of the workplace
Childcare: Did you know that child care costs are often the second largest expense in a household after a mortgage? This is the biggest challenge working mothers face. Mothers can’t go to work if there isn’t safe and affordable childcare available.
School Hours: They don’t coincide with work hours creating a logistics nightmare for many parents. Not to mention, many schools do not have bus service. See where the logistical nightmare comes in?
Internal: In the Workplace
Biases: Motherhood penalty, motherhood bias, gender bias, resume gap bias; there are so many biases women face in the workplace. A common bias is that when a woman has children, they are less committed to work and want to downshift their careers. This limits their opportunities to advance and stay in the workplace.
Unequal Pay: Women are paid less than men, and mothers make even less — $0.74 on the dollar. Men, however, earn more money after becoming fathers.
Lack of visible supporters: If parenthood isn’t supported or talked about in the office, it’s isolating for that mom who must leave to pick up their kids from school or a sick child.
Why do you think it is so important for women to have support and resources like the ones Boulo provides?
It’s essential for everyone. If you think you are not affected when a woman leaves the workplace, you are wrong. 43% of women leave the workforce when they become mothers. Their absences create a $64 billion problem for the US economy, which affects everyone.
Boulo is an important resource for working moms because most job board algorithms are built for traditional careers. We ask questions during onboarding that highlight both soft and hard skills and then create a 360° Profile to highlight those skills. Next, we target companies who are seeking top talent and willing to offer flexibility. Our customers understand the value and needs that caregivers have. When women come to Boulo, they can have successful careers because of the flexibility that allows them to be there for their families.
We also have our online community — Momfessionals. Many working moms are searching for resources, networks, and support, and that’s what this community offers them.
What are some of the things that contribute to your success as a company?
Boulo would be nothing without our customers, mothers, and the team. We have the best customers who understand and support the value of having a mother on their team. The mothers on our platform have so much functional depth and experience, they make an impact wherever they go.
Finally, my team — many of our team members were once Boulo members. This means we have employees who are even more passionate about helping women stay in and return to the workforce.
Why is finding a diverse workplace important to you?
Several studies have proven that diverse teams are more profitable and more engaged. It’s evident that when you have diverse people on your team, you get a range of perspectives and ideas at the table, ultimately leading to more innovation and revenue. I want my own children to experience a workforce where people from different backgrounds and identities are represented and there is a culture of belonging.
I knew there had to be another way to feel successful as a mom and at work.
- Delphine Carter
What is your advice for women re-entering the workforce?
The time you spent away from the workforce, you were not “just being a mom.” This minimizes the experiences you obtained while being a mom. Experiences that make you an even better candidate.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when returning to the workforce. The secret is to take one
action, one step towards your goal. What does that look like for you today? Creating your resume or LinkedIn profile? Researching your dream job, or sharpening your interview skills? Whatever it is, take that step.
What are you most excited to see happen for women in the workforce?
Society is changing, and I am excited to see how it evolves! Male Millennials and Gen Z want to be more involved in their children’s lives than their fathers were. That’s great
news for women. The more people in a company requesting time to be involved parents
while still hitting their goals, the easier it is for mothers. This could significantly impact
eliminating a critical bias against women in the workforce.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part is being a part of so many success stories. I hear about mothers we have placed who become leaders in their companies. Mothers who thought they were going to leave their careers but then found the perfect role through Boulo because of its flexibility. Businesses who discover the power of a mother and how quickly she hits her goals. It’s just an extra confirmation that we are making a difference at Boulo, and I am just thankful to be a part of it all.