👀 Scroll for parent-friendly business news, events + funding opportunities – but first...

A NOTE  FROM AMY

💌 This is a newsletter unlike many previously...

...because this is a time unlike before. With all of the announcements of cuts to funding and actions already taken to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programming, policies and initiatives in the US, it seems we are moving backwards.

Where we live in Ottawa, Canada, we’re currently moving into a Federal AND an Ontario Election cycle. Where we used to live in Ireland and England, there have been many changes, referendums and shifts over the past decade.

Now more than ever, it’s important for us all as individuals to become informed, show up, speak up, create space and create the change we wish to see for ourselves, our families and our children going forward.

Part of the reason I’ve been sharing my activism so openly over the years has been based upon books, articles and campaigns from others I’ve read over the years.

We are never as small and insignificant as we may believe.

One person can change many things for themselves, for others and create a ripple effect. Simply by taking the first step alone, deciding to collaborate with another.

You don’t have to set out to create a movement BUT if you decide to, I want to encourage you that:

• despite its’ challenges
• the seemingly glacial pace of change
• the energy required to look after yourself
• the intention to maintain integrity
• the constant recalibration of your involvement with family, work, community and advocacy

Change can arrive in a moment.

While you rest.

From areas outside your periphery.

An unexpected lift up, call forward, offer of help.

Keep records.

Make a ‘ta-da’ list.

Note the progress you’ve made.

The mind wants to trick us.

To make us feel we aren’t moving forward.

But that’s not true.

And I’ve seen from my own experiences, it’s only in the tracking of things – the small wins amongst the big life occasions and logistics – where we can start to glimpse where we’re headed.

To make sense of our small part in things which seem outside of our control.

It all matters and as long as we’re here, we can play a role in change.

The older I get, unexpected life hurdles I overcome and with each kid I’ve had, the more audacious (but also softer) I become.

You can show up and advocate for yourself and your needs.

And still do it with kindness, compassion, empathy, curiosity and playfulness.

It’s the way I choose to be and live this life. It may not be the path you decide to take but it’s where I’m at. Somewhere between being fierce and courageous, while cultivating joy, trying to be present and noticing delight in the small moments.

👀 On that note…here is something audacious I did recently in public.

I nominated myself for the DMZ Women Of The Year Award in 2025.

And made a carousel via LinkedIn about what happened. If you don’t have LinkedIn, here is the Instagram link AND a quick summary of what happened:

• submitted the online form late at night after the kids' bedtime
• within 48 hours they accepted it, notifying me via email
• no rejection, simply congratulations and next steps

A call to action for you: Don’t wait to be invited to the party!

Sometimes you need to show up (with your kids), nominate, apply for or pitch yourself!

Now over to you: What things within your control will you do over the coming year?

• apply for grants/funding/sponsorship/jobs/awards
• register for programming/training/mentoring
• pitch yourself for speaking/hosting/interviews

The opportunities are there, but sometimes you have to go first!

For additional tips, encouragement and solidarity whether you’re doing different things in life and business, I’d love to invite you to join the Mixing Babies And Business Community!

For less than the cost of a box of diapers or your weekly coffees ($25 CAD in 2025) – our first virtual meetup is February 14th at 12 pm (ET). You’ll also monthly private podcasts, quarterly virtual meetups, online community and digital resources.

And please, if you ever need a friendly and encouraging ear, I’m happy to be a sounding board (during school hours only).

Spend time with the ones you love while investing in yourself...more parent-friendly professional development to keep you going. 

JOIN US IN 2025

✨ Have a great weekend / keep going 🐌

– Amy Lynch (+ Family)

Founder + Podcast Host

Mixing Babies And Business™

YouTube Subscribe // LinkedIn // IG @mixingbabiesandbusiness

 PARENT-FRIENDLY  BUSINESS NEWS / OPPORTUNITIES / EVENTS

Not sponsored ->>> simply spreading the word and business goodness for parents like you:

POLICY: There is a snap election called in the province of Ontario and there have been some posts floating around – two I’d like to share are a poster designed and shared by Diana C. via LinkedIn on the facts around voting regardless of your housing status AND another graphic from The Canadian Anti-Stalking Association (CASA) on the fact you don’t need to register to vote in Canada if you would like to keep your address and contact information private.

POLICY: Thanks to Yamikani Msosa, Executive Director at the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) for spreading the news via LinkedIn about Abortion Care Canada’s funding being cut as of March 2025 – in response to this they’ve launched an Autonomy Fund to support and sustain their services going forward. Learn more, spread the news and support the movement at the ACC website.

POLICY: In light of the announcements around US tariffs, Kayla Isabelle, fellow parent and CEO at Startup Canada, has shared a helpful roundup of resources via LinkedIn for Canadian businesses featuring Export Development Canada, BDC, TD Bank, Bank of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

RESEARCH: Working Families, a national charity for working parents and carers in the UK, are looking to speak to parents and tell stories of families who are dealing with balancing work and childcare, learn more and contribute through this LinkedIn post from Elliott Rae, fellow parent, speaker, author, BBC1 documentary presenter and podcaster.

RESEARCH: Important statistics from a 2024 Visibility Report published by GenM Official, highlighted by Debbie Wosskow, Chair, co-founder, advisor and multi-exit entrepreneur via a LinkedIn post, including 45% of women experienced feelings of being invisible, lonely, dispensable, or irrelevant.

RESEARCH: Join WXN and the Diversity Institute for a FREE webinar about Measuring the Impact of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives on Organizational Performance and the 50–30 Challenge on February 4th.

APPLY: To help showcase women-identifying entrepreneurs across Canada, the Startup Women Advocacy Network (SWAN) initiative is running again in 2025 and applications are now open until February 21st.

APPLY: Rise is a national charity in Canada dedicated to helping people with mental health conditions or addiction, achieve financial independence through self-employment or small business ownership and are currently seeking volunteer mentors for their programming – learn more and apply online.

SUPPORT: In their latest LinkedIn One Good Thing newsletter, J Reed Consulting shares links and resources to support Black nonprofits, businesses, entrepreneurs, authors, creators and practical actions to take “for those in corporate spaces looking for meaningful ways to celebrate, now is the time to invest in programming that centers Black history authentically”.

SUPPORT: Congratulations to Karla Briones, fellow parent, multiple business founder, advisor, CEO of Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada and previous guest from Season 1 of the Mixing Babies And Business Podcast, on the recent milestone celebrating 21 graduates from the first-ever Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Retail Incubator Program in Ottawa! Read more in this inspiring LinkedIn post covering $60K in revenue generated, validated business ideas and over $50K in grants secured – if it doesn’t make you want to support your local businesses and keep dreaming big, I don’t know what will.

SUPPORT: Wonderful news from Rashmi Sirdeshpande, fellow parent, author and previous guest from Season 3 of the Mixing Babies And Business Podcast, has secured a three-book deal with HarperCollins Children’s for her diary-style series beginning with ‘Hari Kumar: Ultimate Superstar’ chronicling a cheeky, British Indian Autistic ADHDer with big Bollywood dreams, living his best life, scheduled for publication in 2026.

UPSKILL: A celebration AND an upskill post in one – this month marked Being Freelance’s 10-year-anniversary! Congratulations to Steve Folland, fellow parent, freelance video & podcast editor, community leader, podcaster for Being Freelance and Doing It For The Kids and previous guest from Season 2 of the Mixing Babies And Business Podcast, on a decade producing digital resources, connection, feel-good content and encouraging tea and biccie breaks.

I also attended a Riverside.fm Livestream fundraising event featuring Steve and other creators, where they raised $1 USD for every viewer for DCTV's Youth Media program, a free initiative that teaches New York City youth to use media to ignite social change. Watch the replays and learn more about livestreaming – here’s a post school drop Instagram livestream I did from the carpark afterwards about what I’m going to try to implement.

UPSKILL: After her post about having DEI programming and speaking engagements cancelled went viral, Dr. Jolene Church, now hosting a virtual, ‘Join the Movement – Women in Leadership Strategy Call’ on February 6th for those wishing to implement real change and take action, details via a LinkedIn post.

UPSKILL: Thank you to Véronique Barrot, writer and coach at Linked And Lift, for the round up via LinkedIn of 10 FREE online courses available from top education institutions and corporate organizations around the world.

UPSKILL: A great recap from Lauren Currie, fellow parent, founder at UPFRONT and angel investor with HERmesa, about ‘9 times shit got scary but I did it anyway’ via a LinkedIn carousel post. I might do a recap of times I’ve been feeling the “horses” stomping through my gut but stepped forward, showed up and moved ahead anyway. What about you?

UPSKILL: A series of livestream interviews and AMA style events have been hosted by Manuj Aggarwal, fellow parent, founder and CIO at TetraNoodle, author, speaker and advisor, he covers topics related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), from industry disruption, digital marketing, fintech, success and personal development via his LinkedIn live videos and replays are available.

SALES: A great read from Ashley Dennison, founder & CEO at CommsConsultants.com via LinkedIn on what steps she’d take if she was a freelancer looking for a quick cash flow boost, including outreach, networking, marketing services (and a serious list of links for you to check out), pitching for and securing work.

SALES: Trying to distill your elevator pitch or unique selling proposition into 30 seconds or less? Here’s a great one-liner checklist shared via LinkedIn from Lindsey Lerner, Partner at Generalist World. And if you’re a jill or jack-of-all-trades, wandering creative professional like me, I recommend you check out the Generalist World website.

FUNDING: Another curated list of $600K+ in funding opportunities for Black, LGBTQ+, Women-Owned Businesses this week from Kat Gabrielle, founder & CEO of The Well Work, startup strategist, advisor mentor, expert and member of the 2025 Rogue Women’s Fund, via a LinkedIn post.

STARTUP: The DMZ is hosting their first-ever Rise & Pitch breakfast, where Black-led startups will pitch for $10,000 on February 6th, learn more and register online.

CAREER: If you missed my last newsletter about working primarily from my phone over the past six weeks due to life events, health, kids and other competing priorities, here it is again as an Instagram post and newsletter.

CAREER: Yay to working under 30 hours in a week and THRIVING! Love this from Elizabeth Willetts, fellow parent, author, founder and CEO of Investing in Women about how she structures her work week, simplifies her business and the boundaries she sets and upholds via this candid post on LinkedIn.

WELLNESS: Look after yourself between all of the parenting, work, advocacy and activism with Apathy Is Boring's 'Toolkit: Balancing Public Service and Mental Health'.

WELLNESS: A great remote-first organization roundup about rethinking the ‘perks’ you offer within your business, everything from creative days, organic products and travel to volunteering, stipends and unlimited health days off, written by Kasia Triantafelo, a fellow parent and head of community at Running Remote, via a LinkedIn post.

WELLNESS: An interesting share from Katalina Mayorga, CEO of El Camino Travel, about a couple using prompts for AI to mediate a fight between spouses after being unable to secure an appointment with their therapist, via a LinkedIn post. A different way to separate perspectives and view the issue through a series of questions! Not advocating for less therapy but when time or other constraints don’t allow for it, it could be useful to explore.

WELLNESS: Love this quick visual and list from Lottie Whyte, founder & CEO of MyoMaster about ‘8 habits that changed my life’, via a LinkedIn post.

Any you’d like to implement? I usually get fresh air and exercise on the short walk to school before 8:30 am, have hard stops for school pickups, aim to practice good sleep hygiene with no screen time the hour before bed (doesn’t always happen but I try) and record gratitude and notes in my daily astrology-focused planner.

I recently met a woman and her daughter coming home from a cruise and it sparked a desire in me to create more multigenerational memories. I’ve loved when my parents visited or spent time with us and the kids in other countries, hoping for more of it and with other relatives in future.

As always, thank you for reading, supporting this work and advocating for the needs of parents in business settings!

P.S. Keep showing up (as and when you can). It all matters.

More from Mixing Babies And Business™:

• Join the Community in 2025
• Waitlist for the Changemaker Program in 2025
• Explore my digital resource hub
• Tune into the podcast on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Website
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Book a call to chat about your journey mixing babies and business

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An independent newsletter crafted with 💜 and care in Canada

Sending you positive vibes and parenthood solidarity ✨

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