398. Creating Space for Parents: Megan Donovan on Coworking + Childcare

Balancing career and parenthood isn’t easy, and for many parents, traditional childcare options just don’t fit. Megan Donovan, founder of Shift Work and Play, set out to change that. After leaving a career in policy and advocacy, Megan built a coworking model that offers parents dedicated work time while their kids enjoy structured play sessions, filling a gap most childcare and coworking models miss.

In this episode, Megan shares her journey, the challenges of running a coworking + childcare business, and why her members say the model has been life-changing.

We cover:

• Megan’s unconventional career path and the “lightbulb moment” that led to Shift Work and Play.

• How the childcare model works, and how she balances staffing with flexibility for parents.

• Why part-time, flexible childcare is such a missing piece in most communities.

• The types of members attracted to this model, and how it impacts their mental health and productivity.

• What she’s learned about programming, community building, and diversifying revenue streams.

Megan’s story is a great reminder that coworking is at its best when it solves a very real problem for its community.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Megan's LinkedIn profile

SHIFT Work + Play website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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