Women-focused Co-Working Spaces in Suburbia — Bringing Life in Balance

When my kids were young, there were two choices: you were either a stay-at-home mom or a working mom. Having been on both sides, I felt and understood the tension between the two. Fast forward to today, and things have changed drastically. Part of the reason is female-friendly coworking spaces. They give women the freedom—regardless of their stage in life—to broaden the definition of work. 

But shared office spaces do even more—they provide a framework and a foundation for interaction between people. They provide a vehicle for creating the ultimate network by linking women who are full-time, part-time, paid, volunteer, community leaders, small business owners, freelancers, household managers, caregivers; women who hold a number of these and other roles; women transitioning between roles; and simply people who want to work differently. Coworking spaces create community.

Here’s a typical day at the Co-Co, our coworking space in suburban Summit, New Jersey: Colleen, marketing director for a biotech firm, comes in after chaperoning a pre-school field trip. She meets fellow member Jennifer, a professional photographer, for an updated headshot and then ducks in to a privacy phone booth for a few work calls. 

Megan, who works for a fund manager, tackles some emails, then shoots off to take a child to the pediatrician. Then there’s Linda, knee-deep in research for her family genealogy project. She’s progressed far quicker than she ever dreamed, because the Co-Co gives her the space and solitude to focus.

But all of these women aren’t working in parallel lines and never intersecting. We firmly believe in cooperation, collaboration and community, and we’re here to make that happen. Once a month we hold a member’s breakfast where each person talks briefly about what they’re working on. Last month’s participants ran the gamut from a neuroscientist who had just given a speech on human trafficking, to a budding comedienne who’s got an upcoming gig. Where else would you find such a diverse interests and accomplishments? That’s what I love about the Co-Co. It’s living proof that just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you stop being you.