Amanda Munday on Parenting and Business, The Pandemic, and More
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Young Women in Business Toronto (YWiB) aims to provide our diverse community of young, self-identified women with genuine career advice, encouragement, and examples of local role models. That's why, for the next few months, we’ll be interviewing both career professionals and entrepreneurs our community can be inspired by and learn from.
Amanda Munday, Founder and CEO of The Workaround
Amanda, tell us about yourself!
Hi! I'm exhausted (lol)!
I'm a mom of two adorable kids, 6 and 4, separated from my ex who is now my co-parent, running a brick and mortar business (The Workaround, coworking and childcare) in a pandemic and trying to slowly come out and date women, and not have a total breakdown. It's a lot. One of those things would be enough.
Was there any particular event, experience, or opportunity that initially led you to open The Workaround?
It wasn't one specific event but rather a series of frustrating experiences as a working parent. When I returned to work after my first paternity leave, I negotiated a reduced work schedule where I could be home with my daughter two days a week and my mom would help out the other three, plus part-time preschool. It was the only way to afford my $60k salary, a mortgage and groceries. Childcare costs $24,000 a year! I couldn't do it, but I didn't want to quit my job and I was so frustrated by the lack of options. To me, The Workaround is obvious. There are many reasons why someone isn't able to put their children in childcare—separation anxiety, severe allergies or exceptionalities, still nursing, or simply "I want my kid close to me so I can work and not be distracted by guilt about leaving them and the burden of the financial cost."
So, I built something else, for me, eight months after I returned to work with my second child. It felt impossible to do anything else.
On social media and your website, you say “The Workaround welcomes all genders, marginalized communities, and LGBTQ families.” Why was it important for you to make this known, and how do you create a safe, affirming space for families?
Well, I'm queer, and while I'm not shouting it from the rooftops, I want members to know this is a safe space for them. I also recognize that saying The Workaround is a safe space doesn't mean much. Parents who are Black and people of colour, queer, or marginalized in any way need to say that for us, and we need to be willing to accept their feedback and requests for change.
Above all else, what I want the community (and outsiders) to know is we will always prioritize those who have not otherwise been prioritized.
I'll turn down business and cancel memberships myself in the name of making sure marginalized communities have a place to work where they can focus and their children are well cared for.
How do your personal values show up in your business and brand?
I suppose the answer above responds to that. I have never been very good at not being political. I swear a lot and wear my emotions openly and my business is an extension of me, so those things come through in my work. At times my values can harm the business, because really I wish I could somehow have a really successful company where we offer the cheapest possible price point but still highly paid staff and an exceptional product. Is that too much to ask?! ;)
During the pandemic, you’ve been publicly advocating for more small business relief and supports. Are there specific gaps or challenges that you’ve experienced as a business owner that you wish more could be done to mitigate?
In a word, it's abhorrent. Small business has had it rough since March, and truthfully, things started getting bad in the months before that. The challenge with a lot of the government support is that it's not built by small business owners. Debt isn't helpful when we aren't sure if we will be able to repay debt. And the wage subsidy is a reimbursement program, which really messes up cash flow. The supports *appear* to be life savers, but they're anything but.
You're also an author, and have written a memoir about your personal experience with postpartum depression. Publishing your private life must have taken courage. What motivated you to share this part of your mental health journey with the world? Who do you hope this book will reach, perhaps beyond other parents who’ve experienced postpartum depression?
When my father died by suicide in 2016, I knew at a new level how important it is that we discuss mental health openly. I can admit that I wrote the book and landed a book deal before I launched The Workaround. Before I had staff who report to me and customers who pay a lot to my business. It worried me that I would jeopardize my business by publicly sharing my personal struggles.
I got over those fears when I realized in the end it's better to be honest, and if people don't like it, they aren't my people anyway.
I really want the book to land with partners who aren't birthing, and family members who support new families. It's more important for them to read Day Nine than new parents (believe me, they already know how hard it is). I don't think there is a wide enough understanding of how serious PPD can be to a new parent's health and the wellbeing of their child. It's critical that we understand what PPD looks like and how to respond (and not to respond!) so we can treat it like any other illness and seek treatment quickly.
There’s an adorable IG photo of you and one of your children at a book signing. What has it been like sharing your journey (specifically as an author) with your family, especially at such an early age?
My kids are proud of me, that I know for sure. How awesome is that?! I will say sometimes I annoy them. Practicing for my TEDxToronto talk at home for MONTHS has made my daughter threaten to move out if she has to hear "my daughter was born backwards" one more time (She's 6). There are wins and losses.
The pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone, and the stress of running a business through the pandemic I’m sure can be overwhelming at times. What are some ways you practice self-care when you’re feeling the pressure?
There are pressures with trying to keep up with self-care, because when I don't manage self-care well shame develops quickly and I feel like a failure. I would say the most common thing I do when I'm overwhelmed is nothing. Literally nothing. I scroll TikTok and order takeout and go to bed at 8pm. I don't answer emails and leave work early and stay in PJs and skip showering. All those daily tasks feel like work and are some of the only levers I have to control to reduce what's on my plate.
At this point in your life and business journey, what are you most proud of yourself for, professionally and personally?
I'm proud that I haven't given up. We were broken into at The Workaround on January 9th. The last time I saw my girlfriend was February 23rd. My kids went into lockdown with me and then we somehow came out of it. I redesigned the business even when I didn't want to. I show up and temperature check and make sure payroll is always on-time and keeps going. I'm proud of my resilience.
What are you looking forward to in the future?
WAY FEWER THINGS ON MY LIST.
Amanda Munday is the Founder and CEO of The Workaround, a parent-friendly workspace with childcare in Toronto. The Workaround is consistently featured in 'Top Coworking Spaces' and "Most Innovative Companies" lists including #2 top coworking spaces in Toronto by BlogTO in 2019 and 2020.
Amanda is also the author of Day Nine: A Postpartum Depression Memoir, by Dundurn Press. Amanda is a TEDxToronto speaker and a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail. She has received international media coverage, including being named an Inspirational Speaker in Forbes Magazine. Her work has been showcased by The Toronto Star, BNN Bloomberg, CP24 Breakfast, CBC, The Associated Press, Toronto Life and many more.