Creating Pathways for Women to Thrive: Addie Swartz, CEO of reacHire
Neha speaks with Addie Swartz (@AddieSwartz), who has spent 30 years empowering women and girls through entrepreneurial ventures. Today she is CEO of reacHire, a provider of cohort-based, return-to-work programs and the Aurora SaaS platform for early & mid-career women.
When Addie Swartz was on maternity leave with her first daughter, she realized women needed more career flexibility and support. So, she launched Bright Ideas, a network of tech-savvy moms who sold educational software, from her spare bedroom. Since then, she’s launched Beacon Street Girls, a book series and virtual junior high helping girls navigate adolescence, and reacHire, which works with companies to on-ramp women who left the workforce and ensure they thrive. She was born to empower.
“I love this idea of being a rebel and dreammaker at the same time. We clearly know to make change sometimes you have to break some glass. But I think the word dreammaker resonates much more with me. I want my dream to become a reality: allowing more women to create their own narrative where work and personal life can coexist.”
Neha and Addie discuss:
- How born entrepreneurs find and pursue a purpose
- Why companies need to do better in allowing for workplace flexibility
- How everyone must define success for themselves and be able to see a pathway to achieve it
- Why finding someone who believes in you is important
The Dreammakers enjoyed a glass of wine while they talked: Chateau de Chantegrive Blanc 2018. It's from the left bank of Bordeaux, typically known for red wines. But..it’s a white and aged in stainless steel for at least six month giving it a crisp, fresh minerality. You can also taste floral elements like honeysuckle and jasmine.
Other show notes:
- reacHire - returning women to work by partnering with forward-thinking companies to create environments where they thrive, advance, lead and stay.
- Pharrell Williams’ Happy is Addie’s wake up song
- Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans is Addie’s book recommendation
- Addie recommended Aurora from Cellar Door Winery, partly because it’s the name of her SaaS platform and symbolizes potential. Also, it tastes good!
Follow Addie on LinkedIn and @addieswartz
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