Too many hiring systems are broken, and moms are often the ones getting left behind. But what if there was a better way?

In this inspiring episode, I talk with Mary Kay Ziniewicz, founder and CEO of Bus Stop Mamas, about how she’s radically reimagining what work can look like for mothers. From her early career in law firm marketing to building a national platform that connects talented women with flexible, meaningful jobs, Mary Kay is a force for challenging outdated assumptions and rebuilding the hiring process with humans at the center.

You'll hear how Mary Kay’s personal transformation led her to purpose-driven work, why remote work isn’t the silver bullet we think it is, and the untapped business case for hiring moms. We also explore how employers can be part of the solution, saving money, increasing retention, and building stronger teams by hiring differently.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, a social impact entrepreneur, or a working parent yourself, you’ll walk away from this conversation encouraged, challenged, and ready to take bold steps forward.

In this episode, we cover:

• The origin story of Bus Stop Mamas and why it’s changing lives
• Why 43% of women still leave the workforce after having children
• How social conditioning and hiring algorithms marginalize moms—and how to fix it
• What employers get wrong about childcare and workplace flexibility
• The power of vulnerability, creativity, and community in leadership
• Why being wrong might be the best thing for your career
• Fast-cash gigs, pinch hitters, and how Mary Kay is redefining modern hiring

Links & Resources:

🔗 Visit Bus Stop Mamas

🔗 Connect with Mary Kay on LinkedIn

📝 Read our related blog post: The Courage to Ask: Rethinking Sales and Your Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy

📩 Subscribe to Secrets of Social Impact Communicators newsletter: Join here

Thank you to Mary Kay and the team at Bus Stop Mamas for this powerful conversation.

Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode!