Happy New Year We hope you had the time to relax and reset. In the spirit of starting a new year, we thought it’d be the perfect time to (re)introduce ourselves (see below!).
If Dry January or Veganuary isn’t for you, why not consider taking on our January Challenge? This month we’ll be tackling the big questions around starting a family; guide you on how you can start having these conversations in your own life; and how you can use our financial planning tool as a part of that process.
Our humble origins date back to January 2020, with a coffee chat between our two co-founders, Mel Faxon and Siran Cao. After recounting story after story about the disjunction between career and motherhood, they were compelled to do something. In other words, they were ready to F*ck. The. System. (We’re joking, but if you know either of them, you’ll know they don’t mess around). As kick ass women determined to take down gender inequality, they founded Mirza in 2020 - and what a year it’s been!*
So what do we actually do at Mirza? Our mission is to help close the gender pay gap, and it starts with dismantling the motherhood penalty. To do this, we empower women and working parents with research and resources. By using our financial calculator, working parents can plan easily and take control of their work-life balance. Right now, the app is still in beta; having received feedback from our first round of testing, we’re adding more features to it. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can sign up below!
In spite of everything that happened in 2020, we had a brilliant year at Mirza and we can’t wait to continue our story. Thank you for being a part of it.
*Besides starting a company during a worldwide pandemic and being full time, badass women fighting gender inequality, Mel is about to go viral on TikTok and Siran recently became a proud cat lady. Go get yourself bosses who can do it all
The mere mention of having kids can send some people running for the hills. It’s an enormous commitment and can be intimidating to think about - we get it. From the financial and legal implications, to the impact it has on your relationships, career and health; starting a family is a life-changing event that requires time, planning, and a few scary talks. It’s challenging, but it also doesn’t have to be as daunting as you might think.
This month we break down the scary, but necessary conversations around starting a family. From the logistics to the big picture questions, we’ll be with you at every (baby!) step of the way. Whether you’ve yet to have “the talk” with your partner, or you’re thinking about having another baby, this is a great opportunity to get the conversation going. It all starts on the 11th January, follow us on Instagram @mirzasayshey to stay in the loop.
Some good news to kick off the year: last week, Argentina made elective abortion safe, free and legal. It's the largest Latin American country to do so. What a win for women’s rights!!
🍾 Happy New Year! Have a long list of resolutions that you want to stick to? Check out Atomic Habits by James Clear, a great comprehensive guide on how to change your habits and get 1% better every day. After all, it’s all about taking baby steps!
🦰 Kiss a Ginger Day is on the 12th. Yes - you read that right! Use this day to show appreciation to your favorite redhead pals!
The countdown is on for Inauguration Day! How are you celebrating January 20th?
Martin Luther King Jr Day is on the 18th. If we learnt anything from last year about civil rights, we’ve still got a long way to go. Here are a some book recommendations to read on King Day with the kids:
It’s National Mentorship Month in the US, a campaign which aims to encourage more people to actively become mentors to young people. It’s also the time to celebrate the huge positive impact mentoring has on the youth. Are you interested in becoming a mentor? Follow these three easy steps.
It’s also Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Did you know that between 15,000 to 50,000 women and young children are trafficked each year into the US? It’s a vital time for us all to educate ourselves about modern slavery and human trafficking. Learning how to spot the signs could save lives.
