Lessons from the Climb –  The Peaks Along the Way

Before I ever called myself a founder, I was someone who loved my work. My career made sense – until it didn’t.

When I became a mom, my priorities shifted overnight. What once felt aligned with my career goals no longer matched the life I wanted as a working parent. The expectations, the lack of flexibility, the outdated systems – they no longer served me or so many other families around me.

And in that moment of personal transformation, the idea for Haven began to take shape.

We needed more than just childcare. We needed an ecosystem – a modern solution where families could thrive without sacrificing their careers or their well-being. A place where parents could work, care for their children, and take care of themselves, all under one roof.

The early days of building Haven were filled with unknowns. There was no roadmap – just questions, listening, experimenting, and learning. But even in the uncertainty, there were moments that felt like summits – those rare and beautiful times when all the effort aligned and revealed how far we’d come.

One of those moments was when Morgan joined me as we prepared to open the first Haven Club. Another came shortly after, when Christy joined the team as we prepared for our second location. These weren’t just operational hires – they were meaningful turning points. These women became cofounders in the truest sense. Their belief in the mission and their commitment to the climb shaped Haven into what it is today.

We’ve walked through fire together – including surviving COVID only six months after opening our first club. The club was forced to close during its most vulnerable stage. We operated in two-week windows of uncertainty, unsure whether we could reopen, waiting for guidance. It was exhausting – and yet, it revealed our resilience.

What we didn’t expect was that COVID would accelerate our mission. Suddenly, the world experienced what working parents had long known: the impossible tension of caregiving and work, shoved together in the same space. The uphill battle we thought we’d face over the next decade – trying to get businesses to understand why parents need flexibility – was suddenly felt in every home. Our “why” became crystal clear for more people than ever before.

There were other peaks too:

• The first time a parent walked into Haven and said, “I didn’t know something like this could exist… but now that I do, I need it.”
• The first time we were featured in a national publication and saw our mission resonate with a wider audience.
• The first time I looked around a Haven space and realized – we weren’t just creating a business. We were building something that truly mattered.

These moments became the proof points. They showed us the concept worked, that the vision was real, and that families – just like mine – needed this.

But the journey hasn’t just been peaks. It’s also been in valleys. And each one has been equally important.

The valleys are where the growth happens. They’re the quiet, often uncomfortable stretches where doubt creeps in, where reflection becomes necessary, and where I ask myself the hardest questions – not about the business, but about me. Am I the person to do this? Do I have it in me to lead through what’s coming next?

Over time, I began to recognize these moments. I’ve come to see them as a kind of subconscious reset – a necessary pause before a new climb. These periods don’t feel productive on the surface, but they are. They’re where the next version of the vision, and of me, takes shape.

What I’ve Learned from the Peaks and the Valleys

Celebrate the peaks. Even if it’s just for a moment. These milestones are hard-earned.

Share them with your team. Your people climb the mountain with you. Their fingerprints are on every step.

Use the view. Let it remind you how far you’ve come – and that you didn’t get here alone.

Don’t fear the valleys. They hold the questions that need to be asked. They build your resilience.

Recognize the rhythm. The quiet before the climb is not hesitation – it’s preparation.

Because with every challenge, every new phase of Haven’s growth – from our flagship clubs to our franchise program, from our tech-enabled childcare platform to our vision for family-centered workspaces – I’m more certain than ever that we’re building something with lasting impact.

And I know this: whatever the next mountain is, we’ll climb it – together.

At Haven, we believe in building a better future for working parents—one where childcare, career, and well-being can coexist under one roof.

If you’re navigating your own climb right now, I hope this story reminds you: you’re not alone. The view is worth it.