#32, Stop The Bias Against Working Mothers - Elizabeth Cowper, Founder & CEO of WoMo & Ludo

How would the world change if more mothers returned to work feeling empowered, supported and valued?

How would amazing talent change the companies if they no longer had to lie about having IVF or hide that they had a miscarriage?

Surely we would finally have more women in senior leadership positions, more role models, more diverse thinking.

This is exactly Elizabeth Cowper’s mission with Ludo, which provides companies with tech for inclusion, with a specific focus on women.

Ludo’s first module, WoMo (an affectionate nickname for Working Mothers), launched July 2021 and supercharges the maternity experience for women, through support, advice and connection to the workplace.

And this is just the beginning.

Ludo Menopause launches October 2022 to help businesses educate employees and engage female talent through the menopause.

In this very open conversation Elizabeth shared a lot of her own personal experiences after having IVF for the first two of her children and how her background in HR (she was previously VP of HR as well as Head of Wellbeing at the Tapestry group which owns the brands Coach, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman) shaped her view of supporting working mothers in the workplace.

We talk about good and bad bosses, especially ones that didn’t make her “feel like Elizabeth”.

We talk about why women don’t return to work after having kids (it’s not always the first choice to be a full-time mum), and about funding in a male dominated VC environment as well as what we need to change that.

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WE DISCUSS

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03:02 - Elizabeth’s superpowers

05:06 - Compromising values

08:48 - Why did you go into HR?

10:53 - Why WoMo?

14:43 - Why do women not return to work after having kids?

19:43 - Biggest challenge to get WoMo off the ground

24:16 - What is it like raising funds?

30:48 - What is WoMo’s big vision?

37:16 - How can Leaders support your mission?

41:19 - One mistake that led you to where you are now?

44:58 - Would you do anything differently?

45:53 - Advice to younger self

47:50 - How to get into flow

50:48 - Impossible question

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ELIZABETH COWPER

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-cowper-chartered-fcipd-ludo/

Ludo: https://weareludo.com/ 

WoMo: https://womonetwork.com/

Instagram WoMo: https://www.instagram.com/womonetwork/

Instagram Ludo: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_ludo/

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