After struggling to return to work after maternity leave, a Washington, D.C. attorney built the course she wished existed—now helping hundreds of moms do the same.
Challenge
As a healthcare attorney and partner at a major D.C. law firm, Lori L. was used to juggling complex cases and tight deadlines. But after the birth of her second child, she faced a challenge no legal textbook had prepared her for: returning to work as a new mom.
Despite a supportive employer, Lori found the transition overwhelming. Caring for two small children while managing her demanding job left her drained and uncertain. And when she looked for resources on how to ease the transition back to work, she found… nothing. There were books on childbirth, baby nutrition, and parenting—but none on how to return to work confidently after maternity leave.
She realized she wasn’t alone—and that gap in the market was too big to ignore.
Action
Drawing on her organizational skills, Lori mapped out a structured, four-week course she called Mindful Return. The program helped new mothers navigate four key themes: self-care, logistics, leadership, and community.
Each week featured five short lessons, written by Lori and guest experts such as childcare professionals and psychologists. She hosted the course on Ruzuku, a platform that allowed her to easily manage enrollments and integrate payments.
The course launched at $99 per participant—and within days, the first sale arrived while Lori was at her day job. That single email notification felt like validation that she was onto something real.
To expand access, Lori introduced an employer option, allowing companies to sponsor the program as a maternity leave benefit. That idea proved brilliant: HR departments loved it as a tool to support new mothers and reduce turnover.
Result
Three years later, more than 400 women have completed the Mindful Return course, generating an average of $2,000 per month in net income. Roughly half of all enrollments now come directly from employer sponsorships—a number that continues to grow.
The program’s impact reached beyond profits. Lori was featured in The Washington Post and expanded her offerings to include a similar course for new fathers, partnering with a dad currently on paternity leave to ensure authenticity.
Lesson
Lori’s story is a masterclass in identifying unmet needs from personal experience. Instead of dismissing her struggle as “just part of being a working mom,” she turned it into a product that empowers others.
Her approach also shows the power of smart pricing and partnerships—by getting employers involved, she made her course sustainable while increasing its reach.
Sometimes, the best business ideas come from the question: What do I wish had existed when I needed help the most?
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.