Fall 2012  

Back to home page

Washington University in
St. Louis

Department of Anthropology

Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

Archived
Issues

 

Building a Coworking Business
by Jessie Rymph, AB 2005

Rymph
Jessie Rymph (left) at the Global Coworking Unconference Conference in March 2012

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the United States is one of five countries in the world that does not guarantee paid maternity leave and American women on average take less than three months of leave. Many women go back to work part-time or work from home while their children are young. New parents in particular can feel intense isolation when staying at home as well as frustration in balancing their careers and family. To address some of these issues, I plan to open a business in Seattle within the next year that will provide a space for parents to work and have child care in the same building.

"Coworking" is a thriving industry that invites independent workers, freelancers, and telecommuters into shared spaces for their work. While providing all the benefits of a traditional office—printers, copiers, a kitchen, conference rooms—the real benefits of coworking are the intangible connections made between people. As some sections of American culture shift away from churches or neighborhood blocks as community hubs, a need arises for a place and common bond to gather around—and in some instances it can be a for-profit business. Here's an anthropological study waiting to happen!

My interest in coworking began when I met my boyfriend, who owns a successful coworking space in Seattle. After attending a coworking conference with him, I realized my strengths in building relationships, in taking care of large groups of people, and in hosting events suit me for running a coworking space. Looking back now at my Myers-Briggs personality profile, I see how well this career will use my strengths.

After graduating from Washington University with an AB in anthropology and a certificate in nonprofit management, I have spent most of the last seven years working in nonprofit communications and development (fundraising). I currently work for School's Out Washington, which provides professional development and quality standards for afterschool providers in the state of Washington. We're driving conversations around the state and country on the importance of enriching activities outside of the school day for youth of color. The achievement gap widens particularly in the summer months as privileged youth continue to develop critical thinking and literacy skills in camps, at home reading with parents, or on family vacations. My studies of race as an anthropology major have greatly informed my work in racial equity at School's Out.

As I transition to starting my own business, I'm connecting with child-care providers through my current organization—with their full support. I'm not a mother, nor do I have experience in child care, but I'm enjoying my explorations into the world of upper-middle-class parenthood. I have not decided if I will operate as a nonprofit or for-profit, which is one of many questions at this stage of business planning.

To learn about coworking in your city, look at the Coworking Wiki. You can also learn more about my project purpleraincoats.wordpress.com.