Work, Culture & Family
Big News
Last year I received some of the best news possible: my wife and I were expecting our second child. When our first child was born, I felt that I missed out on spending extended quality time with our newborn because my employer at the time didn't offer any family leave benefits. When I heard that Morning Walk was introducing a new family leave policy that included spouses, I was thrilled.
Values First
Morning Walk's introduction of the family leave policy was part of a broader progressive shift during our agency’s rebrand to ramp up our commitment to employee well-being. This emphasis has become engrained in our brand DNA. In the fast-paced world of agency and consulting work, relentless schedules are the norm. This initiative made me feel truly supported as I prepared to have another drooling little one hanging around.
This was also a milestone for Morning Walk, as I would become the first employee to use this benefit. As the due date approached, I collaborated with my colleagues and a recently hired team member to develop a coverage plan—outlining communications, determining responsibilities and scheduling necessary training sessions. It was so great to see the effort all of my colleagues put forward to ensure that I could be fully out of office. While the idea of stepping away from active projects for an extended period was a bit nerve-wracking, I knew my clients and colleagues had my back. It’s a little easier to take comfort in knowing you’re covered when you work for an organization that prioritizes working with not just good but exceptional people.
New Responsibility
I began my leave watching our son solo while my wife returned to work following her maternity leave, and it was pedal to the metal. A new client of mine had strict deadlines to follow, a preferred style of working that I had to learn ASAP and a vocal presence in our 1:1 meetings. The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of activity—daily walks along the local lakefront, tummy time on the play mat, spit-up on my shirts and late nights soothing a restless newborn. Most rewarding of all was being present when he discovered his voice. Witnessing him beginning to make sounds as he tried to communicate with the world is an experience I’ll never forget.
Glorious Return
Despite my best efforts, I couldn't convince our newborn to tag along on my return to the office to help us build effective, performance branding ecosystems. Even still, the transition was seamless thanks to my thoughtful colleagues. My team had prepared updates on existing projects, filled me in on the work accomplished during my absence and had even landed some new business— AKA kicking ass! I'm deeply appreciative of the support that made this possible.
Life is a balancing act, and we all have our own set of priorities and values. Reflecting on this experience, I'm grateful that Morning Walk's cultural values align so closely with my own. The time away with my newborn enriched both my personal and professional life, allowing me to return with a renewed perspective. Supporting employees through significant life milestones isn't just compassionate—it's good business.
About Steven Wroblewski
Steven as a decade of experience working at agencies and Fortune 500 brands such as Kohl's and Colgate-Palmolive. Bridging the gap between marketing technology and business use cases, Steven has found the sweet spot in helping brands make sense of their data & how to act upon it through customer-focused marketing strategies. He is fluent in three languages: marketing, IT & data, which makes him a valuable partner to any organization. Steven leads the analytics & customer data program offering at Morning Walk for all clients, including Kalahari Resorts, Masonite Doors, Rhino-Rack, and OPTIMA Batteries. When he is not walking the talk on the job, Steven can be found working on side hustles and baking fabulous sourdough pizzas.