Creating What We Needed: Reimagining Work After the NICU

In this episode, we sit down with La'Kita Williams, Founder of CoCreateWork, and Ashley O’Neil, Founder of It’s a NICU World, to explore what happens when life as we knew it shifts — and how, as parents and leaders, we find our way to something new. Both La'Kita and Ashley experienced premature births and now raise children with special needs. Their journeys didn’t just change how they parent — they changed how they work, lead, and care for themselves. Time Stamps 00.00 Navigating NICU Experiences and Early Challenges 05:52 Balancing Work and Caregiving 12:05 The Emotional Toll of Caregiving 18:09 Advocacy and Support Systems 22:05 Transforming Pain into Purpose 23:12 Finding Hope in Adversity 26:23 Creating Supportive Resources for Parents 28:18 Transforming Workplaces for Better Support 33:05 Balancing Passion and Personal Life 39:59 Healing Through Purpose and Community Resources: Ashley O’Neil’s Podcast “Ask a NICU Mama” La'kita Williams - CoCreateWork It’s a NICU World! NICU Parent Network (NPN)