We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Schroader and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, what is the most important factor behind your success?
We’d be nothing without community connection. Tacoma-local families and small businesses together believed that “teamwork makes the dream work” and wanted to share space and energy for family and work life, a space and support circle we ultimately built together. We took the leap and signed the lease, but they jumped in with us and continue showing up as swim together through the waves.

They believed. When we introduced a brand-new business model to Tacoma and asked fellow moms to join as members. As our friendships and families grew together. As they continued to the hold space for that dream and community through a pandemic. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, we need a dream team who sees beyond circumstance and rises to the occasion, allowing us to maintain perspective and feel empowered even when energy and profit levels might run low. (It’s natural! We’re riding the waves.)

We’re a Pod of families, creators, and teachers. Better together. South Sound, Pacific Northwest born but always embarking on new waters and adventures. It all started because of Our Pod at The Pod Works. We’re growing places.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a community builder and gathering space creator. It all started when I become a mom in 2014 and focused my goals around working from home to be with my daughter and enjoy every fleeting early childhood moment that I could. But working from home was not a dream come true after all. I was depressed and isolated between being a mom for the first time and trying to provide for us through what felt like constant work. The curtains would stay drawn and my sweatpants were always on, and my sweet little girl started spending long mornings and afternoons watching cartoons. I knew something needed to change. I wanted to get us out of the house and connected to other parents and kids who were in the same boat and trying to find the magical balance of work and play. So, we opened an office where the WIFI and coffee flowed, the kids could play and make new friends, and we all felt home away from home. And from it, we grew — businesses, families, friendships, and joy, through and through.

The orca represents so much, so branding around The Pod told our story. The community and shared family mentality of course. Our birth stories from the Pacific Northwest. But there was one more element that’s been with me since I was a day-dreaming kid. Back when imagining my future family and journaling all the things I’d do when I grew up, I was also afraid of whales. Something about their unknown world and super-size. I was so small and weak in comparison, stunned and helpless as I envisioned swimming among them. My heart would jump into my throat thinking about it. The same way it did when I processed becoming a mom for the first time. The same way it did when I said yes to jumping all in for my business. I’ve learned that so often our fear is just a manifestation of our energy. I hope I can always harness that energy in a positive light, to see the wonder, beauty and majesty in the whale of our dreams and to inspire others to do the same.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, how I love Tacoma!! Walking the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Chambers Bay, the waterfronts and parks. So many incredible small businesses and districts to support! Everything Our Pod Family and more. www.ourpodfamily.com/directory

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This list would be so long if I could really share all my gratitude and dream teamers. But I’d definitely have to start with Brooke Markevicius of Allobee, who first believed in me. She was dreaming a similar dream and as we connected, we both choose collaboration over competition and joined forces! As a budding entrepreneur it was so scary to start something alone and having Brooke as a friend and mentor had such a huge impact!

I’d also be lost today without my right-hand business bestie Natasha Howell, one of the many supermoms who joined the pod in those early years. Natasha jumped all in for regular office visits, family field trips, parents’ nights out and coworking sessions that led to us dreaming up The Co-Lab, a collaboration space bringing together The Pod Works and her business, Tacoma Childrens School. She truly is my other half!

Website: www.ourpodfamily.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepod_works/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepodworks

Image Credits
Professional photography by Heather Leacy Photography

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