MaryLou Costa
MaryLou Costa is a freelance writer fascinated by the future of work, especially changes that advance women in the workplace. She also covers sustainability, innovation, technology, startups, marketing and more. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Observer, Business Insider, Raconteur, Sifted, Digiday, Marketing Week and others, plus she has appeared on Times Radio, BBC and Sky News.
The Small Country Where Women in Tech Are Flourishing
In Moldova, where word spreads quickly, it seems everyone has gotten the memo: Here, women are welcome in tech.
Turning the Lights Back on in Scotland’s Empty Homes
What if you could create housing without starting from scratch? Facing a housing shortage, Scotland is bringing new life to abandoned homes.
On-Site Child Care Is a Boon for Working Parents
When a workplace provides child care, it’s easier for caregivers to juggle family and career — and they’re more likely to keep working there, too.
Londoners Are Walking Their Way to Better Mental Health
Walking therapy — simply walking and talking with intention — has been shown to relieve stress, loneliness, burnout and more.
How an Iconic Jam Maker Got Smart About Water Use
After an excruciating drought, the UK farm behind Tiptree jam found greater self-sufficiency and resilience through rainwater harvesting.
How ‘Farmfluencers’ Are Making Vietnam’s Rice Fields More Sustainable
To reduce the footprint of the crop that feeds the country, farmers are teaching one another greener methods.
The Movement to Elect More Women in the UK
Today, women account for only about 35 percent of UK governmental officials. Elect Her is working to change that.
Inside the UK’s First Open-Access, Pay-As-You-Go Factory
By making manufacturing technology available and affordable, maker spaces like BLOQS are knocking down barriers.
Friendly Mentors Help Ukrainians Find Their Footing in Vilnius
In the Lithuanian capital, locals and newcomers are pairing up to navigate paperwork and other challenges while building community.
On ‘Alternative Walking Tours,’ Formerly Homeless People Share Their Perspectives
The tours help the guides embrace the next chapter of their lives, while showing tourists a hidden side of the city they’re visiting.
More Teens Are Opting for Virtual Therapy
Amid the ongoing mental health crisis among young people, telehealth can offer a lifeline.
The Over-50s Turning to Teaching
“Second-career teachers” are helping to alleviate the teacher shortage in England and making schools more diverse places.
Shopping ‘Wonky’ Keeps Imperfect Goods From Going to Waste
A trend that started with fresh produce is now giving new life to toys, homewares, beauty products and beyond.
Come for the Free Meals, Stay for the Company
FoodCycle’s pop-up cafes are tackling not just hunger and food waste, but loneliness, too.
AI Is Helping Indigenous Teens in Brazil Keep Their Mother Tongue Alive
Chatbots and other new technology could play a key role in preserving languages that are at risk of dying out.
Eating Disorder Clinics Are Helping Patients of Color Break Down Barriers
People of color are half as likely as white people to get a diagnosis or treatment for an eating disorder — but that’s changing.
Job Sharing Is Helping Parents Keep Their Careers on Track
For working moms and dads seeking better work-life balance, splitting a full-time job is one way to stay in the game.
Your Job Wants to Offer You Therapy. How Does That Make You Feel?
Workplaces are getting deeply involved with their employees’ mental health, in ways both positive and dubious.
Telehealth Bridges the Mental Health Gap for Older Rural Folks
Remote psychotherapy sessions aren’t just more convenient than lengthy round-trips for in-person appointments. They reduce unnecessary prescriptions, too.
The World’s Therapists Are Talking to Ukraine
To prevent a mental health crisis, a multinational effort is bringing therapy to the war-torn country from thousands of miles away.
The UK Retailer That Recruits Its Employees from Prisons
Service retailer Timpson employs not just ex-offenders, but people currently serving time for everything from tax fraud to homicide.
Woodworking and Hugs: Inside the Mental Health Movement for Men
Recognizing that “men will talk shoulder to shoulder, but not necessarily face to face,” Men’s Sheds give guys a space to tinker while they open up — and heal.
To Reduce Infant Mortality, Just Add Stable Housing
When an experiment in Ohio gave moms-to-be a stable place to call home, their babies thrived.
A Simple Fix Lifts Single Moms Out of Poverty in India’s Slums
Fund A Mom’s direct cash payments are helping mothers in Jaipur feed their kids and change their lives.
For Parents Stressed by a Crying Baby, Help Is on the Way
From hotlines to home visits, these organizations offer a helping hand when overwhelmed parents need it most.
Companies Are Helping Their Workers Commute Sustainably
Businesses are rewarding employees for leaving their cars at home, handing cities a powerful new tool in their quest to reduce car use.
Remote Work Is a Chance to Do Something Meaningful
In the work-from-anywhere era, it’s easier than ever to keep earning your salary while volunteering abroad.
When’s the Long Weekend? Whenever You Want
Recognizing that many public holidays are pegged to Western and Christian traditions, companies are taking a more inclusive approach to days off.
The Swedish City That Asked Its Banks for an Ultimatum
If Gothenburg doesn’t meet its climate and social goals, its lending banks will charge it a fine — at the city’s request.
No College? No Problem
“Skills-based hiring” is catching on as fewer employers require college diplomas, a major step toward shrinking the racial wealth gap.
‘Internships’ for Adults Are Helping Women Rejoin the Workforce
Covid put a multi-year gap in millions of resumés. Now some companies are offering a supportive path back.
With This Company’s Support, Women Are Escaping Their Abusers
Brazil’s largest retailer takes extraordinary steps to help employees impacted by domestic violence.
Miscarriage Leave Policies Do More Than End a Taboo
New Zealand is offering paid leave to women who miscarry — not just to grieve, but to fight discrimination.
Britain Is Pioneering the Menopause-Friendly Workplace
The rarely discussed condition that forces women to scale back their careers is finally getting the equity treatment.