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.

Friendly Mentors Help Ukrainians Find Their Footing in Vilnius

4 min read

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

5 min read

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

6 min read

Amid the ongoing mental health crisis among young people, telehealth can offer a lifeline.

The Over-50s Turning to Teaching

5 min read

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

5 min read

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

5 min read

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

5 min read

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

5 min read

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

5 min read

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?

11 min read

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

5 min read

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

8 min read

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

5 min read

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

5 min read

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

4 min read

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

5 min read

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

4 min read

From hotlines to home visits, these organizations offer a helping hand when overwhelmed parents need it most.

Companies Are Helping Their Workers Commute Sustainably

5 min read

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

6 min read

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

3 min read

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

4 min read

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

4 min read

“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

3 min read

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

4 min read

Brazil’s largest retailer takes extraordinary steps to help employees impacted by domestic violence.

Miscarriage Leave Policies Do More Than End a Taboo

4 min read

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

4 min read

The rarely discussed condition that forces women to scale back their careers is finally getting the equity treatment.

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