On January 24, 2014, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, founder and CEO of Care.com, made history by ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange after listing their IPO. This marked a significant milestone as only 40 women have taken a company public in stock market history, with less than 25 of them being founded solely by women. Since 2000, out of 6117 companies that have gone public, only approximately one female-led IPO occurs per year, highlighting a gender disparity in the corporate world.
Marcelo's journey from a young Filipino immigrant who arrived in the USA in 1990, became pregnant in her first semester of university, to eventually founding and leading Care.com to a successful IPO in 2014, showcases her resilience and determination. Overcoming cultural and systemic challenges, she defied the odds to become the first Asian American woman to ring the bell at the NYSE.
Recognizing the ongoing struggle faced by women in balancing career and household responsibilities, Marcelo founded Ohai.ai, an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to support families in managing their daily tasks and schedules. The platform aims to empower 'Chief Household Officers,' predominantly women, who bear the burden of household management.
Despite the increasing number of women-owned businesses in the USA, the representation of female-led IPOs remains low. Marcelo's vision for Ohai.ai stemmed from her personal experiences and the need to address the challenges faced by women in managing work and family responsibilities.
Marcelo's advocacy for using AI to alleviate the mental load of managing a home and family aligns with her mission to create social impact and promote gender equality. She emphasizes the importance of addressing unpaid care work, which disproportionately affects women, and believes that AI technology can play a crucial role in supporting families and driving societal change.
Reflecting on her achievements and the future of female entrepreneurship, Marcelo remains hopeful for a more inclusive and diverse business landscape. She envisions a future where more women have a seat at the table, driving structural and societal changes to enable greater opportunities for women in entrepreneurship.
As Marcelo embarks on her new venture with Ohai.ai, leveraging generative AI to enhance family management, she continues to be a trailblazer in advocating for women's empowerment and work-life balance. Her dedication to creating innovative solutions for modern families underscores her commitment to driving positive change in society.
