We recently had the chance to connect with Maddy Gawler and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maddy, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’m a big fan of listening to podcasts during my walks. There’s something about getting outside, clearing my head, and tuning into Crime Junkie that I really enjoy. The stories—often about unsolved cases—are always fascinating, and it’s a great way to unplug from a hectic work schedule.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! I’m Maddy Gawler, a proud Denver native born and raised in the Wash Park area. I attended Cory Elementary, Merrill Middle School, and South High School, where I was honored to be selected as a Boettcher Scholar. I chose to attend the University of Denver, earning both my undergraduate and master’s degrees in Sustainable Business and Spanish.
I’m the founder of Piocare, a childcare and family support network designed to make finding household and childcare help fast, easy, and affordable. Today, our network includes over 2,000 vetted nannies, but Piocare began over a decade ago with simple, organic connections. I was naturally matching families I knew in the community with nannies I was meeting. Eventually, families began offering to pay for the service, which led me to formalize the process. With input from both families and nannies, I developed the foundation of Piocare’s services based on real needs and feedback from our community.
Piocare is a social enterprise committed to supporting families and caregivers alike. We offer placements for full-time, part-time, temporary, and one-time/on-call childcare, as well as household managers, personal assistants, pet sitters, tutors, house sitters, and even travel nannies. We’ve supported business owners in staffing and now help families arrange childcare while traveling — a natural extension of our commitment to meeting people where they are.
What makes Piocare truly unique is our flexible fee structure. For recurring placements, families pay an initial $25 search fee, followed by a “choose your own finder’s fee” model. This gives families autonomy and flexibility — a more inclusive alternative to traditional high-cost agency fees.
For one-time or occasional needs, our membership model is simple: $50 per year (June 1–May 31) gives families unlimited access to our on-call services. Just send us your job description using our template, and we’ll match you with a qualified caregiver — often within hours.
Our typical turnaround time for recurring placements like full-time, part-time, or temporary roles is around two weeks, sometimes faster. One-off needs — from date nights to school closures to coverage for your regular nanny’s PTO — are often filled the same day.
My two passions in life are people and planet! Piocare is the way I ‘feed’ my passion for people. My passion for people shines through the heartfelt messages I receive from families — “We found the one! Thank you for making this so easy” — and from nannies who say, “This family is perfect. I love the kids, and the parents are amazing.” These connections are what keep me energized and inspired to keep growing Piocare.. Its been incredible to watch Piocare grow the past 10 years into much more than I ever expected.
Over the years, we’ve expanded based on what our community asks for. One recent addition is a comprehensive resource guide for new parents. Finding the right stroller, bottles, or sleep aids can be overwhelming, so we’ve curated recommendations from hundreds of families in our network to help parents navigate those early days with confidence.
I’ve also written a children’s book series focused on helping kids explore different career paths based on their passions — another way to inspire and educate the next generation.
What started as a grassroots effort to help my community has grown into a vibrant, trusted network. I’m proud of how far Piocare has come in 10 years, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Right out of graduate school, I joined COVIDCheck Colorado—my first full-time role—as the pandemic began to reshape the world. I had originally been hired as an impact investment analyst for the parent organization, but when COVID hit, I started volunteering my time to support the emerging COVIDCheck initiative. What started as a side effort quickly became my full-time focus, as it became clear that the pandemic wasn’t going away any time soon.
I had no background in healthcare, public health, or supply chain logistics. I was starting from scratch. But under the leadership of our CEO, Eric, I learned a critical lesson: you don’t need to know everything to make a meaningful impact—as long as you’re willing to learn, and learn fast.
Eric’s leadership style was empowering. He encouraged curiosity, urgency, and resilience. His belief that growth comes from pushing into the unknown gave me the confidence to embrace challenges and adapt quickly. I had no previous experience managing supply chains, yet during my entire time on the ground, we never had a single day without supplies at our testing sites. We supported COVID testing across the entire state of Colorado, often under intense pressure and changing conditions.
The biggest lesson I took from my time at COVIDCheck is this: you don’t need to be an expert to become one, or to get the job done. With the right mindset, mentorship, and a strong mission, growth happens quickly.
Those long weeks in the field didn’t always feel like work — not because it was easy, but because the impact was so immediate and the people around me were so committed. We were solving real problems in real time, and the camaraderie of our team made even the hardest days fulfilling.
That experience shaped how I work today: with urgency, intention, and a deep belief in learning by doing. It taught me that real impact happens when you’re fully present, open to learning, and surrounded by people who care just as much as you do.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve learned that resilience is one of the most important traits a person can develop. Adversity has a way of revealing who we truly are—not just in how we face challenges, but in how we choose to respond. Everyone experiences setbacks or hardship, but it’s our response that defines us.
For me, facing adversity in high school sparked a deep determination to succeed. I pushed myself to earn a place in college, then focused on securing a job after graduation. When I saw the growing demand for childcare, I poured that same energy into expanding Piocare’s services to meet the need.
Over time, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected and stay flexible when life throws a curveball. Ultimately, we all have a choice: we can let life happen to us, or we can step up and be active participants in shaping our path.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me is making a meaningful impact—showing up for people in both big and small ways. I genuinely care about helping others, whether that’s weeding a neighbor’s yard when life feels overwhelming, offering advice to someone navigating a career transition, or simply being there with a meal or a hug when words aren’t enough. I believe impact doesn’t have to be grand to be significant—it just has to be genuine.
They’d also say I pour my heart into my work. I care deeply about the families and nannies we support at Piocare. I talk about it constantly—not because I have to, but because I love it. There’s something incredibly powerful about helping someone find the right job or the right caregiver, especially when it brings stability, relief, or even healing from a previous difficult experience.
At the end of the day, my values come down to connection, service, and integrity. I believe in doing good work with good people—and doing it in a way that lifts others up. That’s what drives me in both life and career.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I wish I knew how to tap dance, but what I do instead is dance around the room or jam out to music whenever I’m feeling that burst of excitement for Piocare. We fill between 5 and 20 jobs every single week—a testament to how well we understand our families and nannies and how dedicated we are to making the perfect match. Every time I receive a message from a nanny or family glowing with happiness about their new role or caregiver, it fills me with an incredible sense of joy and fulfillment. There’s nothing quite like knowing you’ve helped create a connection that truly feels like home.
Of course, not every day is sunshine and rainbows. There are moments when a job doesn’t pan out or a candidate isn’t the right fit, and it’s always tough to witness the disappointment. But those moments are just part of the story—they make the victories even sweeter and remind me why this work matters so much. And almost always, soon after, we find that perfect fit, turning a challenging moment into a celebration of success.
It’s this cycle of perseverance and joy, of overcoming hurdles and creating lasting bonds, that keeps me energized and grateful. At Piocare, we don’t just fill jobs — we build communities, create peace of mind, and bring a little more sunshine into people’s lives every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://piocarellc.com/
