*By Madison Alworth*
After a janitor walked in on new mother Stephanie Conduff while she was breastfeeding, she felt violated. But Conduff, a lawyer, decided not to litigate; she created her own company.
"There was an opportunity for us to innovate and create a scalable solution so other mothers wouldn't have that problem," said Conduff, the CEO and founder of Leche Lounge.
Launched in 2015, Leche Lounge constructs breastfeeding and pumping suites for mothers returning to work. As of 2010, The Affordable Care Act requires that offices with more than 50 employees provide a safe, clean space where new mothers can pump. But very few workplaces actually follow that directive.
Not only is this an inconvenience, Conduff told Cheddar on Tuesday, it can be a major impediment for women in the workplace. A 2016 study [found](http://time.com/4337671/breastfeeding-lawsuits-employee-discrimination/) that breastfeeding-related discrimination lawsuits have risen a staggering 800 percent over the last decade.
Conduff, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is determined to support her community. Her company is 100 percent Native American-owned and operated, and each suite is built by Native American craftsmen. The rooms all include a hospital-grade breast pump, large seats, fan, and even outlets for charging smartphones. The company is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This year, Leche Lounge won Rent the Runway's Project Entrepreneur Venture Competition. It was one of five companies in a pool 500 of applicants to receive direct support and tutelage from the venture program, which has been a catalyst for growth, said Conduff.
"It was an opportunity to elevate Leche Lounge."
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/leche-lounge-a-safe-place-for-new-moms)
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