My IVF Babies, Thanks to GoDaddy Benefits: Meet Nikki Gray

GoDaddy LifeCategory
•5 min read
Katelyn Armas

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to join GoDaddy.

My journey to GoDaddy started by getting evicted. Backstory — I was born and raised in Arizona but moved to California after I graduated from ASU (Go Devils). I met my husband while living in Los Angles and we moved to Santa Barbara. We rented a cute little pink house and adopted our rescue dog, Gemma. We were living our dream! Shortly after we got married, we went on a honeymoon to Thailand and that was hands down the best trip of my life. Only to return to a letter that said we had 60 days to move out. This was quite stressful as many homes in the area had a strict no pet policy. We were caught off guard and it felt like our life was spiraling off track. I have now come to believe that everything in life happens for a reason. While I thought my life was off course it was actually guiding me on the path intended for me. My husband ended up transferring his job to Arizona. We were able to live closer to family. We purchased a home with a big lot for our little mutt, Gemma. I was referred to GoDaddy by a friend and landed the Inside Sales job. When I received my offer letter from GoDaddy, it contained the benefit information. Before I even started, I called to see if they covered fertility treatments. I have PCOS and endometriosis, so I was unable to get pregnant naturally. I about fell out of my chair when they reviewed the benefits with me! They covered everything that I needed to have a family. We had already spent so much of our savings on fertility treatments. I will forever be grateful for GoDaddy and their contribution to building my family.

Through fertility benefits offered to GoDaddy employees, you were able to build your family. Do you mind sharing a bit more of your story?

As a child, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have replied “become a mom.” Even after graduating from college, all I wanted to be was a mom. I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do for a career but was certain I wanted to be a mother. When I was diagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis, I realized that it would be hard for me to achieve my dreams of motherhood. I was more determined than ever to overcome those obstacles, but they came with hefty fees. My previous employer didn’t cover any fertility benefits, so I was spending all my hard-earned money trying anything possible to get pregnant without success. GoDaddy benefits started day 1 and that was when everything changed. That first week is when I started to make my appointments outside of work with fertility doctors. It wasn’t long until I started IVF. It’s such a taxing process, both physically and mentally. However, removing the financial burden decreased the pressure tremendously. With medical intervention, I quickly became pregnant with my twin boys Leonard and Madden. But I didn’t stop there. I decided that I wanted one more baby, so we had our grand finale baby girl, Evelyn, when they boys were 2.5 years old. Yes, that is 3 babies under 3 and it was (and still is) complete madness! I wouldn’t change it for the world. I will be forever grateful for my GoDaddy babies. In addition to that, I was able to pivot across multiple departments at GoDaddy to finally make my way to the Talent Acquisition team. I am currently a recruiter for Care & Services and absolutely love it. I get to combine my passion for customer service and relationships into candidate experiences. Now, if asked what I want to do in life, I proudly say I am happily a mother and recruiter — all thanks to GoDaddy.

In what other ways did GoDaddy help you feel supported during this time?

I have deep gratitude for the support that I received from my colleagues and leadership during my IVF treatments, pregnancies and return to work after the babies. It is a vulnerable time in life. Not to mention, the connection and support that I found from parents and moms here at GoDaddy. Parenting doesn’t come with a playbook, so it’s nice to build those relationships and learn from one another. It is all about relationships and work/life balance.

What do you and your family enjoy doing in your free time?

We have our kids involved in tons of sports and activities. My favorite thing to do is watch my kids play sports, dance, or perform. I keep reminding them to simply try their best and have good sportsmanship. Although, I must admit, I am very competitive. Therefore, I have to remind myself of that, as well! We stay as busy as possible and that just works best for us. I am nervous for the teenage years. I am sure many parents to teens can contest that the days are numbered when your kids want you around. My goal is to be present and there for them, while they think I am a cool mom.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERG’s, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

  • Katelyn Armas

    Katelyn Armas is the Senior Employer Brand Strategist on the Global Employer Brand Team, here at GoDaddy. Her experience includes Content and Recruitment Marketing. Outside of work, you can find Katelyn walking her Doberman named Deklan, working out, reading, traveling, and making ginger shots!
    More Articles by Katelyn Armas