Mainstream media does a fine job of telling the horror stories of being a working parent. The last thing you need is another mommy blog amplifying “daycare guilt” this, or “no sleep for a week”. Throw a stressful parental leave experience in the mix, and people wonder why we’re doing this in the first place.
But this isn't the whole story. In companies from startups to global enterprises, parents are not only making it work—they’re thriving.
The missing narrative? You can be a great parent and a great employee. We hear time and time again that having kids is what made career-minded people successful today.
These people have a newfound respect for time, energy, and coworkers which makes them even better employees. And they still spend quality time with their families, get job promotions, and find meaning in their work.
Successful working parents are everywhere, but you never hear about them.
We want to change this. We're sharing profiles of parents who have welcomed their children and enjoyed career successes along the way.
“During my first pregnancy, I was desperate to find role models—someone I could relate to who was a parent thriving at work and home. All I heard were the doomsday stories. I realized later how damaging this was, and my confidence took a hit just as I welcomed my first child. It turns out there are so many women and men owning their success at work and at home.”
- Allison Whalen, Co-founder & CEO, Parentaly
EMMETT BRIZENDINE
Clinical Manager @ MedVet
On becoming a first-time dad & co-leading his company's LGBTQ+ ERG
MANSI KOTHARI
VP, Product & Ops @ Parentaly
Seeing the big picture as a new parent in product management
KATIE CACCHIANI
Head of Patient Acquisition @ Illume Fertility
On her infertility journey as an employee, patient and now mom-of-2
JIM PUCCETTI
Customer Success @ Knowing Technologies
On becoming a dad & the importance of surrogacy benefits
KELLY SCHEIB
Chief People Officer @ Crunchbase
Mom-of-5 and HR leader who meets employees where they are
DANIELLE GALLON
Senior HR Manager @ PepsiCo
On balancing her career as a single mom and excelling as an HR leader
DAVE EITLER
Director, Sales @ Forrester
Why taking three parental leaves as a sales director made him a stronger leader
SHANNAN FARMER
Recruiter @ Calendly
On getting through pregnancy loss, infertility and IVF with her employer's full support
CHRISTINA IRONSIDE
Global Portfolio Manager @ 3M
On pregnancies, losses and ending the miscarriage stigma
MEGAN TAYLOR
Sr. Enterprise Sales @ #samsales
How this military spouse & mom found her dream job at a female-only sales firm
VIRGILIA PRUTHI
Principal PM Manager @ Microsoft
On managing a tech career and children while prioritizing creating impact
ANDREW SMOLENSKI
VP, Business Operations & Strategy @ Willow
On paternity leave stigma and why he took his full leave -- twice
JILLIAN KAPLAN
Telecom Thought Leadership @ Dell
Leading charge in an industry where only 7% of executives are women
EREZ LEVIN
Product Specialist @ Google
Google’s “Paternity Leave Dadvocate” on teaching fathers to own working parenthood
JORDAN AROGETI
Partner @ Arogeti Endeavors
How being the "first" led to defining parental leave at her organization
PALOMA THOMBLEY
VP of People @ Handshake
What happens when a people operations leader takes parental leave
JEFF DELANEY
Strategic Partner Lead @ Google
Why a 12-week paid parental leave energized this working father
LINDSAY FITZGERALD
Founding Partner @ Company Capital
Using your parental leave to get a promotion and re-envision VC for women
EMILY CALANDRELLI
"The Space Gal" @ Emily's Wonder Lab
On filming her Netflix show while 36 weeks pregnant & taking a short parental leave
SHERRIE NGUYEN
Product Marketing @ Indeed
On launching Indeed's Parents and Caregivers IRG during the pandemic
MIKE FOGARTY
Customer Success Manager @ LinkedIn
On setting boundaries and prioritizing mental health while excelling at work
STEPHANIE MILLER
Head of Social & Emerging Media @ Verizon
How to claim your space while starting a new leadership role six months pregnant
SONHA BREIDENBACH
Strategy @ DoorDash
How switching jobs while pregnant (twice!) supercharged her career
MARK VERMEERSCH
Chief Platform Of @ Treasury Prime
Navigating working parenthood as a product management leader at an early-stage startup
CHRISTINE MICHEL CARTER
Marketing at Minority Women Marketing
A global voice for working moms on balancing work, parenting and advocacy
ALLISON WHALEN
Co-founder & CEO @ Parentaly
How taking parental leave as an entrepreneur and sales leader can result in business growth
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