The False Tradeoff

Susan Podlogar spent decades as one of HR's most respected leaders - including nearly a decade as CHRO of MetLife - and she did it after taking five years away from her career to raise her kids. In this episode, she shares what that break taught her, why she still carries guilt from the years she didn't show up the way she wanted to, and why she believes parental leave is one of the most...

What happens when a senior executive navigates parental leave during one of the most high-pressure moments of her career? Suzan Morno-Wade shares the emotional and professional tension behind parental leave decisions and explains why organizations often underestimate what’s at stake. This conversation is a masterclass for HR leaders about the real impact leave has on talent retention. Connect with...

Former Mastercard Chief People Officer Michael Fraccaro recently retired after a decades-long career in HR leadership. So why did he immediately say yes to advising Parentaly? Becoming a grandfather sparked a renewed commitment to supporting employees as they expand their families. This interview is full of advice for HR leaders about how leave has evolved, why second-time parents are a retention...

Treat parental leave like the business continuity issue that it is: This is the mindset of Tiffany Stevenson, Chief People Officer at The RealReal and formerly WeightWatchers, who is also a new member of Parentaly's CHRO Advisory Board. Tune in to hear what she sees companies get wrong about parental leave, why she thinks it's a solvable challenge, and how CFOs, ERGs and people leaders c...

What’s the right preschool schedule? When should kids start competitive sports? Is Cocomelon actually bad? These are just a few of the 100+ questions Parentaly clients asked during our exclusive AMA with economist, NYT-bestselling author and ParentData Founder Emily Oster. And now we’re sharing her data-backed answers in this season two finale. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whal...

What does it take to turn frustration into impact? Former Skimm Chief People Officer Lisa Dallenbach joins us to share how a failed federal bill sparked one of the most influential leave movements: the #ShowUsYourLeave campaign. She shares how it went viral, why visibility changed corporate policy, and how it shifted the conversation about what paid leave should look like. Connect with us on Linke...

Dawn Huckelbridge has spent the last decade inside the fight for paid leave in the U.S. - and was part of the historic push that came just one Senate vote shy of passing national policy. In this episode, she explains what happened and what it’ll take to finally get paid leave across the finish line, sharing personal stories, economic arguments and how state-level wins will keep the pressure on. Co...

Amnah Ajmal built a high-impact global career across 11 countries and became a CEO by her early thirties - all before starting her family. Amnah shares how she navigated senior leadership in fintech and made the intentional decision to delay motherhood. She also opens up about postpartum depression, the power of a strong partnership and how her next chapter is focused on helping women thrive at wo...

What happens when you extend parental leave and pair it with structured career planning and business support? At Hershey, it helped Laura Cooley return from leave more focused, confident and better positioned to grow with the company. She shares how this support set her and her team up for success - and why companies that take a more strategic approach to leave see stronger results across business...

Andy Dunn is well known for building Bonobos, one of the earliest and most influential direct-to-consumer brands. After selling it to Walmart, he entered a new phase of his life: high-level corporate executive, husband and father - and for the first time, someone forced him to slow down.  Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave p...

Parents at PwC Canada don’t see parental leave as career-limiting because the company has built an entire system to support employees through the moments that matter. Chief People Officer Sonia Boisvert and Total Rewards Leader Lisa Rosen share how their work with Parentaly played a foundational role in improving employee preparedness, retention and engagement. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parenta...

As a senior HR leader, Eric Severson spent years trying (and failing) to pass paid parental leave at many organizations - until he finally pulled it off at Neiman Marcus. Learn how he and Chief Integrated Retail & Customer Officer Stefanie Ward built a compelling business case, aligned cross-functional leaders and turned employee feedback into a policy that improved retention and equity across...

Heidrick & Struggles launched a parental leave task force to better understand the challenges and roadblocks employees were facing throughout the parental leave experience: it was significantly impacting retention and development across the firm. Hear how the task force’s findings led them to launch a parental leave support partnership with Parentaly. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | A...

Starbucks significantly increased its parental leave policy for store partners, moving from six weeks to up to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave. Hear from Sara Kelly, EVP and Chief Partner Officer of Starbucks, about how the new policy reflects Starbucks’ commitment to its people and how it'll make the business stronger. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vas...

What happens when two of your dreams come true at the same time? Shortly after learning she was pregnant, Lindsay Shookus was promoted to lead talent at Saturday Night Live. Hear how she navigated these major life milestones - which led to a 20-year run with the show - and why she ultimately took the leap to chart her own path after two decades. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Wha...

Want to hear a parental leave expert answer some of the most thoughtful - yet complex - questions about parental leave and working parenthood? We close out season one of The False Tradeoff with an “ask me anything” session to answer questions from HR leaders and expecting and working parents in the Parentaly community. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn...

Are sleep regressions real? How long should my infant stay in my bedroom? Should I be worried about swaddles and white noise machines? Dr. Harvey Karp answers infant sleep questions that keep working parents up at night in this “ask me anything” episode. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs : How We Help | Contact Us...

The election is less than one week away. From paid family leave and childcare to reproductive rights and maternal health, there’s a lot on the ballot this year that directly impacts parents and caregivers. We compiled clips from past episodes with politicians, public figures & advocates about key issues that voters should think about before Election Day. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly...

Is pregnancy and motherhood a career obstacle or a source of confidence and growth? L’Oreal CHRO Stephanie conducted extensive research about the intersection of career and motherhood. We interviewed her about her book, Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach to Navigating Pregnancy and Work, where she shares strategies to help both individuals and organizations navigate this life milestone. Connect w...

What goes into launching an ERG? How can you design programming that appeals to diverse members? Verizon’s global lead for the Parents and Caregivers ERG shares tips on how she built a thriving community based on her experience as an ambitious single mother. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs : How We Help | Contact...

We surveyed nearly 3,000 women to better understand their parental leave experience - the first comprehensive study of its kind. Tune in to hear the most interesting and surprising findings, and what employers and policymakers can do to better support parental leave transitions. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs :...

If Orli Cotel’s grandparents didn’t take leave from work back in 1949, she wouldn’t be here today. Hear Orli’s story and why she’s spent the last decade advocating for paid family leave and maternal rights in the United States through her work at Moms First and PL+US. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs : How We Help...

She went from 0 to 4 kids in 3.5 years: Paige Connell, a working mom of 4 and digital creator you may know as She Is A Paige Turner on Instagram and TikTok, shares her path to parenthood, including her experience as a foster parent. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs : How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Par...

If all of us help one woman every single day, it will make a huge difference: Words of wisdom from today’s guest, Kelley Steven-Waiss, author of Valley Girls: Lessons From Female Founders in the Silicon Valley and Beyond . Hear the inspiration behind her book and how motherhood played a role in her successful career. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn mo...

Parental leave policies are often designed for successful pregnancies – but what about employees who experience pregnancy loss? Cassandra Babilya shared her story and how her employer showed up as she grieved the loss of her child while 22-weeks pregnant. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs : How We Help | Contact Us...