The False Tradeoff

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 programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 the company. 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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 | Allison Whalen | Jenna Vassallo Learn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact Us Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

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 Keep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

Does your organization support all paths to parenthood? Hear from Boomie Odumade, a working parent who adopted, about what her employer got right to make her experience with adoption in the workplace a positive one. 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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

Career coaching through parental leave helps expecting employee’s thrive in their careers – and there’s research to prove it. Hear from two researchers on what they found about the power of career coaching for new parents and its contribution to business continuity through parental  leave transitions. 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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

What’s the purpose of The Chamber of Mothers? Co-founders Raena Boston and Erin Erenberg join us to talk about their advocacy work for moms and caregivers in the United States and their newly launched “Vote Like a Mother” campaign. 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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

Paid parental leave and supporting working parents in the workplace is great for both employees and businesses. Bobbie Co-founder Sarah Hardy joins us to explain why, and shares tips on how to implement a policy that works for everyone. 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 Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter