Episode 7 — From Planning to Reboarding: How This Manager Got Parental Leave Right — Without Being a Parent
What if you could manage a team member’s parental leave in a way that supports people and drives performance — even if you’re not a parent yourself?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Marion, Head of Product Marketing at Yousign — a high-growth SaaS company based in Paris — for a first-of-its-kind conversation. Unlike other episodes that center around the experience of becoming a parent, this one flips the perspective: Marion isn’t a parent, but she’s a people-first leader who successfully managed a senior team member’s maternity leave.She shares the exact steps she took to plan ahead, secure budget for external support, maintain team performance, and ensure a smooth re-onboarding that helped her team member return with confidence — and outperform within a quarter. From company-wide support structures to manager-led empathy, Marion proves that treating parental leave as a normal part of business leads to better outcomes for everyone.If you’re an HR leader, department head, or founder who wants to future-proof your culture and operations — this episode is your blueprint.In this episode we cover:00:00 Intro to Marion03:48 Yousign’s Culture of Proactive Parental Support07:41 Managing Maternity Leave: What She Did as a Manager09:53 Hiring Help vs. Scaling Back: How Marion Made the Call12:23 Re-Onboarding that Actually Works24:38 Recognition, Promotion, and Trusting People26:52 Advice for Managers: Why Planning is Everything31:10 Final Thoughts: Rethinking What Good Leadership Looks LikeAbout KundraKundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and this podcast is part of that journey.We’re speaking to founders, HR leaders, and working parents to better understand what support looks like when ambition meets parenting.The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today.If you're shaping that future — or want to help us build the tools that support it — we’d love to hear from you.—Want practical takeaways from every episode?Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, episode recaps, and HR toolkits you can use right nowFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments
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Episode 6 - From Maternity Leave to Two Promotions: How Spotify Got It Right
What happens when a company treats parental leave as a strategic investment — not a disruption? In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa is joined by Celine, Director of Sales at Spotify and mom of two, who shares the first truly positive parental leave experience we’ve heard. After years in media agencies, Celine joined Spotify and later took maternity leave with her second child. What followed was rare: a smooth handover, protected career momentum, outstanding business results and not one — but two promotions after her return. We talk about what made the difference: A proactive manager who advocated for herClear ownership over offboarding and reboardingA culture that backs flexibilityIf you're a leader, future parent, HR professional, or someone building a career while building a family — this conversation is your blueprint. Listen now to learn how parental leave, done right, can become a leadership accelerator — not a career risk. In this episode we cover:00:00 Celine’s Career Path 04:07 Maternity Leave as a Career Wake-Up Call 08:12 What Made Spotify Different 13:18 Designing Her Own Offboarding — and Feeling Calm 16:20 Returning With Confidence — and Getting Promoted 21:31 What Support Actually Looks Like 25:38 Why Culture Drives Loyalty and Results About KundraKundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and this podcast is part of that journey.We’re speaking to founders, HR leaders, and working parents to better understand what support looks like when ambition meets parenting.The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today.If you're shaping that future — or want to help us build the tools that support it — we’d love to hear from you.—Want practical takeaways from every episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, episode recaps, and HR toolkits you can use right now Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments
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Episode 5 — From CMO-Level Candidate to Withdrawn Offer: When Pregnancy Costs You the Job
What happens when you're at the top of your game — and the job disappears the moment they learn you’re pregnant?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa speaks with Caroline, a former marketing leader at Klarna and soon-to-be mother, who found herself navigating not one but two CMO job offers while expecting her first child.One company withdrew their offer after she disclosed her pregnancy. Another showed support from the start.With transparency and courage, Caroline walks us through how it felt to have her employment contract withdrawn with the CEO’s words: “Your first job now is to fall in love with your baby and not think about work”, why she chose not to pursue legal action, and what ultimately led her to land the CMO role of her dreams. She shares powerful lessons on how to spot red and green flags in interviews, the emotional toll of her experiences and her decision-making process, and how companies can benefit from investing in top talent in the long-term.If you're a hiring manager, a future parent, or curious about how to attract the best executive talent, this one is for you.In this episode we cover:00:00 Caroline's Career Journey & Pregnancy Surprise01:49 Caroline's Background and Career Path06:19 The First Offer — What Happened When She Disclosed12:07 Why She Chose Not to Sue16:39 The Second Offer — A Supportive Culture24:06 Spotting Red Flags in Interviews28:18 Advice for HR: How to Show You’re Supportive32:35 Why hiring Pregnant Women is still seen as a risk37:13 Reflections and Advice for Future MothersAbout KundraKundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and this podcast is part of that journey.We’re speaking to founders, HR leaders, and working parents to better understand what support looks like when ambition meets parenting.The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today.If you're shaping that future — or want to help us build the tools that support it — we’d love to hear from you.—Want practical takeaways from every episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, episode recaps, and HR toolkits you can use right now Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments
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Episode 4 — From Partner Track to Founder: Starting Up 3 Months After Giving Birth
What if becoming a mother didn’t hold back your career — but gave you the skills to lead even better?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Ektaa, Founder and Managing Director of the Coworth Group. After years on the Partner track at global firms like Page Executive, Ektaa became pregnant — and everything changed.Promotion conversations stopped. Visibility faded. Three months after giving birth, she quit her job and launched her own company.In this conversation, Ektaa shares what really pushed her to leave the corporate world, how motherhood sharpened her leadership instincts, and what she’s doing differently as a founder. From pregnancy bias to resilience after giving birth, this episode is full of insight for anyone navigating ambition and identity after becoming a parent.If you’re curious about how parenting skills can fuel business success — this episode is for you.In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction to Ektaa's Journey 01:32 Early Career and Entrepreneurial Spirit 06:10 Challenges of Pregnancy in Corporate Life 12:02 Starting a Business Post-Maternity Leave 17:39 Navigating Bias and Promoting Gender Equality 22:30 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 32:59 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 34:15 Preparing the Business for a Second Child 37:04 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAbout KundraKundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and this podcast is part of that journey.We’re speaking to founders, HR leaders, and working parents to better understand what support looks like when ambition meets parenting.The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today.If you're shaping that future — or want to help us build the tools that support it — we’d love to hear from you.—Want practical takeaways from every episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, episode recaps, and HR toolkits you can use right now Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments
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Episode 3 — From Job Hunting to Surprise Pregnancy: Navigating the Unknowns of Parental Leave Policies
What happens when you land your dream job in advertising—only to discover you’re also navigating a surprise pregnancy while figuring out parental leave in a new job?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa interviews Eve Maguire, a Senior Strategist with a standout career at ad agencies across New York, London, and now Dublin, having worked with some of the most iconic global brands. With honesty and humour, Eve opens up about balancing a major international move, a new role, and an unexpected pregnancy. From lack of transparency around maternity benefits, to the stress of disclosing pregnancy in a new job and the financial challenges of starting a family, Eve sheds light on the emotional and logistical challenges many of us deal with in silence. If you’re starting to think about the next stage in life and career—or building for the future of work—don’t miss out on these insights and practical tips.About Kundra: Kundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and we’re inviting collaborators, testers, and forward-thinking leaders to help shape what comes next. The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today. Sign up to join the beta → https://www.kundra.ai/ In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction to Eve’s Journey 00:40 Eve’s Background and Career Moves 01:21 Navigating Maternity Policies 02:03 Researching Benefits Before Accepting a Job 07:49 Revealing Pregnancy at Work 13:33 Financial Planning During Maternity 18:51 Childcare Challenges and Solutions 23:11 Balancing Career and Motherhood 26:47 Advice for Future Parents —Want practical takeaways from every episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, episode recaps, and HR toolkits you can use right now Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments
Kundra — The career podcast for working parents and HR leaders tackling parental leaveThe podcast explores the realities of gender at work through the voices of women, working moms, leaders, and changemakers.What began as customer research for a B2B SaaS — by Theresa Gschwandtner, FinTech exec turned Founder — quickly revealed stories too powerful to keep private.This is a public journey of product discovery, filled with honest conversations, practical takeaways, and proof that equality drives success.Sign up for the betahttps://www.kundra.ai/
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