Episode 2 — From Top 1% Sales Rep to New Mom: What No One Tells You About Coming Back
What happens when a top 1% sales performer becomes a first-time mom — and the system expects her to pick up exactly where she left off? In this episode of the Kundra podcast, Theresa interviews Vanessa Gschwandtner, a sales executive who built her career at LinkedIn, Slack, and now AI startup Glean. Vanessa shares the untold side of maternity leave in high-performance environments: the invisible planning, the identity shift, and the silent loss of confidence no one talks about. From navigating full quotas with no reboarding support to redefining what “success” means after motherhood, Vanessa’s story offers a candid look at the realities many women face — but few workplaces prepare for. Whether you're a working parent, a leader who understands that companies investing in equity see 5.5x higher revenue growth, or someone shaping the future of work — this conversation will shift how you think about career, identity, and real support. 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 Vanessa Gschwandtner and Her Journey01:24 Career Path and Transition to Glean02:55 Experiences at Slack and Maternity Leave Challenges05:54 Returning to Work and Struggles with Confidence10:13 Balancing Motherhood and Career16:43 Navigating Work-Life Balance and Gender Inequality36:30 Long-Term Career Reflections and Advice42:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Episode 1 — Why I Left a Fintech Unicorn to Build for Gender Equality
Why focus on gender workplace equality? Why launch a podcast — and why the name Kundra? In this 7-minute origin story, host Theresa Gschwandtner (former Product Marketing Exec at LinkedIn, WeWork & Qonto) shares what led her to leave big tech and start building a SaaS for change. Hear how a powerful book, personal inspiration, and shocking customer research discoveries sparked Kundra — a podcast for real stories, surprising insights, and actionable ideas to build more equal workplaces.
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Start Here: What to Expect from Kundra
What’s Kundra about? In this 4-minute trailer, get a feel for what to expect: real stories of women, leaders, and changemakers driving gender equality at work — with sharp conversations, surprising insights, and actionable takeaways. Hosted by FinTech Exec turned Founder Theresa Gschwandtner. Subscribe now and join the journey.
Kundra — reimagining workplace gender equality through stories we don’t usually hear.The 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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