Kundra

• Episode 15 - People Investment That Drives Performance: How the ex-CHRO Built Parental Leave at Greenhouse

  How do you design a parental leave program that supports parents, protects performance, and earns buy-in from managers - all inside a fast-growing tech company?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Cheryl Rubian - former Chief People Officer at Greenhouse, the innovative hiring and onboarding platform. Cheryl is the first HR leader to join the show and the architect behind Greenhouse’s parental leave program. She brings a rare insider perspective: what it takes to move from policy to practice, and how to operationalize people processes in a way that genuinely works for both parents and the business.Inside this conversation, you’ll learn more on:Building While Scaling: How Cheryl designed Greenhouse’s first parental leave program at a time when the company grew from 40 to 180 employees in one year - and what she wishes she’d known earlier.The Missing Link in HR Policies: Why empathy is not enough, and how operational discipline (calendars, checklists, structured touchpoints) becomes the backbone of a successful leave experience.The Ask Gap: The surprising insight Cheryl uncovered when senior women shared what they didn’t feel comfortable asking for - and what HR can do to close that gap.Performance & People: How proactive leave design can reduce business disruption - and why companies that support parents ultimately strengthen retention, engagement, and long-term output.A Practical Playbook for HR: Cheryl’s one-page manager guide, the matching parent-facing version, and how leadership buy-in unlocks organizational alignment.Whether you’re an HR leader, business manager, or executive thinking about parental leave as part of your people strategy, this episode breaks down the real systems and decisions that turn parental leave from an ad-hoc event into a scalable, high-impact practice.In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction & Cheryl’s Career Background05:24 Building Greenhouse’s First Parental Leave Program08:27 Why Good People Practices Need Operations - Not Just Empathy12:23 Importance of Highlighting Leave Options17:41 The Business Case: Why Parental Leave Matters for Performance25:14 Cheryl’s Playbook: One-Page Guides, Leadership Buy-In & FlexibilityAbout KundraKundra is building the future of parental leave.We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow.This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work.We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email [email protected] for a demo.Want more from each episode?Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkitsFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

  --------  

  32:32

  --------

  32:32
• Episode 14 - Inside Alan: Turning Parental Leave into a Retention and Performance Flywheel

  How do you create a parental leave culture that keeps performance steady while strengthening loyalty?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Marine, Product Manager at Alan, who shares her inspiring story of navigating motherhood shortly after joining the company - while still in her trial period.We explore how Alan’s culture of radical transparency, coaching instead of management, and proactive planning transformed what could have been a stressful moment into a story of trust, empowerment, and high performance.Inside this conversation, you’ll discover:Culture of Trust: How radical transparency and open communication made Marine feel safe announcing her pregnancy - even during probation.Continuity with Care: How Alan’s coaching structure and internal mobility planning ensured business continuity without guilt or overload.Human-Centered Flexibility: How consent, autonomy, and empathy guided Marine’s maternity leave experience - from disconnection to extension.The Power of Reboarding: How structured check-ins, a “mum buddy,” and project choice smoothed her return and reignited motivation.Retention by Design: Why Alan’s approach to parental leave is not just kind - it’s a strategic retention and performance driver.Whether you’re a working parent, HR leader, or manager, this episode shows how clear structure and genuine care can make parental leave a flywheel for loyalty and growth.In this episode we cover:0:00 Introduction & Marine’s Background06:23 Announcing the News & Alan’s Radical Transparency09:27 Planning for Continuity – Internal Mobility and Handover15:01 Creating a Guilt-Free Transition18:09 Reboarding with Care - The Role of the Coach and Mum Buddy22:31 Lessons for Leaders - Retention, Culture, and Long-Term ROIAbout KundraKundra is building the future of parental leave.We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow.This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work.We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email [email protected] for a demo.Want more from each episode?Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkitsFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

  --------  

  32:23

  --------

  32:23
• Episode 13 - From Empathy to Understanding: Our Shared Learnings Through Two Maternity Leaves

  What happens when a manager and her team member sit down to discuss the highs, lows, and lessons of navigating two maternity leaves together?In this special episode of the Kundra Podcast, Podcast host Theresa reconnects with Ines, a Paris-based marketer turned entrepreneur, for a rare two-sided conversation.Together, they reflect on their shared experience at Qonto, where Theresa managed Ines through back-to-back maternity leaves in a fast-scaling tech environment.With humility and honesty, they explore what worked, what didn’t, and how both perspectives - manager and employee - can shape better parental-leave support inside companies.Inside this conversation, you’ll discover:Empathy in Action: Why simple human check-ins mattered more than any policy.Unspoken Fears: How performance reviews, pay decisions, and timing made disclosure difficult.Reboarding Realities: The impact of returning without structure - and what a better comeback plan could look like.Career Growth After Leave: How open dialogue around ambition and promotions builds trust and motivation.Shared Accountability: Why parental-leave success is a partnership between manager, employee, and company.Whether you’re a manager, HR leader, or working parent, this episode offers an honest look at the messy, human side of maternity leave - and how small, intentional actions can make a lasting difference.In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction & Ines’ Background03:26 Two Back-to-Back Maternity Leaves04:37 Feeling Supported - Empathy in Action06:51 The Fear of Announcing Pregnancy08:03 Performance Reviews & Pay Conversations13:00 Reboarding and Career Alignment17:28 Lessons From the Second Leave22:02 The Power of Highlight Moments Before Leave25:54 Creating Excitement and Career Growth on Return30:45 Reflections - Empathy Isn’t EnoughAbout KundraKundra is building the future of parental leave.We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow.This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work.We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email [email protected] for a demo.Want more from each episode?Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkitsFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

  --------  

  34:33

  --------

  34:33
• Episode 12 - From Planning to Business Continuity: A VP’s Playbook for High-Impact Maternity Leave

  How do you prepare for maternity leave when you’re leading a commercial organization - and make sure your team, business, and career continue to thrive while you’re away?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Maria, VP of Revenue Operations at Welcome to the Jungle, who shares how she approached two very different maternity leaves - one at a large, established company, and one inside a fast-scaling startup.Inside this conversation, you’ll discover:Continuity by Design: How Maria built clear handover plans, ownership structures, and expectations that kept performance steady.Coverage Decisions: The trade-offs between redistributing responsibilities internally vs. hiring an interim contractor - and how to evaluate what’s right for your team.Team Empowerment: Why maternity leave can become a leadership accelerator when managed intentionally.Performance & Progress: How Maria aligned objectives, success markers, and performance reviews to protect career growth during leave.Return & Reflection: What “reboarding” looks like in practice - and how stepping away reshaped her leadership clarity and purpose.Whether you’re a working parent, HR leader, or manager, this episode is a blueprint for designing continuity, protecting performance, and turning maternity leave into a moment of organizational and personal growth.In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction & Maria’s Background03:03 Setting the Scene - Two Very Different Maternity Leaves04:56 Designing Coverage - Splitting the Team and Empowering Others07:58 The Decision Framework - Objectives, Cost & Continuity13:07 Hiring a Contractor - How to Make It Work23:14 Lessons for Managers - When You Can’t Hire Externally27:28 Preparing for Return - Disconnecting, Reboarding & ReframingAbout KundraKundra is building the future of parental leave.We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together — and that companies embedding equity into their culture today will lead tomorrow.This podcast is part of that journey: conversations with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to uncover the truths of career and parenthood, and the structures that make it work.We’re now opening pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave.To learn more or see how Kundra can support your teams, email [email protected] for a demo.Want more from each episode?→ Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkits→ Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership→ Follow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

  --------  

  31:27

  --------

  31:27
• Episode 11 — From Indonesia to France to Singapore: How Global Careers and Parenthood Can Coexist

  How do you balance an ambitious international career with motherhood - and what happens when your company builds real support around you?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa speaks with Lalla Elasanty, Operations Development Manager at a global beauty company, whose career has taken her from Indonesia to China, the UK, France, and now Singapore.Inside this conversation, you’ll discover:Early Career Clarity: How setting bold career goals opened doors abroadSupportive Systems: The role of HR, company doctors, and structured handovers in FranceFemale Role Models: Why seeing other mothers in leadership reshaped her ambitionsMotherhood & Leadership: How embracing imperfection built resilience and sharpened her management styleParental Training Programs: How her company normalized struggles and created community for parentsManager Advice: Practical ways leaders can support team members preparing for leaveWhether you’re a working parent, HR leader, or manager, Lalla’s story shows how motherhood can enrich a career - and how companies can turn parental leave into a moment of growth.In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction to Lalla02:29 Lalla’s Career Journey Across Five Countries04:21 Motherhood and Career Balance07:08 Support Systems and Parental Leave in France09:43 Role Models and Leadership Growth28:30 Advice for Managers Supporting Parental LeaveAbout KundraKundra is building the future of parental leave.We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow.This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work.We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email [email protected] for a demo.Want more from each episode?Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkitsFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

  --------  

  34:10

  --------

  34:10

Weitere Wirtschaft Podcasts

Trending Wirtschaft Podcasts

Über Kundra