Stay ConnectedA podcast for working parents presented by Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD, founder of Mindful Return, and Jason Levin, MBA, founder of Ready Set Launch, exploring work-life integration in all different roles, industries, and professions.
Techniques for parents in dealing with everything from sleep deprivation and managing work-life issues, to help you excel at work while also raising your family.
Copyright: © 2019
Join Lori and Jason for this special episode as they welcome the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser. A public servant for many years prior to becoming a mother, Mayor Bowser offers valuable insights into balancing life as a high-profile working mom. She shares how she incorporates her daughter into her official duties, how motherhood has enhanced her negotiation skills, and more.
Lori and Jason are back with an engaging episode, featuring conversations with parents who are not only attorneys but serve as general counsel for major organizations. This week, they welcome LaTanya Langley (Chief People Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary at Edgewell Personal Care), alongside Betsy Philpott (Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Washington Nationals). Tune in to hear how they blend their parenting roles with their demanding careers, ways to enhance support systems for working parents, and insights from their personal journeys, offering advice they wish they had known as they navigated parenthood and professional growth.
This week, Lori and Jason return with the second installment of their discussion with parents in finance. They are joined by guests Amie Patel (Partner at Elevar Equity) and Millie Schild (Managing Director, Corporate Banking at Truist Corporate and Investment Bank). In this episode, the guests delve into their experiences with varied maternity leave policies, express appreciation for backup childcare, and bond over shared feelings of mom-guilt related to their career journeys.
For more information on Aura, the digital security app mentioned in this episode, click here.
Parents At Work is back for a new season as Lori and Jason kick off a two-part conversation with parents in finance. In this episode, guests Rahul Buxani (Managing Director of FinTech and Climate Finance at KBW, a Stifel Company) and Shahed Amanullah (Managing Director at Frost Capital) highlight the evolving landscape of work-life balance within the sector, the benefits of exposing their children to the working world, as well as the skills they've gained from parenthood that have been beneficial to their careers.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are excited to bring you the second in their two-part series of interviews with moms and dads in professional development!
Today, Lori and Jason are happy to welcome two wonderful moms in professional development, Aisha Greene and Stephanie Felder, to share their stories.
Aisha is the Director of Attorney Development and Training at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. She oversees firm professional development programming, including the formal assignment systems, partner and associate mentoring programs, upward and downward attorney performance evaluations, diversity programs, pro bono and corporate social responsibility initiatives, and all formal training and continuing legal education programs. Aisha lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two wonderful daughters, ages 10 and 13.
Stephanie has more than fifteen years of experience in attorney professional development at two Am Law 100 firms. In her current role at Groom Law Group, she is responsible for creating a comprehensive training and development curriculum for all attorneys at Groom and developing and overseeing the execution of strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stephanie lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband Zach, her 8-year-old daughter, and her 5-year-old son.
Stay tuned to hear what Aisha and Stephanie say about their experiences as moms working in the field of professional development.
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Aisha Greene on LinkedIn
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Stephanie Felder on LinkedIn
If you’re a leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group or affinity group (or would like to start one at your place of employment), join the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN) learning collaborative, at to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn
Books mentioned:
Work Parent Thrive by Dr. Yael Schonbrun
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Impact Winter by Travis Beacham
Mentioned in this episode:
Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave
Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are so excited to introduce a new set of interviews with moms and dads in professional development.
Lori and Jason are thrilled to welcome Joshua Troy and Neil Dennis to today’s podcast! Neil and Josh are both amazing dads in professional development.
Josh Troy is the Director of Talent Management at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, where he engages with attorneys and staff to ensure their professional and personal success. Josh is a proud parent of two daughters, one almost six years old and the other four, who were excited to learn their dad was being interviewed!
Neil Dennis is the Director of Professional Development at Blaney McMurtry LLP, a mid-sized full-service law firm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is responsible for the recruitment, professional development, and training of legal professionals at the firm. Before joining the firm, Neil led career development at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and held similar positions in Washington DC, including as the Assistant Dean of Career Services at the Howard University School of Law and a Director of Career Services at Georgetown Law Center. He lives in Markham, a suburb near Toronto. He is married to Kia, who has a much cooler job than him as an author of thriller mystery novels. They have two kids, Bryson, age 13, and Miles, age 10 (almost 11).
Stay tuned to hear what Neil and Josh have to share about their lives as dads working in the world of professional development!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Mindful Return blog post: What Is Backup Childcare and How Does It Work? An Interview with 3 Working Mamas
If you are the leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group (ERG) or affinity group at your organization, please join us in the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN) learning ,ollaborative. Go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn to sign up.
Recommended Books:
The Questioneers – A series by Andrea Beaty (Author) and David Roberts (Illustrator)
Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch
Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with the second part of their two-part series of episodes with moms and dads working in real estate!
Today, Lori and Jason are excited to introduce Eva Davis and Jennifer Eaby, who are both amazing moms working in real estate.
Jen Eaby is a realtor in the north suburbs of Atlanta. She has been in the real estate industry for nine years. She loves house shopping with clients, staging her listings for sale, and making friends with her clients. She and her husband, Joel, have been married for 19 years and are raising two daughters. Elizabeth is a senior in high school, and Gabriella is a freshman.
Eva Davis is an Executive Vice President at Compass and a real estate agent in the Washington, DC Metro area. Eva brings significant business experience to her real estate career from her time in the mortgage industry, positioning her for great success in the greater Washington DC market. Her high-touch service, top negotiating skills, ongoing hustle, and sense of humour have helped her build a deep referral business. Eva currently lives in downtown Bethesda, with her University of Michigan-loving husband and her two little kids, with whom she enjoys exploring the food scene in the DC area and taking advantage of local concerts, parks, theatre exhibits, and playgrounds.
Stay tuned to hear what Eva and Jen have to share about their lives as working moms in the world of real estate!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
If you’d lead a working parent group at your organization and would like to join the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN), go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn
Recommended books:
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are excited to begin a new segment talking to moms and dads working in real estate!
Today, Lori and Jason are delighted to introduce two wonderful dads in real estate, Paul Benshoof and Corey Lee!
Corey Lee is the Principal of Residential Growth Properties LLC, a real estate investment brokerage in Washington DC. He has been actively involved in the real estate industry for nearly 25 years, and his company focuses on helping property owners unlock the value of their properties through zoning, entitlement, and redevelopment. He works closely with his wife, Bhavna, who runs her own successful real estate general contracting development and owners representation firm, and they live in the Forest Hills neighborhood of DC with their two youngest children, Sara and Ian, who are in middle and elementary school. While Corey and Bhavna met in grad school at UNC Chapel Hill, they still find a way to remain proud of their oldest daughter, Ida, who recently graduated from Duke, as a member of the Class of 2023. Corey earned his Political Science and Systems Engineering degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed his JD and MBA in Real Estate Concentration at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Paul Benshoof is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Metropolitan in Northern New Jersey and has been with Keller Williams for eight years. Paul is a proud Scarlet Knight and studied economics at Rutgers University. He lives in Mount Olive, New Jersey, with his wife, Lindsay, and their three sons, aged 12, 10, and 3.
Tune in to hear what Paul and Corey have to share about their lives as working dads in the real estate world!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Residential Growth Properties LLC
Keller Williams Metropolitan Northern New Jersey
If you’d like to participate in the conversation at the Mindful Return Working Parents Group Network Learning Collaborative, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn
Recommended books:
The Power of Ambition by Jim Rohn
The Awakened Family by Shefali Tsabary
Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with the second episode in the series of interviews with parents in the consulting world!
Today, Lori and Jason are excited to talk with two awesome consulting dads, Jonathan Milde, and Daniel Baldor!
Jonathan Milde is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, where he is a core member of the technology and digital advantage transactions and integrations and industrial goods practice areas. He also has significant experience with health care, consumer goods, and retail clients. Jonathan lives in Maryland and has been married to Bess for 15 years. They have two kids, Beah, age 11, and August, age 8.
Dan Baldor has been with Accenture for nearly 18 years. He is the Office Managing Director for Accenture in Miami, as well as the Life Sciences Client Group Lead and Strategy and Consulting Products Lead for Accenture’s self-market unit. He has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 24 years. He is a dad to Carolina, who is 21, a senior at Parsons School of Design in Paris, France, and Stephanie who is 19 and studying psychology at Florida State University.
Tune in to hear what Jon and Dan have to share about their lives as working dads in the consulting world!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Jonathan Milde on LinkedIn
Dan Baldor on LinkedIn
If you’d like to participate in the conversation at the Mindful Return Working Parents Group Network Learning Collaborative, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn
Books mentioned:
Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch
Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are excited to be back after several months of hiatus! They kick things off again by focusing on moms and dads in the consulting world.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason talk to two fantastic consulting moms, Elizabeth Lapetina and Brooke Weddle.
Liz Lapetina is a Managing Director with Deloitte Consulting, focused on healthcare operations and business transformation. She has experience working with PBMs and health plans on new business model launches, business transformations, consumer experience and strategy, and performance improvement initiatives. She is also involved in Deloitte’s well-being initiatives, leading the adoption of well-being strategies at one of the firm’s largest accounts. Liz lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, James, her two daughters, aged seven and five, and her dog. She enjoys reading, riding her Peloton bike, and serving as the Cookie Manager for her daughters’ girl scout troops in her spare time.
Brooke Weddle is a partner at McKinsey & Company. As a leader in the firm’s people and organizational performance practice, Brooke helps organizations across the world achieve sustained performance through transformation. Globally, she leads the Change Leaders Forum, an executive capability-building series on transformational change and McKinsey’s organizational work in advanced industries, aerospace and defense, automotive, and electronics. In addition, she leads the firm’s culture and change management work in North America. Brooke lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Miguel, and her two children, who are eight and ten.
Brooke is also an appreciator of network theory. She wrote a wonderful article on social capital: Building Back Better Relationships at Work.
Stay tuned to hear what Liz and Brooke have to say about their lives as parents working in the consulting world!
Show highlights:
Mentioned in this episode:
Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave
Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin talk to another amazing dad who is a professional in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)!
Juan Otero serves as Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Comcast Corporation, where he leads DE&I initiatives across Comcast NBC Universal, focusing specifically on governance, public policy, and strategic employee engagement. His responsibilities include the oversight of DE&I analytics; organizational alignment on the company’s public policy positions with DE&I implications; broad activation of employee resource groups and related volunteerism platforms; and development of targeted DE&I workforce education and training. He also supports the integration of DE&I into Comcast NBC Universal’s community impact initiatives.
Juan is married to his wonderful wife, Julissa, and they have an active son, Julian, who is five years old. Juan holds a JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an MPA from American University.
Juan talks about his experience as a parent working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He discusses his confusion and fear after becoming a parent, the fantastic support he received in the workplace, and how his priorities changed after he became a dad.
Stay tuned to hear about Juan’s life as a dad working in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Books mentioned:
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens
The Godfather, by Mario Puzo
Dog Man, A Tale of Two Kitties, by Dav Pilkey
Pete the Cat, by Kimberly Dean, James Dean, and Eric Litwin
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch
Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with the second of their series of episodes featuring moms and dads who are diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason are excited to talk to the fabulous dad, Ken Imo!
Ken Imo is the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Adobe. He is an accomplished executive, author, lawyer, and U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps veteran who promotes organizational change through diversity, equity and inclusion, and other strategic human capital initiatives.
Ken is a proud husband to his wife, Jennifer, and is the father of three girls, Olivia, who is fifteen, twelve-year-old twins, Cecelia and Juliette, and two dogs, Julio Jones, and the puppy they got during Covid, Sir Lewis Hamilton, also known as Louie. Ken was a four-year scholar-athlete at Southern Methodist University and received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Ken talks about his evolution as a working dad and describes what it’s like to be a working parent in the DEI space. He also shares his recommendations for workplace improvements for parents and discusses the similarities between the issues faced by working parents and those that exist in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Stay tuned to hear Ken’s inspiring working dad story!
Show highlights:
“Anything that allows us to effectively do our jobs, and effectively do our most important job, that is parenting, we should take full advantage
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch
Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in specific industries, sectors, or roles. In this series, they will be interviewing moms and dads who are diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals.
Today Lori and Jason are excited to interview two amazing moms, Kamillah Knight and Jaya Saxena!
Kamillah Knight is a change superhero! She strives to change how people interact with their environment, including their physical environment and those around them. Currently, Kamillah is a Senior Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Danaher’s Water Quality Platform. Before that, she worked as the head of diversity and inclusion at Ferrero and at Unilever in diversity and inclusion, sales, and supply chain. Kamillah is also deeply involved in volunteer work with her local community and her alma mater, Cornell University. Her most recent degree from Cornell is an MBA. Kamillah has a ten-year-old daughter.
Jaya Saxena is the mom of two delightful and spirited girls, who are five and nine years old. Jaya is a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and former practicing attorney with fifteen years of advocacy and professional development experience. Her experience includes working in Legal Services, Law School Administration, and at an Am Law 10 Law firm. She currently works at a global economic consultancy, leading firm-wide DEI efforts. Jaya is an active member of her community, and she serves on multiple non-profit boards.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Kamillah and Jaya talk about the joys and challenges of being working parents in the DEI space. They discuss the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and flexibility in the workplace, and talk about networking, support structures, and inclusivity.
Stay tuned today to hear Kamillah and Jaya’s inspiring working mom stories!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
If you are the leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group at your organization, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn to sign up for the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN).
Books mentioned:
Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coats
Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin
How to Raise and Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendy
Mentioned in this episode:
Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave
Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin continue with their two-part series on an issue that working parents in all careers, roles, and industries struggle with: how household labor gets divided.
In the second part of this series, Lori and Jason are excited to have an amazing dad, Sergio Rosario, joining them to carry on the conversation about the important, emotionally-charged, and controversial topic of who does what in the home!
Sergio was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Nine years ago, his life and work brought him to Virginia. He met his beautiful wife, also from Puerto Rico, and a US Army officer, seven years ago. They live in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but they will soon be moving back to Virginia. Sergio is a social worker, musician, educator, fatherhood advocate, the founder of Soy Super Papa, and the course coach and lead for Mindful Return’s Spanish Language Working Dad Course. Sergio and his wife have a five-year-old daughter named Stella.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Sergio dives into what makes household labor a critical topic and why it is so full of emotion. He offers some excellent advice to help couples start a conversation about household labor and avoid allowing emotion to interfere with our discussions about chores. He also talks about the benefits of good communication and explains how he progressed towards taking responsibility in his relationship.
Stay tuned to today’s conversation to hear what Sergio has to say about finding common ground around a healthy division of household labor!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Mindful Return’s Spanish Language Working Dad Course
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch
Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.
In this episode, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin took a detour from their usual pattern of interviewing moms and dads in different industries and sectors to discuss an issue that all working parents struggle with - how household labor gets divided. They have created a two-part series of special guests to dive into this important, juicy, and emotionally-charged topic!
Today, Lori and Jason are delighted to welcome Eve Rodsky to the podcast. Eve is a mom and a working parent celebrity. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). She is also the author of the brand-new book, Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World.
Eve is a lawyer, and she has done extensive work in family mediation, strategy, and organizational management. She is married to Seth, and they have three children. Zach is thirteen, Ben is ten, and Anna is five.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Eve unpacks the relationship evolution that takes place in a marriage after the children come along. She shares the Fair Play origin story, explains the power of having systems in place, and plays a game with the Fair Play cards to help couples understand how baggage and assumptions make things emotionally charged.
Tune into today’s conversation to learn about the value of systems and find out how couples can share household chores without triggering each other.
Show highlights:
Mentioned in this episode:
Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave
Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin continue with their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in different industries and sectors. In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason focus on the narrow yet important niche of dads in executive search and interview the dynamic dads, Julian Ha and Patrick Gray!
Julian has been an Executive Search Consultant for more than fifteen years. He is a former corporate attorney, venture capitalist, and investment banker. He is a partner with Heidrick & Struggles, based in Washington DC, and a member of the firm’s CEO and Board practice. He leads the firm’s global Government Affairs and Trade Association work and co-leads their Professionals of Color Employee Resource Group.
Julian has been married to his wife, Annette, for almost twenty years. They have two teenage boys, a ten-year-old daughter, and a rescue dog called Blake.
Patrick is a former US Army Intelligence Officer. He has been an Executive Search Consultant for almost twenty years. He established the DC area office in the Aerospace and Defence practice at Raines International, and he leads their Industrial practice. Raines is an executive search and leadership advisory firm with nine offices.
Patrick has been married to his wife, Megan, for 24 years, and they have four children. Aiden is 21, Colin is 18, Rylan is 15, and Tristan is 13.
Today, Julian and Patrick share candidly about their lives as working parents. They talk about what it is like to be dads in executive search and dive into workplace flexibility, support, normalizing paternity leave, and shaping the conversation around working parenthood.
Stay tuned today to hear Julian and Patrick’s uplifting working dad stories!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
The Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services at Raines International
The Association of Executive Search Consultants
Books mentioned:
Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch, by Jason Levin
The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
Mentioned in this episode:
Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch
Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are happy to be back after a winter hiatus! In this episode of Parents at Work, they pick up on their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in various industries and sectors.
Today, Lori and Jason talk to two inspiring moms, Christina Cary and Debbie Tang, both professionals in executive search.
Christina is a partner at Heidrick & Struggles. Her search work focuses on functional roles in human resources, including CHRO, CPO, divisional and regional heads of HR, and centers of excellence leaders in talent management, talent acquisition, learning and development, HR operations, total rewards, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Christina is a member of the Georgetown University board of governors. She is a former president of Hoyas Unlimited, Georgetown’s annual fundraising arm for athletics that supports excellence across all the university’s 29 intercollegiate sports.
Christina’s most important job is being a mom to her son Benjamin and daughter Abigail. Benjamin, known as Ben, Bennie, or Bubba, is a funny, curious, and loving little boy who will turn five in June. Abigail, also known as Abby, is a rambunctious, smiley, fearless little girl who will be two in April. Christina is married to Patrick (Pat), and the Carey family resides in Bethesda, Maryland.
Debbie Tang is a partner at Bridge Partners, a black-owned executive search firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Debbie leads global executive searches in both the private and public sectors, from Fortune 100 companies to universities, non-profits, and government agencies. She recruits diverse senior executives across all functions, including CEO, CFO, General Counsels, Chief Legal Officers, Board, and regulatory leaders, in a wide variety of industries.
Debbie is actively involved in the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the District of Columbia. She is also on the board of the Washington Project for the Arts and the Norwood School. She received a BA degree from McGill University and a JD from Washington and Lee School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice.
Debbie has a nine-year-old son, Ben, and a six-year-old daughter called C.C.
In today’s conversation, Christina and Debbie talk openly and honestly about being parents in executive search. They share their struggles, talk about workplace support systems, and get into finding the right work-life balance. They also discuss the value of developing relationships with colleagues who are also parents and the support systems they would like to have in the workplace.
Stay tuned today to hear Debbie and Christina’s encouraging accounts of their lives as working moms.
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Books mentioned:
Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave by Lori Mihalich-Levin
Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch by Jason Levin
Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin continue with their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in various professional roles.
Today, Lori and Jason talk to two amazing CEO dads, Bob Spagnoletti and Charles Bonello. Bob serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Bar, and Charlie is the Co-founder and CEO of Vivvi, a provider of childcare and early education for children of all ages.
The District of Columbia Bar is the largest integrated bar in the United States, with over 110,000 members practicing in fifty states and more than eighty countries. Bob also serves as the Executive Vice President of the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, an independent 501(c)(3) affiliate of the DC Bar. The Pro Bono Center recruits, trains, and mobilizes volunteer attorneys to take pro bono cases, serving individuals living in poverty who are at risk of losing their homes, livelihoods, and families. Bob and his husband, Bernard, have been together for twenty years. They have two boys, Hunter and Anthony, and one grandson.
Vivvi has programs across the country, including on-campus, in-home, in-office, and virtual tutoring. Vivvi partners with employers of all different sizes to make child care more accessible and affordable to provide parents with peace of mind and allow employers the most powerful tool for recruiting retention and productivity. Before co-founding Vivvi, Charlie co-founded Grand Central Tech and was a venture partner at RTP Ventures. He is a graduate of Tufts University and currently lives in New York with his wife and their three children.
In today’s conversation, Bob and Charlie share their respective journeys as working fathers who also happen to be CEOs. Bob talks about his and his husband’s experience of fostering and then adopting children as a same-sex couple. Charlie describes what it was like to go from an academic exercise in childcare to needing childcare in real life. They also discuss what it has been like, day-to-day, being both parents and CEOs, how their parenting experiences have enhanced their careers, and how their careers have helped them become better parents. Stay tuned to hear Bob and Charlie’s inspiring stories!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey, HBR article by William Oncken, Jr. and Donald L. Wass
Books mentioned:
The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
Jason Levin’s upcoming book, Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping In Touch, will debut in January of 2022.
Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back after taking a break to take an 8,153-mile car trip across the country! In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason interview Christian Nunes and Radhika Patil, two inspiring CEO moms.
Christian Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, is the National President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She has been the National President since August 2020. Before that, she was appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. Christian is the second African American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president of the organization in more than 40 years. Christian leads the organization through an intersectional lens and brings together a diverse affiliation of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism. In addition, Christian is the founder of a behavioral health and consulting practice. Her mental health expertise assists her in understanding the constituents’ experience. It also helps her understand where policy and legislation are disconnected from the real experience of the people. Christian lives with her 2-year-old son, CJ, near Washington, D.C. Christian and CJ love taking short day trips to parks, outdoor festivals, zoos, and farms in the DMV area in their spare time.
Radhika Patil is the co-founder and CEO of Cradlewise and mom to a 7-year old and a 4-year-old. Cradlewise is a baby tech company based in Silicon Valley. Their first product is a smart crib for babies with an integrated contactless baby monitor that automatically starts rocking along with music to soothe the baby back to sleep, just like a parent, at the first signs of wakeup. Since building the crib for her babies, Radhika has been on a sleep fitness mission to help other parents. Radhika’s husband is the other co-founder of Cradlewise. In her spare time, Radhika loves to hike, garden, and read books with her kids.
In today’s conversation, Christian and Radhika give open and candid accounts of their experiences as working parents who also happen to be CEOs of organizations. They talk about the workplace supports they enjoyed after becoming parents and those they would like to have had. They also discuss the career-related skills their parenthood experience helped them develop, recount parenthood-related micro-aggressions they have experienced, share their best advice for navigating life as a working parent, and much, much more! Stay tuned to hear the motivating and encouraging conversation with these two amazing working moms!
Show highlights:
Links and resources:
Welcome to Your Child’s Brain by Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Mark Versen and Dale Wright. Mark is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) of the Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. In 2020, he set a record for total annual fundraising by hitting $7 Million including the largest gift in Lutheran Family Services history of the 128 years of $3 Million while surpassing 22% growth in total number of donors. Mark is a seasoned professional with experience in private and public higher education institutions and executive leadership in the health and human services non-profit sector. He’s a firm believer that philanthropy changes lives. Mark and his wife Jesse have two children and they reside in Louisville, Nebraska.
Dale is the Associate Dean and Chief Advancement Officer for the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s responsible for the strategy and operations on fundraising and constituent engagement, and he’s the campaigns director for the college’s $550 Million goal in the With Illinois $2.25 Billion comprehensive campaign. As of today, the college is at 109% of its goal. Over the last 20+ years, Dale has held a variety of alumni and fundraising engagement goals in higher education. He’s an active CASE volunteer and also holds membership in organizations such as the African American Development Officers Network and The Association of Fundraising Professionals. He’s also involved in other non-profit work as well including serving on the executive committee of the board of directors for the American Legion, Boys State of Missouri. Dale loves his family and knows he wouldn't be where he is today without the support of his wife and his four daughters.
It’s going to be a really interesting episode as these two dads talk about the most exciting things in fundraising, how they look at things from a completely different angle in order to change advancement, the power of integrating ones family into their work, and the working parenthood challenges they’ve successfully navigated all through their careers. Tune in and get inspired.
Show Highlights
Links and Resources
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview two amazing working moms who are leaders in the fundraising profession, Pradnya Haldipur and Kara Barnes.
Pradnya Haldipur is the Vice President of Development at Code.org, where she leads fundraising and philanthropic strategy. She has more than 24 years of development and management experience in a myriad of national and international settings. She went to Code.org with experience from prestigious academic medical institutions such as Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC, Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, and Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as think tanks, global development organizations, and the arts. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than $145M to support research, capital projects, endowment, operations, and programmatic projects. Pradnya was born in Mumbai, India but grew up in New Jersey. She resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband Joe Clemons, their children, Mirza Cate (age 8) and Xavier Anant (age 6) who are avid Code.org users.
Kara Barnes is the Senior Director of Planned Giving at American University in Washington D.C. where she helps donors structure gift arrangements that create a meaningful legacy at the university and positive change in the world. She has over 20 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, with a focus on major gifts and planned giving. She has served in development positions in the arts and public media as well as higher education. Kara is a proud mid-westerner and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Dave and son Lewis.
Pradnya and Kara share the tensions and benefits of being working moms involved in mission-based roles that they are very passionate about, and how they manage to stay committed to their work and families while maintaining good physical and mental health. You won’t want to miss this truly engaging conversation about boundaries, relationship-building, and passion.. The lessons to learn are unmatched. So stay tuned!
Show Highlights
Links and Resources
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Jewelyn Cosgrove, a government affairs professional in Washington D.C. Jewelyn currently serves Melwood, a 501(c)(3) organization serving people with disabilities, as the Vice President of government relations, bringing with her 15 years of experience in public policy, lobbying, and advocacy. Outside of work, Jewelyn is passionate about elevating the needs of mothers and families and serves as the treasurer of Raising Our Future Political Action Committee, a PAC that’s aimed at electing congressional candidates that prioritize the needs of families.
Jewelyn’s work has been focused on promoting and empowering parents to negotiate and advocate for their needs. She lives in Asheville, Virginia with her husband Greg, two children, and their two amazing cats. She is an alumna of the Mindful Return program and continues to serve the program as a coach to new mums. Jewelyn shares how Lori’s program, Mindful Return, helped her with her career and motherhood and highlights the fact that being a working mom, especially with more than one kid, means more work and a bigger family that you'll want to keep happy and strong.
Organizational skills become more important than ever when you mix in growing your career, and Jewelyn has learned to manage “balancing” her time on a weekly basis, instead of getting obsessed about day-to-day work-life balance. You’ll want to join this lively conversation to learn more about life as a parent who works on Capitol Hill, the challenges of working in government affairs and parenting at the same time, navigating challenging conversations with your kids, and most importantly, how to figure out your own effective way of successfully parenting your kids while growing your career.
Show Highlights
Links and Resources
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview two working dads who work in government relations: Clif Porter and Jeff McNichols.
Clif is the Senior Vice President of government relations at the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), which represents more than 14,000 for-and not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living residences, and facilities for the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
He has been married for 31 years and has three children (Chanel, 28, Christian, 25, and Clifton, 22). He has served in various leadership positions within his local church and has been actively involved in several professional and community organizations.
Jeff is the Director of the Alliance for Congress at the Partnership for Public Service, a new program committed to strengthening the institution of congress to better serve the American public. His career in government affairs began in 2004 when he left the Navy to work as a congressional staffer. Subsequent opportunities took him to the Department of Defence and the Boston Consulting Group. Jeff has been married for eight years and has two children (ages 5 and 3)
The four of us dug into the life cycle of a government relations career, what it’s like to work as a congressional staffer, the adjustments to make when one has to constantly travel for work to ensure that they still stay engaged as a parent, creating a work environment where parents feel that their family life is considered, thriving at raising kids while building a successful career, and so much more. Cliff and Jeff’s candor on their experience as working parents in the government relations space was not just incredibly insightful but inspirational. Stay tuned for more.
Show Highlights
Links and Resources
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Nedra Pickler. Nedra is a partner at the global public affairs firm, Finsbury Glover Hering, where she advises clients on communications strategy, including crisis communications, reputation management, thought leadership, and brand awareness. She brings deep perspective from inside the media after 17 years at The Associated Press and as a commentator on television and radio. Nedra covered the George W. Bush and Barack Obama presidencies, and the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns.
Nedra is a single mother to two amazing young boys and has successfully managed to thrive in her career despite the numerous challenges and bumps in the road that come with juggling the two. From constantly travelling on the campaign trail as a journalist covering presidential politics to dealing with different working parent challenges in the different roles she’s held throughout her career, Nedra has always found ways to make sure that she strikes some kind of balance between work and parenting her boys.
In this conversation, she talks about the advantages of working in public relations as a working parent and expresses her concerns about the issue of paid leave in America. At the end of this episode, you’ll have learned so much about how you can make it work as a working parent in a way that suits you and your kids, so don’t miss out.
Show Highlights
Links and Resources
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori welcomes to the podcast her husband and new co-host, Jason Levin, MBA. Jason is the founder of Ready Set Launch, LLC where he helps organizations, professional associations, executives and lawyers with career transition and business development needs through outplacement, individual coaching, training and webinars. Jason comes on as a guest to share his own experience with parenting (during a pandemic!) while also holding down a job and working for himself in his own business.
Jason shares some empowering and actionable tips on everything from how to thrive at working from home with kids in the house, to how you can get your employer to be more accommodating of your needs as a working parent, and so much more. Tune in for a jam-packed 20-minute episode.
Show Highlights
Links and Resources
Being a working parent can be a long and intimidating journey, but we are fortunate to live in a time when there is an array of resources to support you on your path.
Today’s guest is none other than Tom Spiggle, founder of the Parents at Work Podcast and Spiggle Law, an employment law firm. Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interviews Tom about his inspiration for starting the podcast, as well as his own personal journey as a working parent.
Join Lori and Tom in this conversation for tips on how to navigate your working parent journey and to say farewell to Tom in his co-host role.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Resources:
https://www.google.com/calendar/about/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/All-Joy-and-No-FunJennifer-Senior/1114315283?ean=9780062072269
In today’s episode, Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin interview two engineer dads about their experience as working parents. We are joined by Matt Jensen, Business Owner and Senior Project Manager at Kimley-Horn, who has been an engineer manager and structural design specialist for over 20 years. We were also joined by Paul Andrukonis, Director of Personalization for Citi’s US Consumer Digital organization.
Both dads share what it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field, as well as the cultural shifts that have been happening in the workplace. They discuss the importance of empathy and how client relationships have been impacted by developing a more common understanding, along with tangible tips on how to utilize a more flexible schedule. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about what it’s like to be a working dad in the engineering field.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
What is it like to be a mom in a field where only 15% of practitioners are women? In this episode of the Parents at Work Podcast, we interview Dhruva Lahon and Victoria Hills, who share what it’s like to be working mom engineers. They talk about the experience of being managed, of managing others, and of parenting during COVID. They also share how they found supports in this male-dominated field, along with how they leaned on family and friends and adopted flexible hours. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this knowledge-filled and inspiring conversation.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Resources:
Being a working parent looks different for every career, every family, and every parent. In today’s episode, Robin Smith, licensed marriage and family therapist shares his experience as a working dad in the mental health field. He shares wise insights, including the self-inflected pressure that can occur as a parent from having heightened awareness as a mental health professional, the shifts happening due to COVID-19, what it looks like to have grace and compassion for yourself and your children, and the many elements of being self-employed. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for incredible insight and advice from Robin Smith.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Resources:
This month, we’re focusing on moms and dads in the mental health field. And today we‘re delighted to be joined by two working moms who are mental health professionals, Dr. Elizabeth Allen and Dr. Aimee Danielson, to talk about navigating life as a working parent.
Dr. Elizabeth Allen is an assistant professor of psychology and clinical psychiatry, and she’s also an assistant attending psychologist. She specializes in treating adolescents and young adults with anxiety disorders and OCD. Liz lives in New York, and she’s the mom of two girls, ages one and three.
Dr. Aimee Danielson is an associate professor of psychiatry and OB-Gyn, and she’s the director of a women’s mental health program that provides treatment and support for pregnant and postpartum women. Aimee has had the privilege of working with mothers every day for the last twenty years, supporting them through their transitions into motherhood. She lives with her very supportive partner and her three wonderful daughters, ages seven, ten, and thirteen, in Arlington, Virginia.
Be sure to listen in today, to benefit from Liz and Aimee‘s expertise, and to find out what they bring from their jobs to the way that they’re parenting their children.
Show highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
The Working Parent Group Network
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com
Resources:
Books mentioned:
Laughter and Tears: The Emotional Life of New Mothers, by Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman
Cribsheet, by Emily Oster
Expecting Better, by Emily Oster
Back To work After Baby, by Lori Mihalich-Levin
The Awesomest 7 Year Postdoc or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tenure-Track Faculty Life, by Professor Radhika Nagpal on the Scientific American blog.
App:
COVID-19 has seemingly shifted everything about our work force and our family dynamics. As many of us are working from home and have children who are also now occupying that space, it can be a process to find a routine that works for everyone.
Today Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin share what has worked for them in their shift to working from home and actionable tips for parents to find some small amount of sanity in their work and parenting.. Join Tom and Lori to learn more about how you can integrate a schedule and use connections to make your at-home experience as productive as possible.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Email Lori for Free Webinar on “How to Go Back to Work After Parental Leave” on April 2nd
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com
Professionals who work in corporate social responsibility often exude a passion for making a difference in their jobs. What happens when CSR professionals are also passionate about their families? In today’s interview, Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interview Justin Steele and Brian Breckenridge, to take a deep look at what it means to be a dad in the social impact field.
Justin Steele, Director at Google.org and leader of philanthropic grantmaking for the United States, Canada, and Latin America, shares how his position at Google has supported and improved his parenting experience. He discusses the benefits of a flexible work arrangement and how the trajectory of how we work as a society has drastically affected what it looks like to be a parent today.
Brian Breckenridge, Senior Director and Executive Director at Box.org, also shares the different dynamics of his family experience and how he’s incorporated mindfulness into his parenting techniques and career.
Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for great insight on not only the major impacts CSR is making today, but for practical tips to balance work and parent life.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com
Resources:
The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Marovitch
https://families.google.com/familylink/
https://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/mindful-reflection/
Today’s guests, Abby Davisson and Anne Wintroub, are both mothers in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR, or corporate impact). Abby, Senior Director at the Gap Foundation, launched and currently leads the employee network group for working parents at Gap Inc. She shares what her experience as a working parent at Gap Inc. has been, what her hiring and leave process looked like, as well as what inspired her to launch the employee network group. Anne, leader of social innovation at AT&T, discusses the many benefits of being a working parent in social impact and how her position has given her a new perspective on parenting and empowering kids with respect to media and technology..
Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in these captivating interviews to learn more about the shifts that are happening in corporate impact, how these shifts are affecting working parents, and raising socially conscious children, along with great tips for new parents.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com
Resources:
The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Leiber
Today’s guests, Drs. Steve Silvestro and George “Chaucer” Hwang discuss a variety of shifts and systems within the medical profession that are affecting the lives of physician parents. Both guests embody an array of roles - Dr. Steve is a pediatrician, bone marrow harvesting physician, mindfulness educator and host of the award-winning podcast, The Child Repair Guide, while George is an anesthesiologist, runs an entertainment company in China, and works with a clinic focused on treating depression.
Yet above all else, both guests are dads doing their best to juggle their passion for helping others, nurturing creative outlets, and being a parent.
Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this conversation to learn more about how juggling medical residency with parenthood children, the vitality of a support group, how the internet is impacting the medical field, and so much more.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- amiller@spigglelaw.com
Being a mom in the medical field comes with its own unique rewards, but also its own challenges. Today, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and Medical Director, Dr. Nawl Johansen, shares her experience of being a working parent in the clinical field. She describes many of the challenges mothers face in finding time to have children in the midst of a challenging career and how to navigate time windows as efficiently as possible.
This episode is full of tangible advice on how to practice compassion towards yourself and others that parents in any work field can benefit from. Join Lori Mihalich-Levin in this episode for authentic insights on being a physician mom.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Resources:
Being a dad in the accounting industry looks different for everyone. With different roles and different types of employers, some accountants are in the office all day, while others work remotely or from client sites.
Today’s guests, Kevin Stout and Jevon Knowles, talk about the benefits, flexibility, and struggles of being a working parent as an accountant. With over 18 years of experience in different positions, Kevin has a unique take on how to prioritize family and create a strong workplace culture. Javon’s position as an audit partner at BDO has also allowed him to give insightful advice on how to optimize so-called “work-life balance.”
Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for an array of diverse and tangible tips.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Resources:
https://www.google.com/calendar/about/
What is the life of a parent accountant like? While public accounting may offer an array of benefits, such as a flexible schedule and paid parental leave, there are also struggles and client demands that accompany work in this profession. This episode explores what it looks like to be a mom in the accounting field with working parents, Jennifer Todling and Aneika Perez.
Both Jennifer and Anika are employees of Ernst & Young and have an abundance of tangible advice for working mothers, no matter where you work. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this conversation as they dive into the importance of self-care, developing self-awareness and the emotional identity transition of becoming a working mom.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Resources:
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/back-work-baby-book/
Today’s episode dives behind the scenes of the lives of three moms in the Tech industry. As parents and career-oriented women, Henri Loh, Shadiah Sigala, and Vanessa Loder have a lot on their plates. As entrepreneurs in Tech and leaders of parent groups, each woman has a unique experience to share in this interview. Henri, Shadiah, and Vanessa reveal shifts happening in the current workplace and take a look at how the structures reflect on moms and dads.
In this episode, they discuss the importance of establishing fundamental paid parental leave policies, ramp-up benefits, and the necessity of childcare support. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this episode to learn more about what it’s like to be a mother in the Tech industry, and how the tech industry is innovating in the working parent space.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Resources:
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/working-mom/
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn/
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-calendar/id909319292
Work, Pause, Thrive by Wisen Stromberg
https://www.silverskyimports.com/categories/tibetan-singing-bowls
Technology has changed the way we parent in the modern world, but how does it impact parents in the tech sector? Today’s guests, Matt Burke, member of the programs team at Thumbtack and founder of the parent resource group, along with Hugh Molotsi, founder of Ujama, both share their experiences as working parents within the tech industry and advice to fully lean into the working fatherhood experience.
Hugh and Matt discuss the challenges all parents have, the positive impact of organizational support, and how to build a community of uplifting parents. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about how the tech sector is leading the way in supporting working parents, and how you can use technology to enhance your life as a working parent.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Resources:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/third-shift-michele-bolton/1101205293
Being a parent in a field with sporadic schedules, travel requirements, and remarkably long rehearsals can create an array of complications. Today’s guests, Jeremy Chernick and Jerry Rapier are both involved in the theater and arts community while juggling parenthood.
In this episode, they share what their journey as a parent and a theatre professional has looked like for them. They discuss the changes that are currently impacting parents, resources that have helped them throughout their careers, and the benefits of taking non-traditional career paths. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this exciting interview for a look behind the curtain as a theater dad.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Resources:
Google calendar
https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world
Being a parent in a field with sporadic schedules, travel requirements, and remarkably long rehearsals can create an array of complications. Today’s guests, Jeremy Chernick and Jerry Rapier are both involved in the theater and arts community while juggling parenthood.
In this episode, they share what their journey as a parent and a theatre professional has looked like for them. They discuss the changes that are currently impacting parents, resources that have helped them throughout their careers, and the benefits of taking nontraditional career paths. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this exciting interview for a look behind the curtain as a theater dad.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Resources:
Google calendar
https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com
In today’s episode of Parents at Work, Tom Spiggle and co-host, Lori Mihalich-Levin, introduce us to two moms in the performing arts, Rachel Spencer Hewitt and Roberta Pereira.
Rachel details her personal challenges as a working mom and the logistics of trying to find acting work while juggling new motherhood. Roberta addresses common practices in the theatre industry that previously haven’t been questioned. Join us as they share insight, tips, and resources for theatre moms, on today’s Parents at Work Podcast.
Rachel Spencer Hewitt received her MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama. Her credits include Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She is mom of 2 children, a 4 year old and a 2 year old, the Founder and Executive Director of The National Organization for Individual Caregivers in Institutional Support, and the Founder of the Parent-Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) for the performing arts.
Roberta Pereira is a Tony-nominated, Olivier-award winning theatre producer. She’s currently the producing director of “The Playwrights Realm”, an off-Broadway theatre company committed to amplifying the voices of emerging playwrights. She’s the solo mom of 20-month old Bianca.
Show Highlights:
Links / Resources:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
https://www.broadwaybabysitters.com
Facebook.com/paalperformingarts
Twitter.com/paaltheatre
Instagram.com/paaltheatre https://www.playwrightsrealm.org
https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/rpi
Anna Moensch's Mothers: https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/2019-20
Book:
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster”
Article:
“End the Plague of Secret Parenting” by Emily Oster
The “Parents at Work” Podcast is sponsored by:
The Spiggle Law Firm, representing people who have been wrongfully fired, or fear they might be, with a particular focus on pregnancy discrimination.
In today’s episode of Parents at Work, Tom Spiggle and co-host, Lori Mihalich-Levin, introduce us to 2 working dads in the HR field: Wiley Simmons and Adam Calli. Human resources are generally a women-dominated industry, yet men contribute a unique and valuable perspective.
Wiley Simmons is a single father of 2 and came to the HR field through a complete accident. Having an executive and administrative assistant background, he took an admin assistant temp job in the human resources field, and his boss was so impressed with his work, he was offered a position as a benefits coordinator. What he found was that with being prior military, the rules and regulations of the HR profession, as well as his enjoyment of helping people and interacting with staff, turned out to be the perfect career choice for him.
Adam Calli is the proud father of 2 and an HR professional. He is also the principal consultant and founder of the human resources consulting firm, Arc Human Capital, LLC. Prior to working in HR and having children, hotel operations were Adam’s specialty, but it was not especially conducive to family life. He did something quite revolutionary for 2002: he saved up his leave time and took 3 weeks FMLA leave after the birth of his son. Both HR and non-HR professionals alike will enjoy hearing this discussion on industry trends, and finding that perfect balance between work and life. There’s something for everyone here. Please join us!
Show Highlights:
Links / Resources:
This week’s episode of Parents at Work brings you three thoughtful and experienced mothers in Human Resources. Being a mother and meeting the demands of an office can be difficult to balance, so Kelly, Kecia, and Heather share their personal journeys to help others succeed at work while raising children.
This interview covers how to navigate negotiations with your employer, the benefits of having flexibility to set clear expectations, and the importance of giving yourself grace. To learn more about what it’s like to be a parent in HR and how to balance parenthood along with professional life, join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Contact Lori:
Lori@mindfulreturn.com
Books mentioned:
Being a working parent looks different for everyone, but there are many tactics and techniques that are effective no matter what your current circumstances are. This episode of Parents at Work interviews two lawyer dads, Justin Johnson and Kenny Kraft, who are currently navigating how to be successful both in their careers and as parents.
In this episode, Justin and Kenny share their experiences transitioning back into the office after paternity leave, how to effectively communicate and collaborate with your partner, and how to make time for other valuable aspects of life. For more insight on how to navigate work life and parenthood join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in today’s interview.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Books mentioned:
Juggling parenthood as a working mom can be a challenge, especially as a lawyer. Today, Tom Spiggle and Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interview two moms who work within the legal field, Anjali Patel and Katy Robinette.
Both mothers currently have two children ranging from the ages of 15 months to 4 years., They discuss their experience as working parents in the private and public sectors, how they found a system that works for them, and the most important things they’ve learned throughout their time as a working parent.
For more insight on what it looks like to succeed in life as a mom and lawyer, tune into this episode of Parents at Work.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori: lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/
Books mentioned:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383921-all-joy-and-no-fun
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/769016.How_to_Talk_So_Kids_Will_Listen_Listen_So_Kids_Will_Talk
Juggling parenthood and a career can be handful. It can be difficult to balance both, but we’re here to share ways employers and employees are working together to make work and life possible.
In this episode Tom Spiggle and (new!) co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin introduce the upcoming themes and scheduling for the Parents at Work podcast. In this updated podcast format, you’ll hear the perspectives of parents in a new industry or sector each month, parents from different career paths, and a plethora of advice for parents or employers will be included in these upcoming episodes.
To join Tom and Lori on this journey and for helpful insight on balancing work and parenthood, tune into this episode of Parents at Work.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Contact Lori:
https://www.mindfulreturn.com or lori@mindfulreturn.com
Contact Tom:
https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ or tspiggle@spigglelaw.com
Today, our guest is a multi-talented author and attorney, Lori Mihalich-Levin. Lori also has a very active blog and website platform, called Mindful Return, for parents who are returning to the workforce after having children. If you are returning back to work after maternity/paternity leave, Lori created a four-week program to help. Now, employers are also using this program to help!
About Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD: Lori believes in empowering new working parents. She is the founder of Mindful Return, author of Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave, and creator of the Mindful Return Maternity Leave E-Course. She is mama to two beautiful red-headed boys (ages 5 and 7), is a contributing author at Well Rounded NY and Fairygodboss, is the Maternity Leave Expert at Motherly, and is a partner in the health care practice at Dentons US LLP.
Show Highlights:
Resources:
Mindful Return Website
Mindful Return Facebook
Mindful Return Twitter
Book “Back to work after Baby” Available on Amazon
Can parenting and entrepreneurship go hand in hand? Many working parents believe the myth that you either have to sacrifice home life or business success—you cannot have both. My guest, Dan Kuschell, is here to tell you that this simply isn’t true! Dan is a serial entrepreneur with 12 successful businesses to his name. He delights in training budding business owners to use strategies to get more clients and develop a business that works for them. Dan’s success has been great, but he considers his family the greatest blessing of all. His path has always been inherently tied to his wife and children, and today Dan is going to show you how he does it.
After a severe health scare, Dan knew he needed to make some changes. His busy lifestyle included many sleepless nights and poor choices that built up to the breaking point. Luckily, Dan believed in the power of coaching, and he sought the help he needed to balance and repurpose his life. Dan thinks that there are three questions every working parent needs to ask themselves. What do you want? Who are you? What do you stand for? Dan has managed to not just balance, but integrate his parenting into his businesses. He prioritizes time with his children and makes business decisions with the family in mind. It’s all about his mindset from the outset, and you can get that mindset too! Listen this week to start making some changes in your own life.
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Resources:
Dan’s Website
Dan on Facebook
Dan's Recommended Tool: Headspace Meditation App
Dan's Recommended Books:
Fatherhood is one of life’s greatest responsibilities, and yet so many of us feel completely unequipped for the role. Many first time and long time dads find it difficult to engage with their children, or otherwise feel overwhelmed with the pressures of work. How can we begin to redefine Fatherhood, and start building up intentional relationships with our kids? Luckily, we have places like Daddy Saturday to turn to. I’m talking to Justin Batt, Chief Daddy at Daddy Saturday, about how he has transformed his relationship with his kids, even as a working parent.
Daddy Saturday is a website dedicated to building resources and communities for fathers. It started when Justin’s oldest daughter was born, and he found himself being the sole caregiver on Saturdays while Mom was at work. These Saturdays with his kids became precious as he intentionally planned ways to have quality time, rather than simply checking out on his phone or becoming preoccupied with work. Now, he and his children are having grand adventures and encouraging people from across the world to do the same.
Justin is going to share all of his tips for Dads who want to transform their relationships with their kids. While it does require a mindset shift and a commitment to put the phone down, building intentional relationships with kids is incredibly easy. Fatherlessness is currently in a state of crisis, but Dads like Justin are trying to take back Saturday and encourage Dads to engage and take ownership of their responsibility. Yes, life and technology have their pressures and influences, but Justin is going to show us how easily we can build habits that will impact our children for a lifetime.
More in this episode:
• Being intentional and engaging with his kids on a Saturday became a community phenomenon.
• How Justin is encouraging other dads to change how they approach their weekends with kids.
• Fatherhood is a huge responsibility, but it’s also an opportunity.
• Be there for your kids during breakfast, or any other rallying point.
• Questions you can use to engage your kids.
• Why experiencing failure as kids can make strong adults.
• Justin tells the story of how he and his wife became business partners and life partners.
• Advice for Dads who want to start being more intentional.
• What is launching next for Justin and Daddy Saturday?
• A little bit of planning makes a world of difference.
• How to engage your kids as they get older.
• Focus on peak performance in our parenting, not just our career or our health.
• Learn all the nuts and bolts of how Justin runs Daddy Saturday.
• Sometimes, low-tech is best.
Links
When was the last time you got a good night’s rest? I think we can all agree that sleep is important, but have you thought about some of the negative consequences of sleep deprivation? Do you want to know how to sleep better? We have an expert for you that will tell you everything you need to know about sleep!
Dr. Michael Breus is an expert sleep researcher. He is also a father, so he knows how hard won it can be to get sleep when you are a parent. With compassion and evidence-based wisdom, Dr. Breus is going to give you sanity-saving tools to get you the best night’s sleep. We will talk about everything from when you should take a nap, when is the best time to sleep train, and how to revisit your bad sleeping habits.
Whether you want more sleep or just more quality sleep, this is the episode for you! Sleep can allow us to give our all to our jobs while also giving our children the care they need. Sleeps heals and restores, and it’s time to take it seriously!
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Resources:
All the info you need for sleep issues and work
You believe in your vocation or career that your time and energy is important, but you also believe in your responsibilities as a parent. How can you find a balance between the two? Can you follow your career or civic passions while still showing up as a parent? There are also more expectations put on parents than ever before. Between career and that social pressure, it can feel like you are burning the candle at both ends.
This is exactly why I am so excited to have my friend Will Mount on the show today. He gets the pressure. He feels the burden of wanting to care for his son well, while also pursuing a job as an attorney for Juvenile Defense. Social justice is important to both Will and his wife, but they also feel the weight of these unmet expectations. In this episode, Will will share what has worked for his family, how he has created his priorities to serve his family, and which challenges were particularly difficult for him.
You are not alone! Let Will’s story be an example of how to make it work as a working parent.
More in this episode:
Links:
We all wish we had just a few more hours in our day. Between ferrying children around, keeping the house running, and trying to be successful in our career, it seems impossible for us to be able to get it all done in a day. Luckily, there are people like Ari Meisel in the world who are hacking productivity through sleek systems, outsourcing, and automation. I first heard about Ari from his book, Less Doing. I then became involved with a company he started, Get Leverage. Ari has recently left Get Leverage in order to refocus his life on his real passion: interacting with real people to give them real solutions to all of their productivity challenges.
Productivity is all about reducing stress for Ari. He is a father of four kids, and he only works while the kids are in school. That means his working hours have to be productive. Today, Ari is going to share all of the systems he has in place for improving his productivity and prioritizing time with his family. After all, everything he does is to improve the quality of life for the people he loves. That passion is then imbued into each and every task he sets his mind to, and mindset is key.
Listen this week for all the tips and strategies you can use to find a little more time in your day. Ari mentions so many wonderful resources and tools that you do not want to miss.
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Ari Recommends:
Are you a working Mom? And are you struggling to find the right balance, between your family and your work life? If so, you're really going to enjoy today's show, because we have Suzanne Brown with us today. She's a successful entrepreneur and also the author of Mompowerment - Insights From Successful Professional Part-Time Working Moms Who Balance Career And Family.
Suzanne is a Strategic Marketing and Business Consultant and she helps seasoned entrepreneurs to figure out their high-level marketing challenges by assisting them with the writing of their business plans and with working out their market potential. As an author, she noticed a need in the marketplace and decided to go ahead and fill it, not really knowing what she was getting herself into, at the time! She is also a Speaker and an avid international traveler. Suzanne is married to a really wonderful man, who is also her IT guy, amongst the thousands of other things that he does and she is a Mom to two boys, aged six and a half and almost four. Suzanne has been working part-time ever since her boys were born, so her career has really become woven into her family life. Listen in now, and find out how she manages to find the right balance between these two important aspects of her life.
There is a phenomenon that parents are facing today, with the vast number of cross-currents around what they're expected to do for their children, in terms of their physical and emotional well being. Parents also face having increasingly fewer resources today, when it comes to both time and a network of family and friends to help them. There have been a number of books written about these difficulties and today we have the author Amanda Turner on the show with us. She has approached this dilemma from a different angle with the publications that she's written, one of which is called Vagabonding With Kids. She even refers to parenting as an extreme sport! Listen in now, to find out more about Amanda's humorous approach to parenting and travelling with kids.
Amanda writes under the name A.K.Turner. She has already written a parenting humour series and she's currently writing her travel parenting humour series, which is Vagabonding With Kids. She also writes a blog and has her own podcast. Amanda loves to connect with readers and parents and with anybody who is interested in parenting as a multicultural pursuit. Listen in to find out more about Amanda and the fabulous books she writes.
Show highlights:
Links:
Amanda's website: www.vagabondingwithkids.com
Amanda on Twitter: @vagabondingkids
Resource mentioned:
Book: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
My guest today is Michelle Kallen, a senior associate in the DC office of the large, NY-based law firm of Paul Weiss. Michelle has a 3-year-old son and a husband who is a doctor in surgical pathology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Michelle shares how she spends her busy days working at the office, working from home, and taking care of her son, Gabriel. Managing work between clients and partners, writing briefs, and being a wife and mommy make for very busy days for Michelle!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
Do you struggle at times to know the best way to go about parenting your child? It can really be a tough call, especially when it comes to the emotional aspects. Some expert advice can really go a long way to help frazzled parents to navigate this often tricky road. Listen in, as Elisabeth Stitt offers you some really great advice on today's show.
Elisabeth is a Parent Educator and a Parent Coach and she will be joining us today, to talk about her her consulting practice and also about her new book, Parenting As A Second Language. She gives parents the concrete skills they really need, in order to become more effective, and she also supports them in the emotional journey of parenting. Listen in to find out what Elisabeth has to share with you today, about how to make deliberate and clear choices, when parenting your child and also about finding out if your parenting practices really are in line with your goals and your values.
Show highlights:
Links:
Elisabeth's website: www.elisabethstitt.com Elisabeth highly recommends that you sign up for her newsletter.
Parenting As A Second Language- A Guide For Joyful Navigating The Trials Triumphs And Tribulations Of Parenthood by Elisabeth Stitt is available from Amazon.
The guest on today's show is Karla Miller. Karla writes for the Washington Post Magazine's weekly @ Work Advice Column, where she answers questions on everything from co-worker clashes to employee rights issues. Karla also works full time at a local accounting firm and volunteers as a wife and mother of two children, who are now four and six years old. Listen in, to hear Karla's story.
Karla's Parent At Work Story started before she was even technically a parent while working for the same accounting firm that she does now. Her plan was to leave work and get her house in order about a week before her baby was due to arrive. About six weeks before her due date, she woke up to find that her water had broken. That was lesson number one: Children don't give a hoot about what your plans are. After spending a day in the hospital in labor, she was given an emergency C-Section. With that, came lesson two for Karla: You really do need excellent co-workers and a supportive work environment, in order to survive the experience of becoming a parent. Fortunately for Karla, she had all of that. Listen in now, to find out more about what Karla has learned through her experience of working and becoming a parent.
Today, Karla talks to Tom about:
If you're a new parent and you're finding it much more work and a lot less fun than you thought it would be, you're really going to gain a lot from this show. Today, in the first episode, Tom explains that his idea for the show came from his own experience as a father of four children and the juxtaposition of two books, Jennifer Senior's All Joy And No Fun and Bruce Feiler's The Secrets Of Happy Families. Listen in discover how you can live a happy life, even though you have children.
Today, Tom explains that Jennifer Senior's book is about the phenomenon that parents generally score lower on happiness surveys, when compared with people without children and that this flies in the face of the common belief that having children is the crowning achievement in life. Ms. Senior profiles parents who struggle with expectations placed on them, often by themselves, to raise well-adjusted children, with increasingly fewer available resources, such as time, money, or a network of support from family. Thomas points out that the book does, however, have a silver lining, in that most parents do experience a significant amount of joy and meaning in their lives, due to having children. Bruce Feiler's book, on the other hand, points to some possible solutions to the dilemma of parenting. He looks to the lessons learned in business and in other fields, to see if these methods can be used to teach families to function better. He gives an example from the book, of a family who adopted the use of agile management, a project management tool used in the software industry, to help with family meetings and to streamline the hectic morning routine.
Tom says that he hasn't managed to replicate agile management in his house, however, he does dream! Today, Tom tells you what you can expect to hear in his future episodes and he explains that although solutions are great, at times, it really helps just to know that the problems faced by parents are both common and survivable. Listen in today, as Thomas shares his own parenting story by reading the relevant chapter from his book, You're Pregnant, You're Fired.
Some highlights include:
Link:
Tom's website: www.spigglelaw.com/podcast
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