Full Stack Moms

Shannon Curran & Mallory Lee
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Careers

Work like you’re not a parent. Parent like you don’t work. What if that whole system is wrong? This is Full Stack Moms, and we are Mallory Lee and Shannon Curran, two working moms navigating tech careers, parenting, and everything in between. We talk about why the traditional rules of work don’t fit modern parents and how women in tech are doing things differently. Through honest conversations and behind-the-scenes stories, this show explores careers, caregiving, ambition, and the messy reality of having it all, just not all at once. Connect with Mallory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

  1. 1 day ago

    Career Mom, Twin Boys, New Business: How Do You Make It Work?

    What happens when twin motherhood, career ambition, and entrepreneurship collide? Melissa Chandler, communications leader and founder of her own consultancy, shares her journey raising twin boys while launching a business after nearly two decades in tech. She opens up about becoming a mother later in life, balancing work and family, and creating a parenting partnership without a default parent. In this conversation, Melissa shares insights on mom guilt, childcare decisions, raising twins, advocating for a child with additional needs, and navigating the special education system. She also reflects on the lessons motherhood has taught her about resilience, leadership, and embracing uncertainty. If you're a working parent navigating career changes, entrepreneurship, or the constant pull between ambition and family, this episode will hit close to home. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Meet Melissa Chandler (04:42) Finding out she was having twins (09:28) On having twins naturally (13:19) Why Melissa waited until 36 to become a mom (18:39) When grandma moved in to help (20:38) The day an au pair was called mom (21:50) What it’s like parenting a child on the spectrum (22:54) How early intervention changed her son's future (24:27) Why special education radicalized Melissa (26:53) Becoming a resource for other parents (28:27) From survival mode to thriving at five (31:58) Save of the week: Melissa's dance recital parenting lesson Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Connect with Melissa Chandler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnazar/  Check out MNC Consulting: https://mncconsulting.co/  Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    40 min

  2. 1 Jul

    The Motherhood Penalty and What Leaders Can Do About It

    Rebecca Grimes has spent her career taking on hard things. As Chief Revenue Officer at SheerID, she leads sales, customer success, marketing, and revenue operations. At home, she and her husband are raising two kids, caring for aging parents, managing a multigenerational household, and somehow still finding time for fifth-grade field day. In this episode, Rebecca shares the behind-the-scenes story of becoming a CRO, navigating IVF after cancer treatment, raising children later in life, and learning that having it all requires asking for help. The conversation also takes an important turn into the motherhood penalty, pay equity, and what leaders can do to make workplaces better for the women coming behind them. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Meet Rebecca Grimes(03:15) What a modern Chief Revenue Officer actually owns (08:29) Moving from marketing into revenue leadership (10:29) The mistake marketers make about sales (11:27) Cancer, IVF, and becoming a mom later in life (15:41) The guilt of returning to work after six weeks (18:02) You can't do it all without a village (26:14) The shocking truth about the motherhood penalty (30:03) How Rebecca eliminated pay gaps on her team (33:08) Why women need to ask for the raise (36:25) The hidden compensation gap beyond salary (40:12) How fair compensation builds long-term loyalty (42:57) Why great leaders don't hire only their friends Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Connect with Rebecca Grimes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalgrimes/  Check out SheerID: https://www.sheerid.com/  Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    51 min

  3. 24 Jun

    From Burnout to Rebrand: Motherhood and Building a Career On Your Own Terms

    What happens when a high-growth startup marketer decides to step away from a dream job and build a life that's more aligned with her values as a mother and entrepreneur? In this episode of Full Stack Moms, Shannon Curran and Mallory Lee sit down with Cat Canada, former Director of Marketing at Bobbie and founder of Re:Brand, a thriving networking community for women. Cat shares her journey from helping scale one of the fastest-growing brands in the mom-and-baby space to launching her own consulting business and community-driven platform. The conversation explores the realities of balancing ambitious careers with motherhood, navigating burnout, building meaningful professional relationships, and embracing the evolving seasons of work and family life. Cat also offers a fascinating look at emerging trends in the parenting market, including the rise of Gen Z parents and the growing number of first-time moms in their forties. Whether you're building a business, raising a family, or redefining success on your own terms, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and encouragement. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Meet Cat Canada (02:24) Leaving startup life to build a consulting business (04:34) What it was like helping scale Bobbie as a mom-first brand (07:08) Burnout, motherhood, and deciding it was time for a change (09:27) Careers have seasons, and why that's okay (11:45) Launching Re:Brand eight days after leaving Bobbie (13:18) Why modern motherhood doesn't have to be binary (15:16) Holding onto both career and parent identities (17:18) COVID parenting, daycare, and finding your village (19:17) How parenting changes as kids get older (21:36) The connection between motherhood seasons and career seasons (23:48) Daycare teachers and the people who help raise our kids (25:25) The story behind Re:Brand and building meaningful networks (30:36) Consulting in the mom, baby, and women's health space (32:52) Brand advocacy, social impact, and purpose-driven marketing (34:53) The business of motherhood and the brands serving parents (35:33) Gen Z parents, older moms, and the future of the mom market (38:38) Why TikTok drives culture and modern marketing (42:37) Save of the Week: IT heroes, friendship, and much-needed parent breaks Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Connect with Cat Canada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catcanada/ Check out Re:Brand: https://www.rebrandcollective.com/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    50 min

  4. 17 Jun

    Babies, Boardrooms, and Banter — A Working Mom's Story

    What happens when a newborn baby joins an executive board meeting? Shannon shares the story behind one of the defining moments that inspired Full Stack Moms: bringing her exclusively breastfed infant to a startup board meeting in New York.   In this conversation, Shannon opens up about returning to work just weeks after giving birth, leading strategic discussions while caring for her baby, challenging traditional expectations of working mothers, and embracing the mindset that sometimes you have to ask, "What if you just did it?" Together, we explore vulnerability in leadership, work-life integration, parenting in public, and the reality that everyone is figuring things out for the first time. If you're a working parent navigating career growth, leadership responsibilities, postpartum challenges, or the constant balancing act between ambition and family life, this episode will resonate with you. Jump into the conversation:(00:00) We’re all figuring it out together(02:04) Building a business while pregnant (03:15) When your client asks you to return five weeks postpartum (06:42) The baby at the board meeting (09:41) Nursing through executive board discussions (13:14) How to lead without the CRO in place (14:55) Changing a diaper on the 29th floor (17:37) Everyone’s doing this for the first time (19:14) SVB crisis and emergency board meetings (22:22) Rethinking work-life integration  (24:57) Baby socks as a service Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    28 min

  5. 10 Jun

    Pregnant, Laid Off, Doubled My Salary: Leadership Lessons for Working Moms

    What happens when career growth, motherhood, and entrepreneurship collide? Amber Williams, head of RevOps and Chief Revenue Officer at Passetto, talks about her journey through tech leadership, maternity leave, and building a startup while raising a young child. Amber opens up about navigating layoffs while pregnant, doubling her income with the help of career coaching, and balancing high-pressure work with parenthood. In this conversation, Amber shares insights on mental load, work-life integration, spousal support, career pivots, starting a business, and the bravery that comes with making bold choices for family and self. If you’re a working parent navigating ambition, burnout, identity, or the constant juggle between career and home life, this episode will hit close to home. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Meet Amber Williams (03:08) Fractional RevOps to startup cofounder (04:27) Business coaching and productized services (06:40) Coaching skepticism and asking for help (08:05) Biology major to RevOps leader (10:26) Pregnant, laid off, income doubled (13:17) Postpartum confidence and returning to work (15:36) Vision board becomes business launch (19:56) Refine Labs to Passetto full circle (20:55) Can moms have it all? (22:01) Journaling, reflection, and defining freedom (22:54) Always on and modern motherhood (25:09) Revenge bedtime procrastination and TV (26:18) Learning to ask for help (27:57) Ikea bed project resets mindset (29:41) Comfort shows, chores, and decompression (32:05) Maysember chaos and summer relief (32:58) Remote work and kid boundaries (37:07) Saves of the week Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Connect with Amber Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-victoria/ Check out Passetto: https://www.passetto.com/  Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    43 min

  6. 3 Jun

    The Hidden Mental Load of Being the Working Mom

    What happens when the “corporate husband” is actually the wife? Chantel Hirschel, Director of Revenue Operations at Sana, talks about her career growth, motherhood, and building a nontraditional family dynamic. Chantel opens up about her husband’s life-changing accident, becoming the sole provider, balancing leadership in tech with raising two young children, and the emotional realities of postpartum recovery while working in high-pressure environments. In this conversation, Chantel opens up about parental leave, stay-at-home dads, mental load, gender expectations, childcare, flexible work, and the sacrifices that come with designing a life that actually works for your family.  If you’re a working parent navigating ambition, burnout, identity, or the constant juggle between career and home life, this episode will hit close to home. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Meet Chantel Hirschel (03:22) Chantel’s early career and breadwinner decisions (03:55) Coping with tragedy and change (05:35) Quitting UPS to take new risks (07:38) Fast returns and postpartum realities (11:58) Long tenure and leave experiences (14:08) Managing work flexibility during pregnancy (17:01) Dad bias at medical appointments (19:34) Learning to share parenting responsibilities (20:47) Solo parenting strengths emerge over time (24:26) Finding flow with three children (29:34) Advice on stay-at-home spouse setup (32:39) Managing mental load and letting go (34:22) Save of the week parenting stories Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Connect with Chantel Hirschel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantel-hirschel/ Check out Sana: http://www.sanabenefits.com  Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    42 min

  7. 27 May

    Why Parental Leave is Non-Negotiable for Working Moms

    Balancing a career and navigating motherhood requires more than ambition, it requires resilience and bold decision-making.Barbara Nicholas, CEO of Polly, shares her journey of growing up with limited resources, becoming a young mom at 18, working double shifts to make ends meet, and still managing to carve a path all the way to the C-suite.  Barbara opens up about one of the most defining moments of her career: returning to work after having her second daughter, only to find her employer hadn't prepared a proper space for her to pump. What followed was a decision that changed everything, and a lesson she's carried into every leadership role since. We also dig into the state of parental leave in the US today, including the disheartening rollbacks at companies like Deloitte and Zoom. Barbara shares how Polly approaches leave and why she believes supporting working parents isn't just the right thing to do, it's simply good business.  This one is honest, fiery, and full of hard-won wisdom from a woman who's been figuring it out since day one. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introduction and family setup (01:19) Barbara’s journey to becoming CEO (03:09) Becoming a young mom and early career challenges (05:09) Maternity leave and pumping struggles at work (07:53) Leaving her job and reclaiming career agency (09:37) Setting boundaries and having bold employer conversations (15:30) Paid leave policies and equity at Polly (19:23) Corporate parental leave rollbacks and workplace trends (21:54) Childcare costs, economics, and career impact (30:32) Generational reflections, leadership, and motherhood (35:21) Save of the week segment Connect with Barbara Nicholas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-nicholas-polly/  Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/  Check out Polly: https://www.polly.ai/  Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    41 min

  8. 20 May

    Transitioning from Corporate Career to Entrepreneurial Mom with 3 kids under 4

    Building a business and navigating motherhood requires more than ambition,  it requires embracing uncertainty and constant reinvention. Jillian Whitlow, founder and CEO of Ink & Honey, shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship while raising three kids under four. From navigating the challenges of starting a business after a layoff to balancing a thriving career and a stay-at-home husband, Jillian reveals the real-life decisions behind making it all work. In this conversation, Jillian opens up about the tough decisions she’s made, how she built her company on the fly, and the constant juggling act of being both a CEO and a mom. She dives into the complexities of creating a family-first business and the pressures working moms face in today’s world, all while refusing to pretend it’s easy. If you’ve ever wondered how to have a successful business while being fully present as a parent, this episode offers an honest, refreshing look at what it really takes to build a career and a life you love on your own terms. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Meet Jillian Whitlow (01:00) Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship (03:15) Starting a business after a layoff (06:20) Navigating the first year of business with a newborn (08:30) The decision for her husband to become a stay-at-home dad (10:45) Balancing a growing business with motherhood (13:00) Challenges of working from home with young kids (15:30) Building a LinkedIn branding business (17:50) The ups and downs of being a mompreneur (21:10) Letting go of perfection and embracing the chaos (24:30) What it really takes to build a business while raising a family (27:00) The importance of flexibility in business and life (29:50) Redefining success on your own terms (32:40) Save of the week: Leveraging a tiny babysitter for big results Connect with Jillian Whitlow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-whitlow/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Check out Ink & Honey: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inkandhoney/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

    50 min
See All (20)

Trailer

About

Work like you’re not a parent. Parent like you don’t work. What if that whole system is wrong? This is Full Stack Moms, and we are Mallory Lee and Shannon Curran, two working moms navigating tech careers, parenting, and everything in between. We talk about why the traditional rules of work don’t fit modern parents and how women in tech are doing things differently. Through honest conversations and behind-the-scenes stories, this show explores careers, caregiving, ambition, and the messy reality of having it all, just not all at once. Connect with Mallory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Connect with Shannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius www.shareyourgenius.com

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon Curran & Mallory Lee
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Shannon Curran & Mallory Lee
  • Show Website
    Full Stack Moms