Kundra

Theresa Gschwandtner
  • 5.0 (3)
  • CAREERS

Kundra explores how parental leave is lived - before, during, and after - through honest conversations with working parents, business leaders, and HR teams navigating its real impact on performance, careers, and team dynamics. What began as a B2B SaaS research project revealed a recurring pattern: parental leave is predictable, but outcomes depend on execution. Hosted by Theresa Gschwandtner, Kundra shares the insights that shaped a live, structured workflow now used by companies to manage parental leave consistently. Curious how this works in practice? Learn more at https://www.kundra.ai/

  1. Episode 18 - De la peur à la loyauté : pourquoi soutenir les pères est un levier d’égalité au travail

    JAN 25

    Episode 18 - De la peur à la loyauté : pourquoi soutenir les pères est un levier d’égalité au travail

    Et si l’égalité professionnelle passait aussi par la place que nous laissons aux pères ? Dans cet épisode du Kundra Podcast, Theresa reçoit Simon, Senior Learning Product Manager chez OpenClassrooms - et premier homme invité sur le podcast. Alors qu’il démarre un nouveau poste, Simon devient père de jumelles nées en grande prématurité. S’ensuivent des peurs rarement exprimées par les hommes au travail : la peur de perdre son emploi, de ne pas faire ses preuves, de voir la parentalité perçue comme un manque d’engagement professionnel. Des peurs que l’on associe encore trop souvent uniquement aux mères. À l’heure où le congé naissance ouvre la possibilité pour les pères de prendre un véritable temps de congé parental, cet épisode montre pourquoi inclure les pères n’est pas un “bonus” - mais une condition clé de l’égalité professionnelle. L’histoire de Simon est aussi une preuve très concrète : lorsqu’une entreprise investit réellement dans le soutien à la parentalité, elle crée de la confiance, de l’engagement - et une loyauté durable. Quatre ans plus tard, Simon est toujours chez OpenClassrooms. Et il raconte pourquoi. Dans ce conversation, vous découvrirez : Pourquoi les pères vivent, eux aussi, les mêmes peurs professionnelles que les mères après une naissanceComment la culture d’entreprise influence la santé mentale des nouveaux parentsCe que le soutien à la parentalité change réellement - sur le long termePourquoi inclure les pères est un levier clé d’égalité, de rétention et de performanceCe que les entreprises ont tout à gagner à investir dans des politiques parentales ambitieusesQue vous soyez parent, manager, dirigeant ou professionnel RH, cet épisode vous aidera à repenser la parentalité non pas comme une interruption - mais comme un moment clé de transformation. Dans cet épisode, on parle : 00:00 Introduction & parcours de Simon06:15 Rejoindre une nouvelle entreprise en attendant des jumeaux10:02 Naissance prématurée, hospitalisation et choc des premiers jours12:53 Minimiser, avoir peur et vouloir “faire ses preuves” en tant que père15:52 Congé parental, intervention des RH et soutien de l’entreprise31:48 Enseignements pour les leaders – soutenir les pères, renforcer la rétention et l’équitéAbout Kundra Kundra is building the future of parental leave. We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow. This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work. We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email theresa@kundra.ai for a demo. Want more from each episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkits Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

    38 min
  2. Episode 17 – From Being Pushed Out to Promama: Designing Better Work for Parents in Italy

    JAN 11

    Episode 17 – From Being Pushed Out to Promama: Designing Better Work for Parents in Italy

    What can companies learn from countries where parenthood still pushes talent out of the workforce? In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa speaks with Claudine, founder of Promama, an Italian startup working to make workplaces genuinely more family friendly. Claudine shares how her own maternity leave experience - marked by silence, lost role clarity, and stalled progression - became the catalyst for building a data-driven solution to a systemic problem. Together, they explore what Italy’s parental-leave reality reveals about workplace culture, why good intentions aren’t enough without structure, and how companies can retain parents through simple but deliberate design choices. This is a rare peer-to-peer conversation with someone tackling the same challenge from a different national, cultural, and policy context—and uncovering lessons that travel far beyond borders. Whether you’re an HR leader, manager, or working parent, this episode offers a grounded look at what actually moves the needle when it comes to parental leave, retention, and performance. Inside this conversation, you’ll discover: How a maternity leave breakdown exposed a wider, systemic problemWhy nearly 1 in 5 Italian women leave the workforce after becoming mothersWhat “family-friendly” looks like in practice—not just in policyThe hidden cost of losing parents (and why retention is the real ROI)Where companies most often fail—and the low-effort fixes they missWhy flexibility is the single biggest enabler for working parentsWhat it takes to turn personal experience into scalable changeIn this episode we cover: 00:00 Introduction to Claudine & the Career Turning Point03:31 When Maternity Leave Breaks Trust - and Careers09:29 The Data: Why This Is a Systemic Issue in Italy11:48 Building ProMama: From Personal Pain to Platform14:33 The 4 Pillars of a Truly Family-Friendly Company19:26 Retention, ROI & the Business Cost of Getting This Wrong32:36 Flexibility as the Foundation - and What to Change FirstAbout Kundra Kundra is building the future of parental leave. We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow. This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work. We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email theresa@kundra.ai for a demo. Want more from each episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkits Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

    36 min
  3. Episode 16 - From Continuity to Confidence: How Trainline Designed a High-Impact Maternity Leave Experience

    12/07/2025

    Episode 16 - From Continuity to Confidence: How Trainline Designed a High-Impact Maternity Leave Experience

    How do you design a parental leave experience that strengthens performance, reinforces loyalty, and supports seamless business continuity - even when an employee steps away for nine months? In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Fanny, Product Manager at Trainline, to explore how a supportive culture, thoughtful planning, and a structured reboarding process transformed her maternity leave into a moment of stability - for both her team and her career. From leadership reassurance and clear expectations, to a dedicated cover and a gentle ramp-back, Fanny’s experience shows how the quality of a leave journey can directly influence engagement, performance, and retention. Inside this conversation, you’ll discover: Supportive Leadership Behaviours: How honest, proactive conversations with her manager and CPO created clarity, confidence, and psychological safety before she went on leave.Continuity Without Burnout: Why Trainline chose to hire a dedicated maternity cover - and how this ensured smooth delivery, stable performance, and a frictionless return.Healthy Disconnection, Helpful Touchpoints: How low-pressure updates during leave preserved a sense of belonging without pulling her back into work.A Structured, Human Reboarding: What Trainline’s handovers, stakeholder mapping, shadowing and ramp-up period looked like - and why they set her up for success.Performance After Parenthood: How becoming a mother reshaped Fanny’s approach to prioritisation, efficiency, and boundaries - ultimately enhancing her impact.Retention Through Real Support: Why a generous, well-managed leave made Fanny feel more loyal, more motivated, and more committed to contributing long-term.Whether you’re a working parent, HR leader, or manager, this episode highlights how the right structures and expectations can turn parental leave into a powerful driver of stability, satisfaction, and organisational strength. In this episode we cover: 00:00 Introduction & Fanny’s Background03:57 Setting the Scene: Trainline’s Structure & Leave Context05:01 Preparing for Leave: Leadership Reassurance & Expectations09:31 Ensuring Coverage & Business Continuity16:39 Staying Connected: Light Touchpoints During Leave18:25 Reboarding with Care: Structure, Shadowing & Safety20:39 Lessons for Leaders: Loyalty, Performance & ROIAbout Kundra Kundra is building the future of parental leave. We believe ambition and parenthood can thrive together - and companies that embed equity into their foundations today will lead tomorrow. This podcast is part of our journey: speaking with working parents, business leaders, and HR innovators to surface the truths of career and parenting and the tools that make it work. We’re now opening up pilot programs for companies ready to rethink parental leave. If you’d like to see how Kundra can support your teams, email theresa@kundra.ai for a demo. Want more from each episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, recaps, and HR toolkits Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes

    34 min
  4. Episode 15 - People Investment That Drives Performance: How the ex-CHRO Built Parental Leave at Greenhouse

    11/23/2025

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

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

    33 min
  5. Episode 14 - Inside Alan: Turning Parental Leave into a Retention and Performance Flywheel

    11/09/2025

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

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

    32 min
  6. Episode 13 - From Empathy to Understanding: Our Shared Learnings Through Two Maternity Leaves

    10/27/2025

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

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

    35 min
  7. Episode 12 - From Planning to Business Continuity: A VP’s Playbook for High-Impact Maternity Leave

    10/12/2025

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

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

    31 min
  8. Episode 11 — From Indonesia to France to Singapore: How Global Careers and Parenthood Can Coexist

    09/28/2025

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

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

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Kundra explores how parental leave is lived - before, during, and after - through honest conversations with working parents, business leaders, and HR teams navigating its real impact on performance, careers, and team dynamics. What began as a B2B SaaS research project revealed a recurring pattern: parental leave is predictable, but outcomes depend on execution. Hosted by Theresa Gschwandtner, Kundra shares the insights that shaped a live, structured workflow now used by companies to manage parental leave consistently. Curious how this works in practice? Learn more at https://www.kundra.ai/

Information

  • Creator
    Theresa Gschwandtner
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Theresa Gschwandtner
  • Show Website
    Kundra