In this pre-episode, I talk to someone very special—someone without whom Rocking Cribs and Careers Season 1 wouldn’t exist: prominent math educator, mom of two, and producer of the show, Vlada Kazantseva.

We chat about how this adventure began, what Season 1 has taught us, and how it’s shaped our perspectives on motherhood and our own journeys. Plus, we share a few exciting thoughts about what’s in store for Season 2!

To support our podcast, please spread the word and share this episode with those who might find it interesting - we're truly grateful for every advocate for the show. As a new podcast host, your feedback is a gift to me. To help me so to get better and to know what resonates with you - please reach out here or via LinkedIn!

In the season finale, we delve into the heartwarming and inspiring story of Sathya Nandakumar, Chief Technology Officer at Holland and Barrett, one of Europe’s largest health and wellness retailers.

Sathya’s journey is notably different from the patterns we've seen in earlier episodes. With no opportunity to hire a nanny and without a strong support network, she chose to take two maternity leaves of over a year each, facing significant career setbacks upon her return each time. Despite these challenges, she ascended to become a successful CTO, managing hundreds of engineers across various countries and backgrounds—an inspiring story that I was eager to explore.

In this final episode of the season, we also turn the tables and explore Sathya’s perspective on providing support during someone else's maternity leave - mine! We uncover unexpected insights, share our learnings, and offer key advice for leaders planning their maternity leave with the aim of ensuring a smooth transition back to work.

Key stories we discuss in this episode:

• Sathya’s statistically unlikely rise to CTO after two extended maternity leaves;
• Essential advice for those looking to advance their careers while managing a busy family life;
• Sathya’s mantra for maintaining a guilt-free approach as a working parent;
• Her experiences and insights from supporting my maternity leave;
• Strategic tips for preparing a successful maternity leave, especially for leaders in the workplace.

I've been lucky to work with Sathya closely for the last 3 years, and not only she's been my best partner in crime through all the work adventures; she's also always been there for me as a friend through life’s varied challenges of the last 3 years. Recording this episode was a joy for both of us, and we hope you find the same joy in listening.

Thanks

To support our podcast, please spread the word and share this episode with those who might find it interesting - we would greatly appreciate it. As a new podcast host, your feedback is a gift to me. To help me so to get better and to know what resonates with you - please reach out here or via email denikekate@gmail.com with "RCC" as a subject.

Irina Iozefson-Shneider is a Partner at a Private Equity Fund, a Non-Executive Board Member, and an inspiring and energetic self-made leader. In this episode, we:

• Explore Irina's journey to motherhood and her story of not crumbling under social pressure, waiting for the right moment to have a child;
• Discuss Irina's lifelong passion for her work, and how her motherhood journey fits into her life as a workaholic;
• Celebrate how Irina’s career journey has reached new heights after she had a baby, making her a notable exception from the overwhelming statistics;
• Discuss the challenges that come with pursuing both personal fulfillment and professional success without compromise.

Irina also shares a couple of heartwarming stories about her motherhood journey, including a jaw-dropping story about managing her pregnancy and childbirth while maintaining her work commitments—but I won’t spoil it for you ;)

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it!

To support our podcast, please spread the word and share this episode with those who might find it interesting - we would greatly appreciate it. As a new podcast host, your feedback is a gift to me. To help me so to get better and to know what resonates with you - please reach out here or via email denikekate@gmail.com with "RCC" as a subject.