Episodes

In this eye-opening bonus episode, Donald Knight II, a seasoned HR leader and father, shares his journey of balancing parenthood and professional life. From his evolving perspective on parental leave to innovative approaches in supporting a multi-generational workforce, Donald offers valuable insights on creating inclusive work environments. He discusses the importance of allyship, the changing needs of Gen Z workers, and the critical skills leaders need in today's rapidly evolving workplace. Jo...

Join Priya Krishnan and Paul Sullivan in a special bonus episode of The Work-Life Equation podcast. In this episode, they welcome Kanika Chadda-Gupta, host of That's Total Mom Sense, as she interviews Priya and Paul about their fascinating career paths, parenting journeys, and the impact of their roles. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation filled with personal anecdotes, career insights, and practical advice for parents striving to excel in their careers and personal lives.

In this illuminating episode of The Work-Life Equation podcast, hosts Paul Sullivan and Priya Krishnan welcome Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor James Heckman from the University of Chicago. Professor Heckman shares insights from his groundbreaking research on early childhood education and its long-term impacts on individuals and society. In this episode, Heckman explains the 'Heckman Equation,' which demonstrates the high return on investment for early childhood education programs. He dis...

Chief Diversity Officer and author Mita Mallick gets candid about the myths and biases holding back working parents in today's workplaces. Drawing from her bestselling book Reimagine and years of leadership experience, Mita debunks the notion that extended maternity leave alone supports women, emphasizing the need to transform mindsets around involved fatherhood too. She shares powerful stories navigating the motherhood penalty in her own career after having children, from being asked who's watc...

In this candid conversation, working moms Cassandra Williams and Aurore Joshi open up about the challenges and joys of navigating careers while juggling caregiving responsibilities. Cassandra, a first-generation college graduate and mother to a 2-year-old, shares her strategies for effective co-parenting and staying organized. Aurore provides a moving account of her 20-year journey as the sandwich generation caregiver – supporting her ailing single mother for 11 years, and then her father's decl...

On this episode Priya and Paul are joined by Dr. Aditi Nerukar, a Harvard physician, nationally recognized stress expert, and author of the book Rewire Your Brain for Less Stress and More Joy. Dr. Nerukar shares invaluable insights from her years of expertise working with patients on managing stress and burnout. She debunks the myth of multitasking, explaining how our brains are wired for monotasking and provides actionable strategies like time blocking to boost productivity. She also offers emp...

DeAnne Aussem, Managing Director and Wellbeing Leader at PwC, shares her inspiring journey as a female executive while navigating work, parenthood, and finding harmony across life's different spheres. DeAnne provides an inside look at PwC's pioneering Be Well, Work Well initiative launched in 2017 to prioritize employee wellness across six dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, and social. DeAnne also opens up about her own experiences as a wife, mother of two, and a care...

Dr. Ramon Jacobs-Shaw is redefining what it means to be a modern father and healthcare leader. From growing up in rural poverty to achieving dual board certifications in pediatrics and internal medicine at elite institutions, Ramon has been driven by a passion for serving underserved populations like his own Lumbee tribe. He opens up about his roles championing health equity as Chief Clinical Officer at Belong Health and being a visible dad modeling engaged fatherhood. Ramon provides an inside l...

In this powerful episode, author Jessica Fein discusses her new memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes, which chronicles her family's journey caring for their daughter Dalia, who was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease at age 5. Jessica opens up about the range of emotions - fear, grief, guilt - that came with being a caregiver while also working full-time and raising her three children. She shares candid insights about navigating relationships, finding suppor...

In this insightful episode, leadership expert and author Jenna Fisher shares her inspiring journey and hard-won wisdom from over 20 years of helping women navigate the corporate ranks. Drawing from her bestselling book To the Top, Jenna provides a practical playbook for creating meaningful change and closing the gender gap in executive roles. She discusses the importance of authenticity in leadership, the power of sponsorship, redefining career paths as a web rather than a ladder, and how the le...

Pulitzer-prize winning Wall Street Journal reporter and author Joann Lublin shares invaluable wisdom from her books Power Moms and Earning It which detail how executive mothers can thrive at the highest levels while navigating work and family. Lublin reveals eye-opening findings from her interviews with more than 100 trailblazing leaders across generations, including powerful strategies they used to overcome bias, find work-life sway, and pay it forward to uplift other women. With candid storyte...

David Smith, a former Navy pilot who is now an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, shares eye-opening insights on achieving gender equity in the workplace and at home. Drawing from his own experiences in the male-dominated Naval Academy and military, as well as his extensive research with co-author Brad Johnson, David dives deep into the systematic biases and everyday actions that hold women back professionally. He provides powerful strategies for leaders to build more in...

Dr. Dana Suskind, a trailblazing surgeon and researcher, has built a career on the profound impact that parent-child interactions have on children’s' brains. Drawing from cutting-edge science and her own inspirational life story, Dr. Suskind shares practical strategies that any parent or caregiver can use to massively boost a child's cognitive development and lifelong potential. You'll learn why societies that support parents end up with smarter, healthier, more successful children - and what em...

David Newson, founder of XNW Digital, is a seasoned professional who brings a unique perspective to the discussion of work-life integration and mindful leadership. With a successful career in marketing and a genuine commitment to striking a balance between professional success and personal fulfillment, David's insights into intentional time management and navigating the challenges of parenthood and leadership are sure to resonate with working parents and leaders seeking improved work-life integr...

In this episode of The Work Life Equation podcast, co-founders Roger Brown and Linda Mason share the story of their incredible journey that inspired them to start Bright Horizons and revolutionize the child care industry. They also talk about their hopes for the future of early childhood education, especially for those in one of the most important roles: our teachers.

Do you want your employees to be happier and more productive? Are you looking for a solution to improve their work-life balance? Look no further. Join Christine Michel Carter, Priya Krishnan, and Lars Minns, CHRO of Mercedes-Benz, North America, we discuss the key to achieving greater employee well-being and satisfaction. By implementing effective strategies, you can create a workplace environment that prioritizes the mental and physical health of your team. This will result in increased job sat...

Does this sound familiar? You want to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families, but you're not quite sure how. You may have been told to simply ignore differences and treat everyone the same, but that approach hasn't yielded the results you hoped for. The truth is, ignoring diversity can actually lead to feelings of exclusion and disrespect. You may be feeling frustrated and uncertain about how to move forward. But don't worry - in this episode with our featured guest, Ariel...

Do you want to break barriers, shatter glass ceilings, and become a game-changer in your male-dominated industry? Do you want to see diversity and gender equality thrive within your workplace? If so, we have the solution for you. Join Christine and Priya on this week's episode of The Work-Life Equation as they speak with Swin Cash, an empowering leader, speaker, and advocate. She shares how you can achieve the ultimate goal: to become an unstoppable force and achieve gender parity in your indust...

Ann Shoket, founder of New Power Media and CEO of The Li.st, shares her inspiring journey of reinventing her career as an author and entrepreneur after her memorable career as Editor-in-Chief at Seventeen Magazine. In this episode, you will be able to: 1. Understand the value of a solid support network for women in their workplace journey. 2. Tackle the issue of loneliness that often plagues women pursuing professional development. 3. Discover fresh approaches to re-envisioning power dynamics an...

In this episode of The Work-Life Equation, Minda Harts shares her experience as a black woman in the corporate workplace and how she founded The Memo to help women of color advocate for themselves. The conversation digs deeper into workplace trauma, diversity initiatives, and the impact of the pandemic on women of color. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that will leave you wanting more answers. Minda Harts is a renowned author, entrepreneur, and diversity, equity, and inclusion consulta...

Eve Rodsky was determined to lighten the unfair burden of domestic labor placed on women, but she never expected blueberries would be the catalyst of her movement. In this episode, you will: 1. Discover the significance of fair and equal distribution of domestic labor, while fostering harmony within relationships 2. Unravel the role of effective communication in breaking down gender roles and expectations 3. Learn how to continuously reassess and adapt to maintain equilibrium between work and pe...

Paul Sullivan, a former New York Times columnist, embarked on a quest to build the leading platform for Lead Dads, challenging the traditional notion of what defines being a father and parent. In this episode, you will learn how to: 1. Embrace fatherhood by breaking free from traditional gender roles 2. Discover balance in juggling work and caregiving tasks to become a modern dad 3. Redefine success in parenting through a new lens of work-life integration 4. Enhance your communication, teamwork,...

Lead with grace, dignity and compassion and empower the next generation to light the path for a brighter future. Alanah Odoms is the first Black woman to lead the ACLU of Louisiana in its 65 year history. She is a civil rights leader, professional and spiritual support to countless activists, and a single mother to her daughter, Elan. She taught her daughter to embrace her unique identity and to not be weighed down by the expectations of the world. Alanah believes in creating a pipeline of leade...

Deborah Cox, a resilient mother of three, fearlessly jumps between the lily pads of opportunity to balance her own ambitions with her personal life as a mother and wife, despite the obstacles of a pandemic and the unexpected “no's of life. You will learn: 1. How have Deborah Cox and her family managed to create a balance between their values, principles, and professional lives? 2. How did Deborah Cox learn to embrace failure and use it as a source of motivation? Deborah Cox is an award winning r...