Bathtime 2 Boardroom

“I have now delivered a baby wearing an N-95 mask, so I feel as though there’s nothing I can’t do,” says Sara Desphande, Partner at Maven Ventures. Sara was over 4 months pregnant with her second child when COVID hit the US in full force. Luckily her husband was allowed to sit in on the delivery; however, Sara did have to keep her mask on at all times when doctors and/or nurses were in the room. She describes the odd feeling of not being able to kiss her baby girl the first time she held her, but acknowledges the strength of mothers to take difficult moments like this in stride. Sara’s daughter Ruby is now 9 ½ months old and her son Tommy is almost three!

On the boardroom side of things, Sara is a Partner at Maven Ventures, a venture capital firm that specializes in backing software startups. Sara explains that the firm’s overarching goal is to invest in “visions worth fighting for” and this purpose drives her search for software that actively betters lives. Sara also teaches a course called Startup Garage at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, her alma mater, in which student teams design and test new business concepts that address real-world needs.

Tune into this week’s episode of Bathtime 2 Boardroom for a conversation with Sara about motherhood, business and how to balance between the two. Learn about what it was like to be pregnant during COVID, the joys and frustrations of being a female partner at a venture fund, and what consumer needs entrepreneurs should be addressing in a post-COVID world.

Quotes

• “My husband and I haven’t been going to restaurants or doing anything like that, so we went for one of our very first outdoor dinners just a month or so ago, and I came downstairs and was in a dress and heels. I had full makeup on, and I had fixed my hair. And Tommy saw me and, the little hype man he is, truly gasped, gasped at my beauty. He looks at me and he goes, ‘Mama, I love your costume!’” (4:58-5:29)

• “I will say I have now delivered a baby wearing an N-95 mask, so I feel as though there’s nothing I can’t do.” (13:49-13:55)

• “If you feel like you can be really focused and perform at work and at the same time spend the extra time in the mornings and the evenings that you have with your kids, to some extent I think you have to be willing to let other stuff fall through the cracks. This phase of life is short.” (19:35-19:49)

• “[Business school] is really where I discovered that for me the intersection between business and social change really was entrepreneurship. And I think that it’s the greatest tool that our generation has to have a massive positive impact on the world.” (22:34-22:46)

• “Women and moms control the majority of consumer spending, of health care decisions, of parenting decisions, of childcare decisions, and household spending overall. So, you start to look at just the power of the female consumer and the power of the mom consumer – it’s incredibly large. And so I think having empathy and being able to connect with that and bring those insights into our fund has been really helpful.” (26:53-27:20)

• “We look at our work lives and with Zoom and Slack and Asana and Trello...you look at all of the tools that have been created...to help make our work lives more productive, and it’s amazing. And then you look at the innovation to help with our home lives, and there’s nothing.” (34:49-35:09)

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeshpande/ 

Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

On this episode of Bathtime 2 Boardroom, we are flipping the script and interviewing none other than Colleen Blake, our very own Cohost and Producer! While she may have been expecting an interview with actress Jessica Alba, we instead surprised her with an appearance from her eldest daughter Emily Blake, who is our guest co-host for this episode.

On the bathtime side of things, Colleen is a mom to three daughters. When asked why she decided to become a mom, Colleen tells us that she never really questioned being a mother. Instead, she has always seen motherhood as a natural and expected part of her life. Since having kids, Colleen has actively combined elements of what her own parents taught her (modeling hard work, incorporating organization and party planning, to name just a few things) with an effort to be present in her daughters’ school and social lives. She explains that she has done this to show her daughters that you can both have a career AND show up for your family’s important moments.

On the boardroom side, Colleen not only hosts and produces our podcast, but she also is a VP of People at Dremio. With over 20 years of diverse experience across HR, IT, Marketing, Services and Product, Colleen explains that her favorite part of her job is helping others feel valued and heard. She tells us that her motherhood and work roles often overlap in unexpected ways. For example, she brought work into the home when she had Emily create a flow chart for getting ready for kindergarten in the mornings! And she admits to having sometimes felt like a parent towards the employees in her professional life.

If you’ve been dying to learn more about our host, then you won’t want to miss this special episode of Bathtime 2 Boardroom. Learn how Colleen has used improv lessons to inform her parenting skills, how she balances all of her responsibilities (parenting, professional and everything in between), and why post-it notes are an absolute MUST for keeping her organized and inspired.

Quotes

• “I wanted to make sure I was also present in my children’s life at school and outside of school in terms of activities and things while at the same time still showing my girls...that you can also have a career at the same time. So it wasn’t like you had to sacrifice one for the other.” (7:54-8:15)

• “Over the past year, one of the blessings of being in the pandemic has been being able to see [my daughter Emily] evolve as a human being and as a member of society and having real adult conversation with her where I’m like, ‘Holy crap, I did that!’....I don’t know that we often as parents talk about that enough and really sit back and reflect on how much you really have created another human being to be part of society.”  (11:42-12:15)

• “Improv definitely helped with being playful: more playful with the kids and just kind of going with it and then also at work. I think as a leader sometimes you automatically think you know what the right thing is to do, but you really have to listen and hear other people, (1) so they feel acknowledged and (2) maybe they have a really great idea that if you keep going with the story that will turn into something even more powerful and more successful.” (14:16-14:45)

• “Everyone in the world deserves a chance to make a choice, to have equal choice on things and make a decision, whether they want to have kids, whether they want to have a career, you should have a choice. That’s why I explore and talk to other people and share stories because I think that’s a huge part of making sure you know what your options are. That’s what I want for you girls.” (16:00-16:26)

• “If there’s any advice I would give about the whole work-life balance thing, it’s to raise your hand and ask for help or to raise the white flag and say, ‘I can’t do this alone, and I need support.’” (28:30-28:40)

• “My favorite part [about working] is having an impact….and being able to take chaos and get it cleaned up and efficient and so it’s running on a good cadence, and then getting the sense that people feel like they’re valued. So helping others feel valued in what they do and that you care about their experience – I get excited about that.”  (31:28-32:00)

• “Be kind to yourself. It’s not just about being kind to others but being kind to yourself and being more forgiving. You’re doing better than you think!” (40:46-40:54)

Links

https://colleenablake.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenablake/

Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Recently, Molly Brooks’ daughter Kaelie told her that she doesn’t want to have kids when she grows up. Instead, she wants to dedicate her adulthood to her career. As a woman who has decided to do it all, from a full-time career in HR to parenting two young daughters, Molly could have dismissed her daughter’s wishes as they diverged from her own journey. Instead, she wholeheartedly embraced Kaelie’s outlook, explaining that this is exactly the approach she wants to instill in both of her daughters: not that they can do everything, but that they can do whatever they want to do.

On the bathtime end of things, Molly explains to us that no one ever told her just how hard motherhood would be. Sure there are times when all she wants to do is snuggle up with her little ones, but at other times, she reaches her limit. Through the years, she has found tools to cope with these moments of frustration and indecision. One of the recent methods she has used to avoid feeling “mommy guilt” is making decisions together with her family (daughters included!), so that they can all commit to things as a team, and she doesn’t have to feel solely responsible when things don’t go according to plan.

On the boardroom side, Molly works as a Senior Manager in HR Operations for Omnitracs, a fleet management platform with offices in San Diego. In the past, she has also held HR roles at various breweries! Molly explains that she doesn’t have to do much to avoid burnout at her job because she truly loves what she does. Twenty two years ago, she found her niche, and she has been thriving at this work ever since.

Tune into this week’s episode of Bathtime 2 Boardroom to hear more about Molly’s parenting and working journeys and how they intersect. Learn about returning to the workforce post-COVID, the most common misconceptions about HR departments, and why it’s always ok to put on a tiara and eat whipped cream in your closet.

Quotes

• “As a parent, I’m constantly second guessing my decisions, right? I make a decision, and I’m like, ‘Oh no, I should’ve done it that way’....I have a really hard time committing to the decision I’ve made. Well, in this case Kaelie was part of the decision, and at the dinner table we all put our hands in, and we said….‘That’s it, we’re going back to Gage, that’s it, we’re not going to second guess it no matter what happens. This is our commitment. We’re going forward.’ And all of that has I think helped me not second guess myself.” (17:10-17:47)

• “I was at work and my husband was at home when Kaelie took her first steps. And Kaelie was our first. And to this day I still carry that guilt….I regularly ask myself, ‘Why did I choose to do both? Why didn’t I do one or the other?’ And I know why: because my mom told me, since I was a tiny little thing, ‘You can have everything you want!’” (25:49-26:44)

• “I think because I regularly talk about how hard my day is, Kaelie has decided she doesn’t think she’s going to have kids. She thinks she’s just going to have a career. And, you know what, I think that’s great!....And that’s what I want to instill. Not that you can do everything, but that you can do whatever you want.” (27:41-28:02)

• “Knowing that there’s so many people out there that are feeling the same feelings I think is what validates me and what gets me through it. I know I’m not perfect, I know I’m going to make mistakes, but it’s like I try to tell them all the time, ‘You’re going to make mistakes, it’s part of growing up. It’s trying not to make the same mistakes over and over that makes us grow.’” (30:33-30:53)

• “I’m going to crawl into my closet, put on a tiara and put whipping cream in my mouth because I can!” (37:55-38:01)

Links

Kristina Kuzmic on Instagram

Shitty Mommy Moments on Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

“There’s so much power in the pause,” says Nikki Cruz, viral TikToker and blogger. Once a self-proclaimed tiger mom, Nikki has since realized that this style of parenting was not what was best for her son. She came to understand that her tendency towards an authoritarian approach was rooted in inherited generational thinking and decided to shift to a more nurturing parenting strategy. Understanding the power in the pause is one method she now uses to decompress and reset before instantly reacting to a problem. She explains that this transition to more peaceful parenthood has allowed her son Kalev, now six years old, to blossom into a more independent, confident and outspoken child.

After sharing this parenting journey on social media, Nikki quickly went viral on TikTok. She has since become passionate about sharing her story to help others reclaim their personal power, discover new possibilities in parenting and learn how to create the lives of their dreams. Her handle, @maartemami, reclaims the Tagalog word maarte, which is usually directed towards women viewed as over-the-top or “too much.” Nikki transforms the sentiment to embrace her “doin’ the most” outlook, as she constantly seeks new ways to invite more ease and happiness into the daily challenges of juggling a career and being a mom.

Tune into this week’s episode of Bathtime 2 Boardroom and join Nikki, Colleen and guest host Monica Chandra for a conversation about the unique joys of motherhood. Learn about Nikki’s calming corner, how to work with your partner to develop shared parenting strategies, and why Nikki is ok with letting motherhood define her. And, remember, the world needs kids and adults who are doing too much, so let your doing-the-most-ness shine!

Quotes

• “There’s nothing wrong with being ‘too much.’ The world needs it, and the world needs kids and adults who are too much.” (3:03-3:09)

• “I share with my followers that you can have your own set of rules when you collaborate with your kid, but I think that the best thing is to leave [the calming corner] open, so that they just naturally gravitate to it. Sometimes [my son] just wants to go there and relax and read a book, other times he’s like, ‘I’m having a lot of high energy right now, let me just go in here and lift my 5-pound medicine ball to help me relax and focus’….I think it’s very fluid and open the way any family can leverage the space.” (10:22-11:17)

• “If your husband, wife, or partner has a very different set of beliefs, it’s coming from somewhere. There are generations of trauma, there are unhealed parts of them, so just coming from a place of empathy and not judging has been very helpful.” (17:24-17:40)

• “At one point, when I made this shift, I was very depressed because I just felt like I wasn’t connecting with him, he was always scared of me, he was flinching when I came around and he was like years old. And I was like, ‘Is this what I want for my son?’” (20:21-20:34)

• “When you’re a working mom, it’s so hard to make time for yourself, right?....You’re feeling guilty like you’re not doing enough for your job, you’re not doing enough for your kids, and I think it’s just so important to prioritize self care.”  (28:43-28:55)

• “The struggle can be so real, but so is the progress. And practice makes progress.” (35:42-35:47)

Links

www.maartemami.com

https://www.instagram.com/maarte_mami/

Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

“What have Mia and Gavin taught me?” asks Nina Quick, wife of Eric Quick, Bathtime 2 Boardroom co-host. “They have taught me to take a breath before I respond.” Mom to two kids, Nina is no stranger to the ups and downs of parenting. Nina has also had to navigate the added challenge of helping her son, Gavin, as he copes with both autism and ADHD. But with the support of her husband, her mom, and her network of mom friends, Nina has learned to tap out when she needs to take a deep breath and incorporate more self-care into her daily routine. While Nina admits to sometimes missing the years when her kids were babies and still yearned for hugs, kisses, and constant attention, she explains that watching them grow into autonomous human beings has been equally rewarding.

On the boardroom side of things, Nina was particularly motivated to get politically involved after the 2016 election. For the past four years, Nina has been volunteering for Vote Save America’s Adopt a State program. Nina adopted Florida and participated in extensive campaigning efforts for the Democratic Party in this crucial swing state. According to Nina, the most gratifying part of her work has been finding camaraderie amongst an extensive network of like-minded individuals, who share her passion for change and go about creating it in a positive and uplifting way.

Learn more about Nina’s bath time to boardroom journey on the kickoff episode of our fourth season of Bathtime 2 Boardroom! We’re calling this season Moms Takeover, and we mean it….these episodes are all about moms, their personal struggles, and their incredible achievements, both at bathtime and in the boardroom. Tune in for an honest, engaging, and entertaining conversation with Nina, host Colleen Blake and special guest co host Monica Chandra (sorry Eric, it’s moms only this week!). Learn about Nina’s approach to parenthood, where she turns when she needs support, and why she never leaves the house without her camping toilet! You won’t want to miss it.

Quotes

• “That kind of gave me a perspective moving forward...because I loved their ‘babyness,’ and I loved them being little, and I wanted them to stay little forever, but that holds them back. And I had to recognize that it wasn’t all about me, it was also about them. These were independent human beings, and I needed to really celebrate their victories and their milestones and their abilities that started to form as they got older.” (5:20-5:51)

• “Part of this political division is this feeling of othering others and this feeling of, ‘I’m going to make you feel like you’re alone in your thoughts and you’re wrong.’ And so to come into this arena was really uplifting for me, to realize that it was not just in my little group of people and my husband that we agreed on our politics. It’s broader than that, and it’s bigger than that.” (23:39-24:08)

• “You need a village. You need to find people that can help support you….If things are getting hard here, I have an outlet to vent to.” (31:33-31:44)

• “My pocket perspective is what’s familiar is preferred and to keep that in mind when you’re dealing with any situation with the kids or even yourself. If you recognize that what’s familiar is preferred, you’ll understand that change can be hard and sometimes you have to maybe work through the situation to make it become more familiar, so that you have less resistance to it.” (42:16-42:41)

Links

From Emotions to Advocacy by Pete Wright

Parents Helping Parents

https://www.autismspeaks.org/

Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas and now the Executive Chef of the Fairmont Hotel in Austin, Andre Natera shares his lessons learned from the kitchen to the kitchen table including how he deals with difficult people, what he's doing differently in raising his children and fueling the fire that inspired him to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

You can follow Andre on instagram at Andre_natera.

With COVID & all the social, political climate affecting our society today, this conversation was just what the doctor ordered. Sharing stories from her humble beginnings to imagining what her two kids might be like as adults, Dr. Kelly Yeh makes us laugh, cry and be grateful for being parents. Kelly is an anesthesiologist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, a level one trauma hospital. She takes care of patients from their first day of life to those over 90 years old. Born from Chinese immigrants, and a Houston, Texas native, her parents worked full time and instilled the value of hard work and not taking anything for granted. Happy listening!

We spoke to Dr. Laila Hishaw aka Dr. Momager, a wife, mother of 3, pediatric dentist, Amazon Best Selling Author, and mentor to many teens and young adults. Her compassionate nature and clinical expertise have gained the respect of her colleagues who (since 2012) have annually selected her as Tucson, Arizona's Top Dentist™ featured in Tucson Lifestyle Magazine.

She informed us that black dentists only make up only 3.8 percent of all dentists in America, which ignited a spark in her to tie in her love for her profession with serving as a role model to children and teens to nurture and bring up the next generation of leaders in her field.

Dr. Hishaw is known to wear many hats and we sat down with her to discover how she manages her time and when it's appropriate for her (or someone like her) to say no.

We spoke with Liz Hartman, a wife, mother of twin girls and a Physician Assistant for an ER. We received insight on what it’s like to witness COVID patients first hand, along with, how she was able to get creative when she comes home to her toddlers. She explained to us the many challenges many parents have faced during this pandemic, like finding the perfect childcare. Through it all, she still found ways to experience safe and fun outdoor activities. If you have mom or dad guilt and need affirmations that everything is going to be okay if you’re not checking off all the boxes on your checklist, this is the episode for you!