#12 How do I balance parenting and product work - with Vanaja Sriskandarajah (Director of Product at Raisin)

In this conversation, Tanja Lau and Vanaja Sriskandarajah discuss the challenges and changes that come with balancing parenthood and a career in product leadership. They explore how becoming a parent shifts one's perspective on work, the importance of time management, and the necessity of setting boundaries. Both share their experiences of returning to work after parental leave, the adjustments they made to their schedule, and the importance of communication in fostering a supportive workplace culture. OUR GUESTVanaja is a lifelong fintech enthusiast and currently the Director of Product at Raisin, a leading savings and investment marketplace that empowers people with greater choice and control over their finances. Previously, she led product teams at Billie, driving innovation in B2B financing, and at N26, where she played a key role in scaling the subscription plan offering.Her fintech journey began in Australia, where she co-founded an investment app—a transformative experience that sparked her passion for startups and building impactful financial products.USEFUL LINKShttps://hbr.org/2019/08/how-to-return-to-work-after-taking-parental-leavehttps://www.mindtheproduct.com/going-part-time-made-better-product-manager/https://www.swisspreneur.org/podcast/ep-67-qa-on-raising-kids-and-growing-a-startupRECIPEWe serve each episode with a recipe you can cook while listening to the conversation. This is one of Vanaja’s favorite pasta recipes - ready in 15 minutes:https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/blender_beetroot_pasta_96501