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 Lalla 02:29 Lalla’s Career Journey Across Five Countries 04:21 Motherhood and Career Balance 07:08 Support Systems and Parental Leave in France 09:43 Role Models and Leadership Growth 28:30 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 [email protected] 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