Episode 14 - Inside Alan: Turning Parental Leave into a Retention and Performance Flywheel

How do you create a parental leave culture that keeps performance steady while strengthening loyalty?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Marine, Product Manager at Alan, who shares her inspiring story of navigating motherhood shortly after joining the company - while still in her trial period.We explore how Alan’s culture of radical transparency, coaching instead of management, and proactive planning transformed what could have been a stressful moment into a story of trust, empowerment, and high performance.Inside this conversation, you’ll discover:Culture of Trust: How radical transparency and open communication made Marine feel safe announcing her pregnancy - even during probation.Continuity with Care: How Alan’s coaching structure and internal mobility planning ensured business continuity without guilt or overload.Human-Centered Flexibility: How consent, autonomy, and empathy guided Marine’s maternity leave experience - from disconnection to extension.The Power of Reboarding: How structured check-ins, a “mum buddy,” and project choice smoothed her return and reignited motivation.Retention by Design: Why Alan’s approach to parental leave is not just kind - it’s a strategic retention and performance driver.Whether you’re a working parent, HR leader, or manager, this episode shows how clear structure and genuine care can make parental leave a flywheel for loyalty and growth.In this episode we cover:0:00 Introduction & Marine’s Background06:23 Announcing the News & Alan’s Radical Transparency09:27 Planning for Continuity – Internal Mobility and Handover15:01 Creating a Guilt-Free Transition18:09 Reboarding with Care - The Role of the Coach and Mum Buddy22:31 Lessons for Leaders - Retention, Culture, and Long-Term ROIAbout KundraKundra 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 toolkitsFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for stories, quotes, and behind-the-scenes