Episode 2 — From Top 1% Sales Rep to New Mom: What No One Tells You About Coming Back

What happens when a top 1% sales performer becomes a first-time mom — and the system expects her to pick up exactly where she left off? In this episode of the Kundra podcast, Theresa interviews Vanessa Gschwandtner, a sales executive who built her career at LinkedIn, Slack, and now AI startup Glean. Vanessa shares the untold side of maternity leave in high-performance environments: the invisible planning, the identity shift, and the silent loss of confidence no one talks about. From navigating full quotas with no reboarding support to redefining what “success” means after motherhood, Vanessa’s story offers a candid look at the realities many women face — but few workplaces prepare for. Whether you're a working parent, a leader who understands that companies investing in equity see 5.5x higher revenue growth, or someone shaping the future of work — this conversation will shift how you think about career, identity, and real support.  About Kundra: Kundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and we’re inviting collaborators, testers, and forward-thinking leaders to help shape what comes next. The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today. Sign up to join the beta → https://www.kundra.ai/  In this episode we cover:00:00 Introduction to Vanessa Gschwandtner and Her Journey01:24 Career Path and Transition to Glean02:55 Experiences at Slack and Maternity Leave Challenges05:54 Returning to Work and Struggles with Confidence10:13 Balancing Motherhood and Career16:43 Navigating Work-Life Balance and Gender Inequality36:30 Long-Term Career Reflections and Advice42:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts—Want practical takeaways from every episode? Subscribe to Kundra Notes for insights, episode recaps, and HR toolkits you can use right now Follow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadership Follow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments