Episode 5 — From CMO-Level Candidate to Withdrawn Offer: When Pregnancy Costs You the Job

What happens when you're at the top of your game — and the job disappears the moment they learn you’re pregnant?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa speaks with Caroline, a former marketing leader at Klarna and soon-to-be mother, who found herself navigating not one but two CMO job offers while expecting her first child.One company withdrew their offer after she disclosed her pregnancy. Another showed support from the start.With transparency and courage, Caroline walks us through how it felt to have her employment contract withdrawn with the CEO’s words: “Your first job now is to fall in love with your baby and not think about work”, why she chose not to pursue legal action, and what ultimately led her to land the CMO role of her dreams. She shares powerful lessons on how to spot red and green flags in interviews, the emotional toll of her experiences and her decision-making process, and how companies can benefit from investing in top talent in the long-term.If you're a hiring manager, a future parent, or curious about how to attract the best executive talent, this one is for you.In this episode we cover:00:00 Caroline's Career Journey & Pregnancy Surprise01:49 Caroline's Background and Career Path06:19 The First Offer — What Happened When She Disclosed12:07 Why She Chose Not to Sue16:39 The Second Offer — A Supportive Culture24:06 Spotting Red Flags in Interviews28:18 Advice for HR: How to Show You’re Supportive32:35 Why hiring Pregnant Women is still seen as a risk37:13 Reflections and Advice for Future MothersAbout KundraKundra is currently in active discovery and prototyping — and this podcast is part of that journey.We’re speaking to founders, HR leaders, and working parents to better understand what support looks like when ambition meets parenting.The companies that will lead tomorrow are building equity into their foundations today.If you're shaping that future — or want to help us build the tools that support it — we’d love to hear from you.—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