Episode 6 - From Maternity Leave to Two Promotions: How Spotify Got It Right

What happens when a company treats parental leave as a strategic investment — not a disruption? In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa is joined by Celine, Director of Sales at Spotify and mom of two, who shares the first truly positive parental leave experience we’ve heard. After years in media agencies, Celine joined Spotify and later took maternity leave with her second child. What followed was rare: a smooth handover, protected career momentum, outstanding business results and not one — but two promotions after her return. We talk about what made the difference: A proactive manager who advocated for herClear ownership over offboarding and reboardingA culture that backs flexibilityIf you're a leader, future parent, HR professional, or someone building a career while building a family — this conversation is your blueprint. Listen now to learn how parental leave, done right, can become a leadership accelerator — not a career risk. In this episode we cover:00:00 Celine’s Career Path 04:07 Maternity Leave as a Career Wake-Up Call 08:12 What Made Spotify Different 13:18 Designing Her Own Offboarding — and Feeling Calm 16:20 Returning With Confidence — and Getting Promoted 21:31 What Support Actually Looks Like 25:38 Why Culture Drives Loyalty and Results About 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