Episode 8 — From London to NYC & Back: How an Executive Director Navigated Motherhood in Top-Tier Banking

What happens when a senior finance leader navigates pregnancy in one of the world’s most demanding banking cultures?In this episode of the Kundra Podcast, Theresa sits down with Hemi — Executive Director at JPMorgan and working mother who’s built her career across London and New York. Hemi shares her candid journey through pregnancy in a high-performance finance environment, from her bold request to work from home to the micro-stress of negotiating informal leave policies, all the way to her vision for a dedicated parent business resource group. Along the way, she reveals how proactive flexibility, transparent communication, and inclusive workplace policies empower working mothers (and all parents) to thrive without sacrificing career momentum.If you’re a finance leader, HR professional, or working parent seeking real-world insights on parental leave, career advancement, and building a truly parent-first workplace, this episode is your blueprint.In this episode we cover:00:00 Intro to Hemi01:12 Crossing Cultures: London ↔ New York Journey08:13 Planning for Parental Leave & Handover Practices09:40 Early Pregnancy in High-Performance Finance23:44 A Parent Business Resource Group25:43 Asking for Support: Flexibility & Accommodations30:06 Advice for Leaders & Closing ThoughtsAbout 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 nowFollow Kundra on LinkedIn for product updates and thought leadershipFollow Kundra on Instagram for quotes, behind-the-scenes, and daily moments