Full Stack Moms

Balancing a career and navigating motherhood requires more than ambition, it requires resilience and bold decision-making.Barbara Nicholas, CEO of Polly, shares her journey of growing up with limited resources, becoming a young mom at 18, working double shifts to make ends meet, and still managing to carve a path all the way to the C-suite. Barbara opens up about one of the most defining moments of her career: returning to work after having her second daughter, only to find her employer hadn't prepared a proper space for her to pump. What followed was a decision that changed everything, and a lesson she's carried into every leadership role since.We also dig into the state of parental leave in the US today, including the disheartening rollbacks at companies like Deloitte and Zoom. Barbara shares how Polly approaches leave and why she believes supporting working parents isn't just the right thing to do, it's simply good business. This one is honest, fiery, and full of hard-won wisdom from a woman who's been figuring it out since day one.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Introduction and family setup(01:19) Barbara’s journey to becoming CEO(03:09) Becoming a young mom and early career challenges(05:09) Maternity leave and pumping struggles at work(07:53) Leaving her job and reclaiming career agency(09:37) Setting boundaries and having bold employer conversations(15:30) Paid leave policies and equity at Polly(19:23) Corporate parental leave rollbacks and workplace trends(21:54) Childcare costs, economics, and career impact(30:32) Generational reflections, leadership, and motherhood(35:21) Save of the week segmentConnect with Barbara Nicholas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-nicholas-polly/ Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/ Check out Polly: https://www.polly.ai/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Building a business and navigating motherhood requires more than ambition,  it requires embracing uncertainty and constant reinvention.Jillian Whitlow, founder and CEO of Ink & Honey, shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship while raising three kids under four. From navigating the challenges of starting a business after a layoff to balancing a thriving career and a stay-at-home husband, Jillian reveals the real-life decisions behind making it all work.In this conversation, Jillian opens up about the tough decisions she’s made, how she built her company on the fly, and the constant juggling act of being both a CEO and a mom. She dives into the complexities of creating a family-first business and the pressures working moms face in today’s world, all while refusing to pretend it’s easy.If you’ve ever wondered how to have a successful business while being fully present as a parent, this episode offers an honest, refreshing look at what it really takes to build a career and a life you love on your own terms.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Jillian Whitlow(01:00) Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship(03:15) Starting a business after a layoff(06:20) Navigating the first year of business with a newborn(08:30) The decision for her husband to become a stay-at-home dad(10:45) Balancing a growing business with motherhood(13:00) Challenges of working from home with young kids(15:30) Building a LinkedIn branding business(17:50) The ups and downs of being a mompreneur(21:10) Letting go of perfection and embracing the chaos(24:30) What it really takes to build a business while raising a family(27:00) The importance of flexibility in business and life(29:50) Redefining success on your own terms(32:40) Save of the week: Leveraging a tiny babysitter for big resultsConnect with Jillian Whitlow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-whitlow/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Check out Ink & Honey: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inkandhoney/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

There’s no clean handoff between work and parenting. It all happens at the same time.Paula shares how years of frustration over finding snacks her kids would actually eat turned into Sampleit, and what it really took to get there. Not a perfect routine or carved-out hours, but stolen moments between school drop-offs, snack requests, and the constant pull of little people who need you right now.Paula opens up about the mom guilt that creeps in when you're trying to build something for yourself, how she navigates work when her kids are watching, and why she stopped trying to separate the two. She also talks about the "let me fill you up" approach that became her reset button and what it actually looks like to show up for your business and your family in the same messy hour.This is what building something looks like when you're also raising someone.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Paula Wise(01:33) The idea behind Sampleit(03:40) How motherhood shifted what work felt like(10:30) "Better for you" vs perfect parenting(11:45) What flexible work actually looks like day to day(19:45) Trying to be present while your brain is still working(26:55) Why working outside the house can feel easier(28:10) Traveling without your kids and what comes up(33:03) Teaching independence and modeling work(35:11) Staying connected while you're away(39:54) Taking time off as a business owner(41:54) Save of the week: Empty boxes > toysConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Paula Wise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulawise/Check out Sampleit: https://sampleitbox.com/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

What happens when the childcare system fails you? You’re a mom, you fix it.In this episode, Karen Kelly shares how losing afterschool care for her son two years in a row led her to quit her job as a startup president and build a grassroots movement. After a single post in her town's mom Facebook group yielded 75 emails overnight, she mobilized 600 parents, negotiated with local vendors, and helped launch a new afterschool program at a summer camp just 500 yards from her backyard.Karen opens up about the tension of working in a venture-backed startup culture, where 12-hour days were the norm, and how that clash reshaped her priorities. She also talks about the real struggles of working moms, why the pressure to "choose" is so pervasive, and what it actually takes to find a balance between career and family that's uniquely yours. Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Karen Kelly(02:26) Why Karen quit her tech presidency(04:36) Mobilizing parents for local childcare solutions(08:50) What local boards and committees can impact(10:34) How to navigate the invisible 15-minute mental load(12:53) Some seasonal struggles of summer childcare(16:16) Comparisons on global and US childcare systems(18:53) How to find purpose beyond the mom title(20:16) Parenting realities within venture culture(22:42) The struggle of leading tech companies through a pandemic(25:23) Exploring social infrastructure and human connection(29:57) The key to managing the full-stack mom identity(32:39) Building authentic connection through shared failure(34:55) Facilitating calm and confident AI adoption(38:09) Save of the week: AI as a buddy and communityConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Karen Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-kelly-daring-greatly/Check out Launch by Lunch: https://launchbylunch.co/Check out Built by Karen: https://builtbykaren.com/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Balancing a career in tech with motherhood requires more than time management. It requires rewriting the rules.Margaret Kelsey shares what it really looks like to build a high-impact career while navigating motherhood, divorce, and a beautifully complex blended family. From getting hired eight months pregnant to redesigning her career through fractional work, Margaret breaks down the real decisions behind making work and life actually work without pretending it’s easy or perfectly balanced.The conversation goes into the hidden dynamics that shape working moms’ careers, including why so many women feel forced to choose, how outdated workplace expectations persist today, and what it takes to rewrite the rules in your own life.If you’ve ever questioned whether you can have both a meaningful career and a full life outside of work, this episode offers an honest, nuanced look at what’s possible and what it actually takes.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Margaret Kelsey(00:45) Navigating a nontraditional family structure(02:47) Moving between full-time and fractional work(05:07) Getting hired while pregnant(07:10) Returning to work after maternity leave(08:23) Building a flexible advising career(11:16) The importance of role models for working moms(14:534) Navigating pregnancy and job changes(19:23) The realities behind workplace bias(21:54) How "Primary Parent Days" changed everything (32:38) Rethinking parenting roles and responsibilities(36:54)  Save of the week: Surviving & ThrivingConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Margaret Kelsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/Check out Kodaris – The Supply Chain Platform: https://www.kodaris.com/Try Riverside Pro free for a month with code fullstackmoms at https://creators.riverside.com/FullStackMoms Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Content Warning: This episode discusses Postpartum Depression. We cover topics including mental health struggles and parental burnout. Please listen with care.Building a career while navigating new motherhood can feel like an impossible balancing act.  But for Courtney Nugent, an unexpected layoff at eight months pregnant became the catalyst for something transformative. After years of thriving in leadership roles at top tech companies, Courtney found herself at a crossroads, one that would reshape how she thought about work, family, and what success really means.Courtney shares her journey of navigating career transitions during pregnancy and postpartum, and how she turned uncertainty into opportunity by building a more flexible, intentional work-life structure. She walks us through the emotional and mental weight of adjusting to motherhood, while staying professionally ambitious. She also opens up about the role self-care played in keeping her grounded and how she ultimately found peace in the unpredictability of it all.This conversation allowed Courtney to open up about the mentors who shaped her path, the moment she chose to redefine success on her own terms, and why speaking honestly about the real challenges of modern motherhood isn't just personal. It's a call to action for workplaces everywhere.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Courtney Nugent(01:17) Courtney’s remote work setup explained(04:42) On deciding when to have kids(08:01) The challenges of pregnancy commutes(12:13) Laid off at eight months pregnant(17:16) Opening up about postpartum depression(20:24) Planning a career return after birth(23:59) The reality of prenatal depression(26:07) Gaps in postpartum care system(28:31) Challenges of job searching as a new parent(33:22) Parenting roles shared out loud(35:37) Navigating digital work boundaries(38:22) Save of the week segmentConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Courtney Nugent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-steinkrauss/Check out Blue Onion: https://www.blueonion.ai/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Building a career and raising a family can be a juggling act, but for Mel Goodman, it became a chance to create something meaningful after experiencing a major career crossroads. After spending years in the tech industry and leading teams, Mel found herself at a pivotal moment when she had to dissolve a team due to the effects of COVID-19.Mel shares her journey of founding WorkMom, a business dedicated to helping women navigate career transitions while balancing motherhood. She walks us through the emotional challenges of redefining success and ambition, the importance of creating boundaries, and how she helps women make high-stakes decisions from a place of clarity and confidence.Mel also opens up about the importance of support systems, her experience with modern motherhood, and the strategies she used to build a life that integrates both career fulfillment and family life.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Mel Goodman(02:49) How Shannon and Mallory connected in business(05:11) Mel’s system for work-life balance(07:19) From Salesforce to becoming a founder(12:24) Navigating career crossroads after having kids(13:58) Setting boundaries and creating family systems(18:47) Dealing with confidence dips and mom brain(23:06) Overcoming imposter syndrome after maternity leave(26:49) Postpartum pressure, resentment, and career struggles(27:52) Zooming out after setbacks in motherhood(28:27) Learning from mistakes and mom perspective(29:22) Morning chaos and celebrating small wins(31:04) Addressing burnout and redefining success(32:32) Managing energy, boundaries, and self-care(39:46) Burnout impact and vision for working moms(41:55) Designing life goals before work priorities(44:27) Weekly saves, sleep tips, and working mom hacksConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Mel Goodman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melgoodman/Check out WorkMom: https://www.workmom.io/thecollectiveTry Riverside Pro free for a month with code fullstackmoms at https://creators.riverside.com/FullStackMomsProduced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s actually possible to build a high-growth tech company while raising a family, this conversation will challenge everything you think you know.Join us as we talk with Alina Vandenberghe, Co-founder and CEO of Chili Piper, about what it really looks like to lead at the highest level while raising four kids. From navigating the constant tension between ambition and presence to redefining what success actually means, Alina shares how motherhood didn’t slow her down, it reshaped how she leads, thinks, and builds for the long term.We also get into the real, unfiltered side of this journey: the mental load, the guilt, the tradeoffs, and the unexpected advantages. From building a remote-first company culture that supports parents to raising independent thinkers at home, Alina breaks down how she’s intentionally designing both her company and her life around what actually matters.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(00:53) Quick look into Alina’s family and daily life(02:59) Becoming visible online and building a public presence(12:35) Bringing kids into work and business environments(22:20) How motherhood shaped her CEO mindset(25:24) Running a company and parenting as co-CEOs(28:29) Navigating mom guilt and self-judgment(32:47) Raising kids to think independently(36:57) Rethinking parental leave and workplace flexibilityConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Alina Vandenberghe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinav/ Check out Chili Piper: https://www.chilipiper.com/ Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Growing a family and building a business at the same time can feel overwhelming, but for Sydney Mulligan, it was an opportunity to do both - after she was laid off while on maternity leave. Yes, you read that right. Sydney shares her journey of founding EMMIE Collective, a marketing and revenue operations agency. She walks us through the challenges she faced as a new mom starting a business, how she balanced career and motherhood, and how she leveraged her layoff to advance her entrepreneurial goals.She also shares the unique perspective of growing a business while caring for young children, the importance of support networks, and her approach to building a flexible, family-friendly work environment. Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Sydney Mulligan(05:01) Building an agency-ish as a "third child"(07:22) Why 12 weeks of paid leave isn't enough(07:57) Navigating return-to-work inequity(13:49) Job hunting for 6-month parental benefits(18:04) Getting laid off while on maternity leave(21:37) Networking strategies during a leave of absence(23:14) Choosing entrepreneurship over a W2 role(26:23) Scaling EMMIE Collective’s freelance model(27:44) The risks of planning your own maternity leave(34:25) How to backfill roles during parental leave(37:04) Solving for a systemic lack of parent support(42:27) Save of the weekConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Sydney Mulligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/Check out EMMIE Collective: https://www.instagram.com/emmiecollectiveProduced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

If you’ve ever wondered whether building a flexible career is really possible without losing yourself or missing the moments that matter most at home, this episode will feel familiar.Join us as we talk with Rachel Johnson about going fractional, redefining identity beyond job titles, and choosing a career path that gives her more control over her time, her work, and her family life. From hard lessons in high-pressure roles to the wake-up call of realizing work had become too central to her identity, Rachel shares how she found a different way forward and why that shift changed everything.We also get into the practical side of what this looks like day to day: setting firm calendar boundaries, protecting time for school pickups and cheer practice, creating contracts that support real life, and being present for the micro moments with kids that can so easily slip by. Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet fractional marketer Rachel Johnson(01:20) Rachel’s first fractional summer experiment(04:19) Daughter’s surgery became the breaking point(05:18) Putting motherhood above job titles(06:51) Fractional work brought freedom and control(11:52) Why micro moments with kids matter(21:19) Setting client expectations(25:38) How Rachel blocks her calendar(27:55) Fractional work drama on LinkedIn(29:25) Gatekeeping around the operator label(38:52) VC pressure and startup hiring realityConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Rachel Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-m-johnson/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Building a big career while navigating motherhood is already a lot to organize, but once you throw travel into the mix, it can feel nearly impossible.Join us as we talk with Sandy Robinson about her path from sales into sales operations leadership, the mentors who helped shape that transition, and the decisions she made about career and motherhood. From being the only woman in early sales roles to stepping into RevOps leadership after having her son, Sandy shares how her career evolved and what it took to keep moving forward while raising a family.We also get into the day-to-day logistics of working parent life, from coordinating travel and family schedules to raising a gifted child who started college at 13. Sandy shares how she balances support and independence, stays present as a parent, and makes time for herself through coaching, fitness, and time away with friends.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Sandy Robinson(02:14) Identity shifts after motherhood(07:00) Choosing career first, motherhood later(09:53) Tradeoffs when traveling for work as parents(11:22) Why solo parenting sometimes feels simpler(17:03) Parenting a 14-year-old college junior(26:27) Saves of the week: coaches, nannies, and AirPods(37:30) Advice for working momsConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Connect with Sandy Robinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyrobinson/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

If you’ve ever felt like you needed a childcare plan before you were “allowed” to tell anyone you’re pregnant, this episode will feel familiar.Join us as we talk about childcare: the waitlists, the deposits, the sticker shock, and the identity shift that can hit when your work life and family life collide.We share what we’ve actually done across different seasons: daycare, sitters and part-time help, an au pair experience that changed everything, consulting with a baby, navigating shutdowns, and figuring out after-school coverage once the “daycare era” ends. We’re not here to tell you there’s one right answer. We’re here to remind you that you can change your mind, build your village over time, and make a plan that fits your life.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Why childcare decisions feel so heavy(00:21) The reality of parental leave in the US (01:03) Daycare waitlists, deposits, and finding the right fit(06:25) Weighing the budget & identity shift(10:16) Nannies, au pairs, and the true cost of daycare(16:38) After-school coverage when school ends at 2:45(17:26) Starting a consulting business with a baby(19:03) Making maternity leave work when self-employed(22:26) Childcare options & building your village(28:54) What saved our lives this weekConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

If excelling at work and motherhood at the same time feels harder than it should, know you’re not alone.This is Full Stack Moms, a show for working moms navigating high-performing careers, motherhood, and life - just like we are. In this episode, we share our own stories of balancing full-time roles, staying home, consulting, fractional work, and everything in between. This conversation sets the tone for the show by making one thing clear. We are not experts. But we are here to help you feel less alone, normalize how hard this phase can be, and create space for honest conversations about work, parenting, and life in the middle.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Welcome to Full Stack Moms(00:29) Navigating Career Transitions(01:11) The Stay-at-Home Struggle(04:12) Tech Industry Demands vs. Family Life(07:21) Flexibility in Tech(08:46) Fractional Work(10:37) Breaking the "Perfect Mom" Myth(14:34) Managing Expectations(16:57) What to Expect from the PodcastConnect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com

Work like you’re not a parent. Parent like you don’t work. What if that whole system is wrong?This is Full Stack Moms, and we are Mallory Lee and Shannon Curran, two working moms navigating tech careers, parenting, and everything in between. We talk about why the traditional rules of work don’t fit modern parents and how women in tech are doing things differently. Through honest conversations and behind-the-scenes stories, this show explores careers, caregiving, ambition, and the messy reality of having it all, just not all at once.Connect with Mallory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/Connect with Shannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/Produced in partnership with Share Your Geniuswww.shareyourgenius.com