She was fired while pregnant— twice. Now she's building the company she wished had existed when she needed it most.

Beth Wanner, founder of Mother Cover, spent 15 years building her career in tech marketing leadership before facing a challenge she never expected. After navigating infertility and IVF, she was laid off just two days after finding out she was pregnant. She landed another executive role, only to be fired after telling her new employer she needed to take maternity leave. That experience led her to build Mother Cover, a company helping businesses support employees through parental leave.

Beth talks about what it was like to lose her job while pregnant, why so many working moms feel their careers are at risk when starting a family, and how her experience with pregnancy discrimination inspired her to create something better. She also shares why generous parental leave policies mean little without the right support, how companies can protect employees' careers while they're away, and what it really takes to make returning to work after maternity leave easier.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Meet Beth Wanner

(02:09) How she lost her job after IVF

(03:10) Facing pregnancy discrimination at work

(04:59) Turning her experience into Mother Cover

(09:00) What supportive parental leave looks like

(12:26) When a leave policy is just for show

(14:17) How to cover a senior role on leave

(17:31) Making maternity leave easier for everyone

(19:48) Returning to work after maternity leave

(22:53) Protecting your career while on leave

(26:47) Why dads need parental leave too

(40:39) Making parental leave work in practice

(43:00) Save of the week

Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/

Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/

Connect with Beth Wanner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethwanner/

Check out Mother Cover: https://www.mothercoveragency.com/

Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius

www.shareyourgenius.com

Dr. Anne Welsh is a psychologist, executive coach, author, and mom of four who has spent nearly 20 years supporting women's mental health and helping working mothers build sustainable careers. After experiencing burnout while working at Harvard and raising two young children, she made the difficult decision to leave and start her own private practice, forcing her to rethink what ambition and success really meant to her.

Anne talks about why perfectionism can hold women back in both leadership and motherhood, how workplace expectations contribute to burnout, and why traditional career advice doesn't always work for working moms. She also shares how leaving Harvard challenged her professional identity, why mothers need to get comfortable asking themselves what they actually want, and how small changes can help women build more fulfilling careers without completely upending their lives.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Meet Dr. Anne Welsh

(00:58) Supporting working mothers and women in leadership

(03:57) Why traditional career advice fails women

(07:00) How women internalize perfectionism

(08:41) When perfectionism starts holding you back

(17:15) Redefining ambition and professional identity

(21:13) Asking yourself what you actually want

(23:39) Navigating workplace politics and double standards

(27:46) Why motherhood builds valuable leadership skills

(29:44) When emotional intelligence goes unrecognized

(38:06) Managing burnout without quitting your job

(40:01) How small changes lead to lasting progress

(44:28) Save of the week

Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/

Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/

Connect with Dr. Anne Welsh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drannewelsh/

Check out her website: https://www.drannewelsh.com/

Get Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and at Home: https://www.drannewelsh.com/ambitious-mother-book

Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius

www.shareyourgenius.com

Rachel Nazhand, VP of Operations at Arta, has built her career leading operations across startups, high-growth companies, and corporate environments. She's also a mom of two, navigating co-parenting after divorce, commuting between New York and Virginia, and finding ways to stay fully present for both her kids and her career.

Rachel talks about how co-parenting has changed her relationship with the mental load of motherhood, why going through divorce forced her to lean on her village, and how she's learned to embrace a family structure that works for them. She also shares why raising a baby in New York City felt easier than in the suburbs, how she navigates career opportunities without letting her personal life define her professionally, and the simple parenting routines that make life as a working mom a little easier.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Meet Rachel Nazhand
(02:08) Commuting between New York and Virginia

(03:50) Balancing co-parenting and work travel

(06:04) How co-parenting changes the mental load

(07:38) Staying connected with kids across households

(11:31) How she built a village after divorce

(13:47) Giving back through community

(17:21) Raising babies in the city versus suburbs

(22:02) Why she creates intentional childhood experiences

(25:04) Navigating divorce while building a career

(28:53) Keeping motherhood and professional identity balanced

(31:57) The realities of parenting young kids

(38:39) Save of the week

Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/

Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/

Connect with Rachel Nazhand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelnazhand/

Check out Arta: https://arta.io/

Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius

www.shareyourgenius.com