Parents At Work - The Spiggle Law Firm Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tom Spiggle
A podcast for Parents At Work presented by The Spiggle Law Firm, featuring the best techniques for parents in cultivating a healthy work-life balance.
Techniques for parents in dealing with everything from sleep deprivation and managing work-life issues, to help you excel at work while trying to raise your family.
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Mark Versen and Dale Wright. Mark is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) of the Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. In 2020, he set a record for total annual fundraising by hitting $7 Million including the largest gift in Lutheran Family Services history of the 128 years of $3 Million while surpassing 22% growth in total number of donors. Mark is a seasoned professional with experience in private and public higher education institutions and executive leadership in the health and human services non-profit sector. He’s a firm believer that philanthropy changes lives. Mark and his wife Jesse have two children and they reside in Louisville, Nebraska.
Dale is the Associate Dean and Chief Advancement Officer for the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s responsible for the strategy and operations on fundraising and constituent engagement, and he’s the campaigns director for the college’s $550 Million goal in the With Illinois $2.25 Billion comprehensive campaign. As of today, the college is at 109% of its goal. Over the last 20+ years, Dale has held a variety of alumni and fundraising engagement goals in higher education. He’s an active CASE volunteer and also holds membership in organizations such as the African American Development Officers Network and The Association of Fundraising Professionals. He’s also involved in other non-profit work as well including serving on the executive committee of the board of directors for the American Legion, Boys State of Missouri. Dale loves his family and knows he wouldn't be where he is today without the support of his wife and his four daughters.
It’s going to be a really interesting episode as these two dads talk about the most exciting things in fundraising, how they look at things from a completely different angle in order to change advancement, the power of integrating ones family into their work, and the working parenthood challenges they’ve successfully navigated all through their careers. Tune in and get inspired.
Show Highlights
Dramatic ups and downs Mark went through when he unexpectedly fell into his working parent journey (03:36)
The value of having an incredible community of 120+ helpers (07:01)
How Dale and his wife were able to navigate being first time parents and working on their thriving careers (08:48)
Learning to turn off the fundraising mode whenever it’s time to go be a parent (15:41)
Mark’s experience with being a parent who works as a fundraising professional (19:00)
Parental workplace support systems that they have benefitted from all through their careers (25:13)
Moving away from the previous way of doing things in fundraising to focus more on relationship building (29:59)
Finding a way to shut things off in a constantly connected world (33:49)
Why we should be mindful of the habits that we pick up (35:33)
Links and Resources
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 (Good to Great By Jim Collins)
https://www.amazon.com/All-Labor-Dignity-King-Legacy/dp/0807086029 (All Labor Has Dignity By Martin Luther King Jr.)
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/freemie/ (What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents)
https://readysetlaunch.net/ (Jason's Website)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlevincareercoach/ (Jason on Linkedin)
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ (Lori's Website)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimihalichlevin/ (Lori on Linkedin)
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview two amazing working moms who are leaders in the fundraising profession, Pradnya Haldipur and Kara Barnes.
Pradnya Haldipur is the Vice President of Development at Code.org, where she leads fundraising and philanthropic strategy. She has more than 24 years of development and management experience in a myriad of national and international settings. She went to Code.org with experience from prestigious academic medical institutions such as Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC, Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, and Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as think tanks, global development organizations, and the arts. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than $145M to support research, capital projects, endowment, operations, and programmatic projects. Pradnya was born in Mumbai, India but grew up in New Jersey. She resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband Joe Clemons, their children, Mirza Cate (age 8) and Xavier Anant (age 6) who are avid Code.org users.
Kara Barnes is the Senior Director of Planned Giving at American University in Washington D.C. where she helps donors structure gift arrangements that create a meaningful legacy at the university and positive change in the world. She has over 20 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, with a focus on major gifts and planned giving. She has served in development positions in the arts and public media as well as higher education. Kara is a proud mid-westerner and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Dave and son Lewis.
Pradnya and Kara share the tensions and benefits of being working moms involved in mission-based roles that they are very passionate about, and how they manage to stay committed to their work and families while maintaining good physical and mental health. You won’t want to miss this truly engaging conversation about boundaries, relationship-building, and passion.. The lessons to learn are unmatched. So stay tuned!
Show Highlights
Being a mom while moving the mission forward at work (03:15)
Kara’s working mom story: Integrating her love and passion for fundraising into her family life (05:11)
How to go about boundary setting between work and family (09:11)
The lack of more extensive maternity leave policies and the harm it causes (12:15)
Anticipated changes in non-profits that will be geared towards better support systems for their employees (17:02)
Changes happening in the fundraising industry that will affect working parents (21:32)
How having children has made these leaders more successful in their careers (25:20)
Forming great work relationships from the authenticity of inviting who you are and your family life into your work related interactions (28:14)
Kara’s way of staying grounded in her work and family life (32:12)
Adopting a mindset of loving both work and home life while using technology to achieve balance (35:37)
Links and Resources
https://pepparent.org/ (Positive Encouragement Parenting)
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/freemie/ (What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents)
https://readysetlaunch.net/ (Jason's Website)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlevincareercoach/ (Jason on Linkedin)
https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ (Lori's Website)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimihalichlevin/ (Lori on Linkedin)
In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori welcomes to the podcast her husband and new co-host, Jason Levin, MBA. Jason is the founder of Ready Set Launch, LLC where he helps organizations, professional associations, executives and lawyers with career transition and business development needs through outplacement, individual coaching, training and webinars. Jason comes on as a guest to share his own experience with parenting (during a pandemic!) while also holding down a job and working for himself in his own business. Jason shares some empowering and actionable tips on everything from how to thrive at working from home with kids in the house, to how you can get your employer to be more accommodating of your needs as a working parent, and so much more. Tune in for a jam-packed 20-minute episode. Show Highlights Jason’s personal working parent journey: Working for someone and also going out on his own while being a parent (01:47) Setting clear goals on what you need to get done and how working for yourself goes back to sales (03:45) Concentrating on work when working from home especially during the pandemic (06:08) The Wall: How he created space for himself so he could focus more on achieving his work goals (08:30) The number one career tip for working parents as they ease back into the post Covid-19 vaccine world (09:50) How to recenter yourself throughout the day to be consistently focused (10:54) Navigating a world where the industry you worked for or your career was turned on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic (12:11) How to approach and negotiate with your employer to keep you while enabling you to parent better (18:07) Links and Resources To Sell is Human By Daniel Pink Jason@ReadySetLaunch.net Jason's Website Jason on Linkedin Lori's Website Lori on Linkedin
Being a working parent can be a long and intimidating journey, but we are fortunate to live in a time when there is an array of resources to support you on your path. Today’s guest is none other than Tom Spiggle, founder of the Parents at Work Podcast and Spiggle Law, an employment law firm. Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interviews Tom about his inspiration for starting the podcast, as well as his own personal journey as a working parent. Join Lori and Tom in this conversation for tips on how to navigate your working parent journey and to say farewell to Tom in his co-host role. Show Highlights: Lori shares the story of Parents at Work Tom shares his personal working parent story Why Tom chose to educate people on the prejudices that happen in the workplace What sparked Tom’s interest in employment law Key take-aways from Tom’s book, You’re Pregnant, You’re Fired Tom shares his experiences being a podcast host Consistent themes Tom’s seen throughout his interviews Tom talks about why he started the “I Got Fired” podcast Tom’s favorite working parent technology and resources The importance of acknowledging the passing in parenthood Closing advice for the audience and Lori Links: https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Lori: Lori@mindfulreturn.com Resources: https://www.google.com/calendar/about/ https://www.paprikaapp.com https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/All-Joy-and-No-FunJennifer-Senior/1114315283?ean=9780062072269
In today’s episode, Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin interview two engineer dads about their experience as working parents. We are joined by Matt Jensen, Business Owner and Senior Project Manager at Kimley-Horn, who has been an engineer manager and structural design specialist for over 20 years. We were also joined by Paul Andrukonis, Director of Personalization for Citi’s US Consumer Digital organization. Both dads share what it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field, as well as the cultural shifts that have been happening in the workplace. They discuss the importance of empathy and how client relationships have been impacted by developing a more common understanding, along with tangible tips on how to utilize a more flexible schedule. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about what it’s like to be a working dad in the engineering field. Show Highlights: Matt and Paul share their experiences as working parents Having clear expectations of tasks is vital to successful co-parenting, when you’re both working parents Matt and Paul share what it’s like to be a working parent as an engineer The ability to work remotely and having a supportive community are huge benefits to working in engineering Having parental leave for fathers and shared messaging are two work-place supports Paul wishes he would have had Having easy access to work within your schedule can help you be much more efficient as a working parent Back-up childcare is a great benefit for companies to offer It’s okay to ask to have flexibility with clients and to do things at home Being grateful for what you have and trying to be understanding of others is important to help build empathy and be an effective working-parent Matt and Paul share digital resources they use to make parenthood easier Finding time for self-care is important to be your best self Links: https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Lori: Lori@mindfulreturn.com
What is it like to be a mom in a field where only 15% of practitioners are women? In this episode of the Parents at Work Podcast, we interview Druva Lahon and Victoria Hills, who share what it’s like to be working mom engineers. They talk about the experience of being managed, of managing others, and of parenting during COVID. They also share how they found supports in this male-dominated field, along with how they leaned on family and friends and adopted flexible hours. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this knowledge-filled and inspiring conversation. Show Highlights: How having children changed Druva’s work life Victoria shares how having children changed her work life What it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field What it’s like to be a woman engineer Beneficial work supports that Druva had as a new working parent Work supports Druva wished she had Work Supports that improved Victoria’s working parent experience Why extended maternity leave improves the working parent experience and is an excellent retention tool How AI and technology is impacting working parents Why you should utilize support from and for other moms in your workplace Resources to navigate life as a working parent Why you should take life one day at a time Links: https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Lori: Lori@mindfulreturn.com Resources: https://www.google.com/calendar/about/
Being a working parent looks different for every career, every family, and every parent. In today’s episode, Robin Smith, licensed marriage and family therapist shares his experience as a working dad in the mental health field. He shares wise insights, including the self-inflected pressure that can occur as a parent from having heightened awareness as a mental health professional, the shifts happening due to COVID-19, what it looks like to have grace and compassion for yourself and your children, and the many elements of being self-employed. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for incredible insight and advice from Robin Smith. Show Highlights: Robin shares his working parent story and how he navigated parental leave Robin talks about how COVID has impacted his profession and how he’s used positive reinforcement to make a better environment to work at home There’s great diversity in the experiences mental health professionals have How being a mental health professional impacts work-life balance Being a mental health professional can increase the strive for perfectionism and the feelings of shame when it isn’t met Being self-employed can allow for flexibility but also means there are no professional supports Why Robin wishes he would’ve had working dad groups to talk with during transitioning into parenthood Transitioning into a digital space has been a major shift and has been difficult for many therapists How will COVID change the future of therapy Why intentionality is more important now than ever before Why we should start with having self-compassion as a working-parent Robin shares books and technology that have helped him on his working-parent journey Links: https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Lori: Lori@mindfulreturn.com Resources: The Expectant Father And Baby Makes Three
This month, we’re focusing on moms and dads in the mental health field. And today we‘re delighted to be joined by two working moms who are mental health professionals, Dr. Elizabeth Allen and Dr. Aimee Danielson, to talk about navigating life as a working parent. Dr. Elizabeth Allen is an assistant professor of psychology and clinical psychiatry, and she’s also an assistant attending psychologist. She specializes in treating adolescents and young adults with anxiety disorders and OCD. Liz lives in New York, and she’s the mom of two girls, ages one and three. Dr. Aimee Danielson is an associate professor of psychiatry and OB-Gyn, and she’s the director of a women’s mental health program that provides treatment and support for pregnant and postpartum women. Aimee has had the privilege of working with mothers every day for the last twenty years, supporting them through their transitions into motherhood. She lives with her very supportive partner and her three wonderful daughters, ages seven, ten, and thirteen, in Arlington, Virginia. Be sure to listen in today, to benefit from Liz and Aimee‘s expertise, and to find out what they bring from their jobs to the way that they’re parenting their children. Show highlights: Liz and Aimee share their working parent stories. Aimee talks about why she felt privileged, informed, and ready when she became a mother. Aimee discusses the choice that she and her husband had to make when their eldest daughter was born with a serious health condition. Aimee talks about the flexibility, creativity, and surrender that’s required from working parents. Looking at the different seasons of parenthood. Aimee explains why she feels that the mental health field is a good environment for working women. Some of the challenges of being a working mom in the mental health field. Liz talks about her experience of being a working mom in the mental health space. Being promoted and rising through the ranks can be difficult for working moms with small children. The kind of support that Liz and Aimee found helpful when they became working parents. The kind of support that Aimee and Liz would like to have had when they became parents. Transitioning from a work identity into a parent identity is important and can be difficult for men, when colleagues don’t know they became a parent. Women are feeling that they have to re-invent the wheel. Some things that would help working parents, going forward. Links: Contact Lori: https://www.mindfulreturn.com Lori@mindfulreturn.com The Working Parent Group Network Contact Tom: https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com Resources: Books mentioned: Laughter and Tears: The Emotional Life of New Mothers, by Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman Cribsheet, by Emily Oster Expecting Better, by Emily Oster Back To work After Baby, by Lori Mihalich-Levin The Awesomest 7 Year Postdoc or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tenure-Track Faculty Life, by Professor Radhika Nagpal on the Scientific American blog. App: Carpool Kids
COVID-19 has seemingly shifted everything about our work force and our family dynamics. As many of us are working from home and have children who are also now occupying that space, it can be a process to find a routine that works for everyone. Today Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin share what has worked for them in their shift to working from home and actionable tips for parents to find some small amount of sanity in their work and parenting.. Join Tom and Lori to learn more about how you can integrate a schedule and use connections to make your at-home experience as productive as possible. Show Highlights: What staying home has looked like for Lori’s family How creating a schedule and focusing on the present can create a smoother transition to working from home How Tom’s family is adjusting to COVID-19 shifts Dealing with the struggles that accompany work shifts for employees and parents The struggles of keeping children occupied and balancing work from home Protections that accompany leave Action steps to find peace amongst chaos Reaching out to others and connecting as a community Links: Contact Lori: https://www.mindfulreturn.com Email Lori for Free Webinar on “How to Go Back to Work After Parental Leave” on April 2nd Lori@mindfulreturn.com Contact Tom: https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com