Milk Stork

I’ve been in Boston the last two days for some great dialog with our #healthcare professionals, talking growth and strategy for our RSM US LLP Helath Care team! Grateful to work for a company that invests in a benefit for working mamas! Milk Stork makes traveling so much less painful because everyone knows airport TSA makes being a working breastfeeding mama painful!

I'm home from my first work trip since coming back from maternity leave. Leaders from across Chargebee's GTM functions got together last week at our DC office to plan for 2025, and I was super grateful to be included. But despite feeling energized and settled back into work, I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m still in a pretty heightened emotional, postpartum state, and I have… actually a lot of thoughts about the whole thing! ⏱️ Remote work is a blessing, and so is time together. With two young kids, travel is a heavy lift for me right now. Multiple people have to shift their lives around to allow me to step away — and the last thing I want to do is travel for a meeting that could have been an email. Now more than ever, I believe that time in person is best spent brainstorming and working through meaty, creative projects, rather than hearing status reports or readouts. 😴 Another hot take? The optimal number of nights to spend away from young kids is two. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy waking up and only needing to be responsible for myself — not to mention getting a break from dish duty at night. But I was honestly missing the chaos by day 3. (What’s “free time,” again? I don’t know her.) 🍼 My daughter is almost 9 months old, and I'm still breastfeeding. Normally, pumping is a non-issue — I just block my calendar or turn my camera off (more points for remote-most-of-the-time work). But travel opens a whole new can of worms:  *Who do I tell, so my team knows where I’m going when I step out of the room, while maintaining some semblance of discretion and professionalism? *Do I have the right permissions to book the wellness room as a visiting employee? If not, who can do so for me? And is there wifi in the room, so I can dial back into the meeting I just left? *What can I wear that is both professional enough and easy to pump in? *Is the hotel room mini-fridge cold enough? Will the front desk staff let me use the freezer in their break room? *How much do I expect to pump during my trip? How am I getting it all home? It’s… a lot. I'm grateful for companies like Milk Stork, as well as the structural support I have from my team, Chargebee at large, and of course Mahen Gunaratna and our family to keep going. I’m committed to getting this January baby through her second winter with as many antibodies as I can. 🥰 Pic of a very tired me and two extremely cute beneficiaries of good parental leave + return-to-work policies!

Life as a mom is a balancing act. I’m excited to share, in August, we welcomed our second child! It’s been an explosion of love, and also of chaos, as we revel in newborn snuggles and adjust to new rhythms. I’m also excited to share, in August, Mother Ventures was selected to join Recast Capital's prestigious Accelerate Program, which supports top, women-led, emerging VC funds. The news was just announced here: https://lnkd.in/dgiH_shx Recast’s kick-off in DC was 4 weeks after I gave birth. Of course, the team was very supportive, and I didn’t have to attend. But I knew it would be extremely impactful for me to meet the other fund managers, trade notes, share advice, and bond. I wanted to go, and felt well enough to go. I joined for 30 hours and it was spectacular. I learned, was inspired, and felt very seen. Half of the fund managers are moms (unrelated to their fund thesis). Amazing childcare (a baby nurse and nanny) and Bobbie formula is what allowed me to attend this important career event. I had to personally accept giving my son formula instead of breast milk while I was away, and with Bobbie I felt good about that decision (and thrilled to be a Bobbie investor). I also used a Spectra pump and Milk Stork to ship my breast milk home, and Nanit to peek in on my sweet sleeping baby. This experience really hammered home the infrastructure-level products and services mothers and families need, and why I’m building Mother Ventures. I’m very aware not everyone has access to these resources and also aware I could never have physically/mentally made this journey after my first child. I am so excited to continue investing in amazing businesses that make life better for all mothers, families, and children. Thank you to Courtney Russell McCrea, Sara Zulkosky, and the Recast team, Ava Alemazkoor, Caroline Fernandez for delivering essential infrastructure to emerging managers. Thank you to Pivotal Ventures for your support of this program and all your work empowering women. Thank you to my fellow Recast GPs, you inspire me, and I'm cheering for you all (tagged below). Thank you Laura Modi & Bobbie for empowering me and so many. Thank you to Sara and Anna (my amazing childcare, who gave me the confidence to go) and my supportive husband Robert Leshner who is foundational infrastructure and so much more 😀 Pictured, the spectacular group of Recast fund managers at kick-off.  Not pictured, me pumping every 4 hours, and a hotel mini fridge stuffed with milk. Moms and Dads out there, what products & services are part of your essential parenting infrastructure? 

As I'm wrapping up my first month on the Milk Stork team, it's stories like Stephanie Ketelhut's that fuel my passion for this mission. I'm so inspired by what we do and it motivates me to connect with as many companies as possible to help bring Milk Stork to their workplace. Women should not have to choose between working and breastfeeding / pumping. They can do both. And Milk Stork is here to help them transport that milk home when they're away. Thank you Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. for supporting women in your workforce. Happy Friday my LinkedIn family! #workingmom #mom #travelingmom #breastfeeding #pumping

I'm so proud to work for a company that is committed to creating a workplace where employees can truly thrive in their work and personal lives - especially as a working parent! One of the amazing benefits we offer at Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. is a Milk Stork account, a breast milk shipping service for working mothers. This thoughtful service empowers moms to continue their breastfeeding journey, even when traveling for work, by providing a hassle-free way to ship breast milk home. 💼✈️💕 Can’t wait to see my first box of milk make its way home as I'm on my first work trip since having Ketel-kiddo #2! 📦❤️ It’s reassuring to know that KDP not only acknowledges the unique challenges we face but takes proactive steps to support our work-life balance. Creating a culture of care and inclusivity makes all the difference, and I’m grateful to be a part of an organization that understands the importance of family. 👶❤️ Special shout out to all the working parents at KDP who checked in on me this week (moms and dads!). I'm overwhelmed by the support and so encouraged by the stories my colleagues have shared who have been in my shoes before or who are going through it with me as they have littles of their own. Community is everything and I'm so thankful for mine at KDP. #WorkingMoms #SupportiveWorkplace #WorkLifeBalance #FamilyFirst #ProudEmployee #BreastfeedingJourney #WomenEmpowerment #InclusiveBenefits #KDPEmployee

It's finally here! Milk Storks 2024 White Paper has landed. HR leaders: Are you looking for the data to back up the business case for breastfeeding support in your workplace? Our latest white paper, The ROI of Investing in Breastfeeding Support: The Business Case for HR Managers, is here to help. This comprehensive resource is packed with valuable insights and key statistics to make a clear, compelling case for why breastfeeding support programs aren’t just the right thing to do—they’re a smart business decision. What’s inside: ✅ How companies with breastfeeding support programs achieve a 94% retention rate post-maternity (vs. 59% nationally) ✅ How breastfeeding support can reduce healthcare costs by up to $240,000 annually ✅ Steps to ensure compliance with the PUMP Act and avoid legal risks ✅ How supporting breastfeeding employees leads to improved engagement, fewer absences, and higher morale If you want to retain top talent, cut costs, and create a more supportive workplace, this white paper provides the actionable data you need to make the case. Download it here: https://bit.ly/48aOjyp #HRInsights #BreastfeedingSupport #EmployeeRetention #Compliance #WorkplaceWellness

🍼 If you believe having a baby shouldn’t mean choosing between a career as an athlete and being a parent, read on to see how you can support this cause.  Whether you’re a new parent looking for a breast pump bag that truly works or need a thoughtful baby shower gift, this limited-edition breast milk pump bag from Milk Stork and &Mother is a perfect choice. As a long-time supporter of &Mother, I’m thrilled to see this collaboration! For every purchase, a portion of the proceeds goes directly to &Mother, supporting their mission to empower mothers—especially those balancing breastfeeding and sports—helping them pursue their passions while raising their children. Fun fact: Thanks to &Mother’s introduction of Milk Stork to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), several lactating athletes used their services during the Summer Games. 🚀 Alysia Montaño has been a trailblazer in advocating for better support for breastfeeding athletes. Her work has led to meaningful changes, but there’s still a lot to be done. You can be a part of this mission too. Let’s keep pushing for more accessible sports and work environments for all moms! 💪👶 Get your breast milk pump bag and support the cause here 👇

As an HR manager, you WANT to do the right thing for your employees—especially for new moms balancing the demands of work and family. Supporting breastfeeding employees is one of the most impactful ways to show that your company truly cares. But when it comes to getting buy-in from decision-makers, you need more than good intentions. You need data that proves the business case. That’s where Milk Stork's 2024 white paper comes in. "The ROI of Investing in Breastfeeding Support: The Business Case for HR Managers" is here to help. What you'll take away from this white paper: ✅ How companies with breastfeeding support programs achieve a 94% post-maternity retention rate (compared to just 59% nationally) ✅ How supporting breastfeeding can save your company up to $240,000 a year in healthcare costs ✅ The essentials of complying with the PUMP Act and creating a supportive workplace ✅ How these programs can improve productivity, boost morale, and create a more inclusive environment You care about doing the right thing for your employees, and this white paper gives you the tools to make it happen while proving the ROI to leadership. Download it here: https://bit.ly/4gHv9E7 #HRInsights #BreastfeedingSupport #EmployeeRetention #Compliance #WorkplaceWellness

Reflecting on an incredible week at Dreamforce, and the challenges of being a working, traveling mom of a 9-month-old. My days were filled with coffee, attending sessions, hosting meetings, pumping, and storing milk—essentially repeating this every few hours amidst the high-energy atmosphere. What I truly value about working at Salesforce is the support I receive to balance my needs as a parent while excelling at my job. This week, I utilized several resources, including the private Parents Room on campus, Mamava pods at SFO and Moscone, and the game-changing services of Milk Stork. The relief I feel when I can easily order a cooler, have it delivered to my hotel, and drop it off at FedEx for next-day delivery is invaluable—and it's all part of my employee benefits. Thank you Salesforce and the fabulous Dreamforce Events team, of which I’m lucky to personally know Ashley Wham for being super intentional about showing up for the parents that are juggling many roles in our life all at once!

This. All of this. 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿