Soul Sessions
🎙️ Soul Sessions: Real talk. Raw journeys. Radical belonging.
Soul Sessions is where you come to be seen, heard, and empowered. Each episode dives deep into the unspoken challenges of navigating career, identity, and success when you're the first to do it all.
From candid conversations with like minded souls, to solo reflections on self-worth, burnout, and belonging — we go beyond the highlight reel to share the soul behind the success.
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- Hear stories that sound like yours
- Learn tools to build a career and life on your terms
- Stay rooted while rising
Soul Sessions dives deep into the unspoken side of work — from navigating tech careers to leading teams and building systems that scale, all without losing your humanity.
We explore ambition, pressure, belonging, and leadership through candid conversations and personal reflection — revealing the soul behind success.
Hosted by Damon, this is where career wisdom meets honest connection.
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Soul Sessions
Why One CEO is Changing the Rules of Parental Leave: Will It Work?
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In this episode, we explore the transformative power of parental leave, especially for leaders and organizations aiming to foster a culture of support and loyalty. Derek Doblin, founder and CEO of Parento, shares his personal journey, industry insights, and actionable strategies to make parental leave a true asset for companies and employees alike.
Key Topics Covered:
- The importance of modeling parental leave as a leader to drive cultural change
- How parental leave supports long-term employee retention and company loyalty
- Overcoming common misconceptions about parental leave costs and ROI
- The shift from insurance-centric to experience-focused sales approaches
- Customization of parental leave policies based on company philosophy, not industry norms
- The critical role of leadership mindset in adopting generous parental policies
- Practical tips for CEO and HR engagement during parental leave
- The impact of messaging and public example on brand and employee perception
- Industry trends: blue-collar vs. tech companies' approaches to parental leave
- The future of parental support resources, tools, and digital programs
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to the episode's focus on leadership and parental leave
00:29 - Derek Doblin's background and motivation to start Parento
02:11 - The personal significance of paternity leave and bonding
03:01 - How Parento supports parents through insurance and resources
04:14 - Building a company for a demographic outside the founder’s experience
05:18 - The social impact and ROI of paid parental leave from a finance perspective
07:11 - Challenges in selling parental leave benefits to HR and finance teams
08:38 - How shifting focus to employee experience increases sales success
09:36 - Marketing insights: positioning parental leave as a strategic advantage
10:30 - The importance of leadership buy-in and company philosophy over industry norms
12:13 - Engaging senior leadership and the mindset shift required
13:41 - Personal experiences as a CEO taking parental leave
15:11 - Conversations with family and support systems during leave
16:42 - The significance of intentional bonding and presence as a parent
17:53 - Changing perceptions and showcasing leadership by example
19:15 - The public commitment and brand reinforcement through parental leave
20:48 - Advice for CEOs: planning, communication, and embracing primary caregiving roles
21:38 - Rethinking parental leave as a strategic asset in talent management
23:00 - Upcoming innovations at Parento and resources for companies
24:12 - Final thoughts: the cultural shift towards normalizing involved parenting