🎙️Embracing Vulnerability: Dropbox's Chief People Officer on Motherhood’s Impact on Leadership
Ever thought that the very thing you’re afraid to show at work—your vulnerability—might actually make you a stronger leader? In this week’s episode of The New Modern Mom Podcast, I’m talking with Melanie Rosenwasser, the Chief People Officer at Dropbox about how the messy, chaotic world of motherhood can actually boost your career in ways you never imagined.
Melanie’s chat is packed with real talk about how she’s managed to set up a remote work life that lets her be there for her kids while still advancing in her career. She opens up about the challenges of returning to work while dealing with postpartum struggles, and how she and her partner split the complicated responsibilities that come with two kids under three years old.
TLDR
Tune in to hear Melanie’s lessons on…
🎯 Juggling Work and Mom Life: The daily challenge of switching from making big decisions at work to handling chaos at home, and how tough it can be to wear multiple hats.
🧠 Dealing with Postpartum Struggles: Her experience with postpartum anxiety and depression, its effect on work, and how she found support.
💼 Taking Turns in Career and Family: How she and her husband decided he would take a step-back from his career to be the at-home parent, and how they continue to support each other’s passions.
🏡 The Perks of Remote Work: How Dropbox’s remote-first policy reshaped her work-life balance, allowing her to be present with her kids while leading a major company.
🌱 The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership: How becoming a mom made her a more empathetic and focused leader, even in an industry where vulnerability isn’t always celebrated.
🤹♀️ Keeping Up the Energy: The strategies she uses to save energy for her family while managing the demands of her job.
🚸 Moving Closer to Family: The decision to move near family after having her first child and its impact on work and personal life.
If you’re trying to figure out how to keep pushing forward in your career while navigating the realities of motherhood, Melanie’s insights are a must-hear.
Bonus tools and takeaways
As a community member, I ask each of our guests to share with us some tangible tools, tips, links and personal stories as little extras for you.
What is your professional superpower and how has it shown up in your personal and family life?
My professional superpowers are making the complex simple, direct communication, and enabling others to realize their potential.
One example I can highlight on developing talent is the CPO in Residence program that I sponsor. This is a rotational program comprised of 3-6 month assignments (HRBP, Operations, Total Rewards, etc.), job shadowing, external CPO/board mentorships, and exec education (CHRO certificate program at Cornell or UC Berkeley). Off boarding will be either internally into an HR leadership role or externally as a CPO or HR executive role.
What are you cooking these days?
Banana bread! I love baking with my daughter - she loves the process and it's great bonding for us.
What are you reading?
I just started Cal Newport's "Slow Productivity". It's about doing fewer things exceptionally well which I think is so critically important in today's "hustle" culture where we often mistake "volume" for "productivity".
What are you listening to?
A Tribe Called Quest, an 80's Movies Ultimate Soundtrack, and The Best of Raffi
What are you wearing - mom uniform, for work, for weekends?
I work from home so I am emphasizing the "casual" in business casual. I love all pants and shorts from Monrow.
What are the products, services or rituals you can’t live without in your daily routine?
Doordash and Uber Eats! I cook about twice a week and otherwise outsource a lot of our meals.
Favorite accounts to follow?
Brian Elliott on LinkedIn. He's an author and industry expert on the future of work.
Where are you traveling?
The last big trip we took as a family was to the Outer Banks over Halloween (we were the Addams Family). My husband grew up going to OBX every summer so it's been wonderful for him to share this with our kids!
Ready to listen to Melanie’s episode?
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