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Dana Kirwin talks with me about her motherhood journey. We talk about the values she looks to instill into her kids and the life lessons her kids have taught her. Next, Dana shares how Medela’s Kin Program can help moms, families and work colleagues when moms get back to work. In addition, Dana and I talk about how dads and men can also be advocates when women return to work after maternity leave. Lastly, we finish the interview with the Motherhood Quick Five.
About Dana Kirwin
Dana Kirwin joined Medela in 2019 to lead its Employer Groups solutions and strategy. With the goal of improving the return-to-work transition for new parents and their employers, Medela offers Kin, a customizable program that provides best-in-class breastfeeding products, dignified pumping spaces, and education and clinical resources for new parents.
Prior to Medela, Dana worked at both Optum and Medtronic and brings more than 15 years of experience in the employer benefits and population health space. As a working mom herself, Dana understands the challenges faced by both employers and new parents during the return-to-work transition. She is passionate about helping employers better understand how they can attract, retain, and engage the valuable segment of working parents in their employee population. Dana graduated from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, and currently lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two children.
About Medela
This week’s Art of Fatherhood podcast is being brought to you by Medela. Dads, when it comes to helping your partner or spouse with breastfeeding, only cleaning the baby bottles just won’t cut it. You need to do more. Ask your spouse what you can do to help with her transition when she goes back to work. At work if you are running a team or looking to be an advocate, talk to your team and HR department about how your office can offer support for breastfeeding employees. In addition, with the infant formula crisis, new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a receding global health pandemic and a spike in inflation are all placing increasing pressure on new parents returning to work who need substantive support to continue breastfeeding.
The normalize breastfeeding drum keeps beating. Cultural acceptance is here to stay. Thankfully Medela is leading that drum beat with their Kin program. Kin is a customizable, single-source solution from Medela and Mamava that opens up a world of best-in-class technology, resources, and accessories specifically designed for new and expecting parents. Employees get the support they need to successfully balance their career with breastfeeding and a growing family. Medela is doing their part, now it is up to us. Learn more at medela.us/kin.
About The Art of Fatherhood Podcast
The Art of Fatherhood Podcast follows the journey of fatherhood. Your host, Art Eddy talks with fantastic dads from all around the world where they share their thoughts on fatherhood. You get a unique perspective on fatherhood from guests like Joe Montana, Kevin Smith, Danny Trejo, Jerry Rice, Jeff Foxworthy, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Kinney, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kyle Busch, Dennis Quaid, Dwight Freeney and many more.
Thank you Medela for all the work you are doing for women and their families. This was such a refreshing interview. Thank you Dana for sharing very helpful tips that women need when they go back to work.
Dana and her team are doing fantastic work to make sure moms feel safe and that their work colleagues can help out with them coming back to work.
This podcast is so refreshing. To hear a man talk about breastfeeding and help other guys make sure they are doing what they can at work and home.
We all need to do our part to help others!
While I do enjoy your interviews with dads, this was such a delight. As a woman who wants a career and a family, this made me see that I can have both.
Go get it Julia!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.