How Vanessa Jupe and Leva Support Parents in the Workplace
“Going back to the workplace is easy,” said no parent, ever. But, imagine a world where the return to work was not fraught with stress, confusion, and complete overwhelm.
That was Vanessa Jupe’s dream when she founded Leva— and this dream only grows stronger.
Leva means “to lift,” which is so appropriate when exploring a return to work. Once a child arrives, there’s a perception that the “tough work” is mostly finished. For the parents hysterically laughing at the last sentence, take a moment to laugh it out.
We’ll wait.
The very best-laid plans are no match for the grueling early days of parenthood. Moms returning to work grapple the “expected” challenges (pumping, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, balancing responsibilities) and the completely unexpected ones (feeling asynchronous with coworkers, an obfuscated sense of self).
It’s no big surprise that 43% of women leave their careers within one year of having a baby.
Parenting is often called a journey for a reason. Parents are encouraged to build a village out of necessity. There is no “quick fix” to any singular chapter of parenting. Each stage has its own set of challenges, changes, and (yes!) rewards.
Vanessa Jupe created Leva to highlight, educate, and guide parents through this journey— step by step.
Vanessa Jupe courtesy of Leva
Why We Need Better Parental Support at Work
Let’s imagine a typical return-to-work scenario in the US.
It’s been 12 to 16 weeks since your baby arrives— whether through childbirth, adoption, or surrogacy.
As an employee, you’ve worked closely with your colleagues to ensure that your leave was covered. Your team was prepared with painstaking documentation, how-tos, and contacts for every scenario. A few months later, you’re on your way into the office with an extra bag in tow. It’s packed to the brim with sterilized and ready pump parts.
Casting aside the emotional and mental impact of your first day back, you are “ready” for your return—or so you thought.
While everybody “oohs” and “ahhs” over your endless photos of baby on your phone, you realize you forgot to prepare one crucial item for this return to work: yourself.
That’s how it can feel entering (or re-entering) parenthood. After being poked, prodded, squeezed, and cast aside, many new moms realized they forgot who they were in the first place. So, while your bosses and coworkers are happy to welcome you back, you’re not really sure who “you” are anymore. And, one more thing, there’s really no private room for pumping at your office?
This is one example of how alienating it can feel to return to work, even in the best scenarios. There’s nowhere specific to place blame (ahem, society), so parents need to learn how to wade through the chaos—and they need to learn quickly.
Vanessa Jupe’s Vision for Better Parental Support
Vanessa Jupe personally saw the need for parental support upon her own return to work. After 20 years working in technology startups, all the challenges she had heard about were suddenly at her feet. It wasn’t pretty.
These challenges included:
Breastfeeding, pumping, and the stress of feeding a newborn
Transitioning back into a leadership role as a new mom
Finding balance (okay, we hear you laughing again) as a new working parent
Like many of life’s toughest challenges, this one was unique, seemingly impossible, and absolutely crucial to solve.
So, how can parents and their employers both prepare for impending parenthood? What are the must-haves for parents returning to work? What are some crucial resources that every parent would love to have in order to make their transition as seamless as possible?
These are the kinds of questions Vanessa Jupe had to ask when starting her ParentTech company, Leva.
How Leva Supports Parents’ Return to Work
Returning to work, especially as a mom, can feel like being crushed from multiple sides.
Leva’s mission “to connect new mothers through education and empowerment” is at the heart of everything they do.
Ask many new mothers what they are looking for, especially in those formative few years of parenting. They will almost unanimously agree that they want to be seen and heard by other adult humans.
The Leva platform provides human connection, understanding, and reassurance regarding parenting challenges. Leva guides new parents through the pregnancy and postpartum journey, offering real-time answers to common questions about lactation, sleep, mental health, and work-life balance.
How? We’re glad you asked! Leva provides new working parents with resources and tools, including:
The Leva App and community
Career coaching
Virtual lactation consultants
Sleep consulting with Sleep Wise
Helpful articles, videos, and more
This ensures a seamless return to work. With Leva, HR can easily onboard and support employees, track utilization, and manage benefits.
Contact Leva to increase employee retention, boost morale, and enhance company productivity. By offering Leva, companies create a culture of care, trust, and community.
How Leva Helps Organizations Retain Their Working Parents
Leva helps boost employee retention and satisfaction by taking an inside-out approach.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term she-cession, it gained popularity during COVID-19, when an unprecedented number of women left the workforce to provide around-the-clock childcare for their families.
In normal, non-pandemic situations, almost half of new moms leave their workplace within one year of welcoming their first child. These departures from work aren’t easy decisions. Landing on a decision to leave the workplace is often riddled with anxiety and stress.
Corporations with reputations for high turnover eventually find it increasingly difficult to fill open positions. Organizations with a particularly bad reputation for retaining parents will also struggle to recruit talented parents as employees.
While there are many human-centric reasons to keep parents engaged and empowered at work, there are also those bottom lines to think about.
According to Gallup, replacing a single employee can cost up to two times their annual salary. This replacement process not only causes stress on the organization but also leads to:
productivity loss
reduced morale
decreased customer satisfaction
challenges in employee recruitment, onboarding, and retention
This new parent problem extends beyond any singular workplace. The repercussions of moms leaving the workforce — even if only temporarily — impact the entire economy.
Without support and guidance, new parents who leave the workforce to provide childcare can find it difficult or nearly impossible to return. If they find employment, it’s likely that they earn less income than their imagined potential.
So, how can an organization provide the support and resources that keep caretaker employees engaged, confident, and appreciated?
With their technology-powered platform, Leva helps companies transform the way working families get support after welcoming a baby to the world. Leva works with organizations to proactively problem-solve ahead of time.
Leva’s easy-to-use SaaS platform is simple to set up and helps retain valuable employees, increase productivity, and create a truly supportive environment for new parents.
Every organization is different. Leva’s flexible plans and customizable options help to meet each organization’s unique needs. This includes:
Guided support and live 1:1 coaching
Practical tools to track feeding, growth, supplies, and milestones
Focused support for new parents
AI-driven personalization and content recommendations
On-demand access to articles, videos, and meditations that provide answers and help
Support and personalized accounts for individual caretakers
Most importantly, though, organizations that opt to provide their employees with Leva’s bespoke service are sending a message to their employees. The message is one of care and support.
Why We Love Companies Like Leva
How does your company support new parents at work? Or, to rephrase the question, how do you wish your company showed support?
At Carter House Copy, we’re passionate about collaborating with innovative companies like Leva and visionary founders like Vanessa Jupe. (Vanessa, if you’re reading this — we’d love to work with you!)
Together, we're committed to addressing the unique challenges that parents face when balancing home life with work life.
The journey of parenthood is both beautiful and demanding — but it requires a support system that truly understands its complexities. In our partnerships, we aim to create solutions that empower parents, allowing them to thrive both at home and in their careers.
As we continue to champion initiatives that prioritize mental health, community connection, and practical resources for new parents, we invite you to join us in this mission.
Together, we can build a future where returning to work is not just manageable but a fulfilling experience for all parents. Click here to chat with us — we can’t wait to meet you.
