September 24, 2025 - Parentaly, a leading provider of parental leave career support and business continuity programming, today announced the launch of its CHRO Advisory Board.
The advisory board brings together some of the most respected C-level HR executives in the world, including:
- Bevin Desmond - Retired Chief Human Resources Officer, Morningstar
- Michael Fraccaro - Former Chief People Officer & Senior Fellow, Mastercard
- Suzan Morno-Wade - Former Chief Human Resources Officer, Xerox
- Susan Podlogar - Retired Chief Human Resources Officer, MetLife
- Kim Sullivan, Chief People Officer, Proofpoint
- Tiffany Stevenson - Former Chief People Officer, WeightWatchers
These accomplished HR executives, many of whom are newly retired, are dedicating their time and experience to support Parentaly, underscoring just how urgent and important parental leave business support has become. Their decision reflects a growing recognition that parental leave is not just a personal milestone, but a business-critical transition that directly impacts retention, productivity and leadership pipelines.
Longer paid leaves have become the norm across leading employers, but many companies have yet to fully address the downstream impact. Without formal coverage planning and re-onboarding, research shows parental leave can quietly derail careers, stall team and business performance and drive regrettable attrition.
Parentaly exists to solve that - ensuring companies can offer generous leave while protecting the business outcomes that matter most. This CHRO advisory board will help advance that work at the highest levels of HR and broader C-level leadership.
“Welcoming a new child is one of life’s most profound and joyful milestones. It’s a time filled with excitement, change, and the need for real support - both at home and at work. That’s why having a thoughtful parental leave isn’t just a policy - it’s a reflection of how much we value our people,” said Michael Fraccaro, former Chief People Officer and now Senior Fellow of Mastercard. “Too often, organizations focus on the rules and miss the human side: the guidance, the preparation, and the care that make leave truly work. Parentaly gets this right. Their approach brings together expert planning, compassionate support, and smart tools that help employees feel confident and connected - while also helping companies maintain momentum and build a stronger culture. I’m proud to support their mission and excited to help them grow through my role on the board.”
“With the rise of AI and growing pressure to operate with leaner cost structures, doubling down on retention has never been more critical,” said Tiffany Stevenson, former Chief People Officer at WeightWatchers. “Holding on to top talent requires a long-term view - supporting their success both on and off the court. That means being intentional in how we approach key life moments like parental leave. Parentaly is tackling this head-on with solutions that help companies retain their best people while protecting performance and continuity, which is why I’m proud to join their board.”
Parentaly partners with companies like Atlassian, Zoom, PwC Canada, Hershey’s, Heidrick & Struggles and many others, providing pre-leave coverage planning and transition support, as well as return to work re-onboarding for both new parents and their managers. Their expert career guidance and manager enablement through parental leave ensures leave transitions are properly supported across the business.
As a result of the program, clients report stronger team performance, improved retention/promotions of new parent talent, and dramatically improved employee engagement: 73% of new parents say they’re more likely to stay with their employer because of Parentaly, and 98% of teams report better performance during leave transitions.
“We are thrilled this incredible group of CHROs have joined our advisory board,” said Allison Whalen, Founder and CEO of Parentaly. “These are leaders who have shaped some of the most respected workplaces in the world. Their decision to support Parentaly speaks volumes - not only about the quality of our work, but about the urgency of solving this long-overlooked business problem. Their insights will help accelerate our impact so more companies treat parental leave as a workforce issue worth investing in.”
About Parentaly
Parentaly provides global programming that supports employees and drives business continuity through parental leave transitions. The offering includes 1:1 expert guidance for expecting and returning parents, manager training for people leaders, and a self-serve toolkit to build effective coverage and re-onboarding plans. The program supports both birthing and non-birthing employees across all paths to parenthood - including birth, adoption, surrogacy, and foster care. While longer paid parental leave policies are well-intentioned, they often create unintended challenges - namely career and work disruption - that impact employees, managers and teams. Parentaly helps companies solve these problems with a structured approach that improves retention, reduces risk and ensures smoother transitions. Contact us to learn more.