Heart & Hustle: A Conversation with Lauren Tetenbaum

Josie is proud to share Heart & Hustle, a candid interview series celebrating working parents who are thriving at home and at work. Each feature spotlights leaders balancing the demands of parenthood with the hustle of building fulfilling careers. From late-night feedings to early-morning board meetings, these stories remind us that no two working parent journeys are alike. What they share is a common thread: the courage to define success on their own terms.

Lauren Tetenbaum is a psychotherapist specializing in women’s life transitions and reproductive mental health, and the author of Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life’s Next Period. As a mom of two school-aged children from New York, Lauren is passionate about women’s rights and advocating for better public and private policies to promote gender equity. Her journey highlights how personal passion and professional purpose are deeply connected in the pursuit of a supportive system for working mothers.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m Lauren Tetenbaum — a mom of two school-aged kids and a psychotherapist who specializes in women’s life transitions and reproductive mental health. I’m also the author of the book Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life’s Next Period. I’m from New York, love the color pink and YA TV shows, and have always been passionate about women’s rights.

If parenthood gave out job titles, what would yours be right now?

Co-President, Director of Operations, and Community Liaison.

What’s one thing you swore you’d never do as a parent… that you now do regularly?

I LOVE sleep, so I was sure I’d get my kids on a good sleep schedule… but it turns out we are all night owls. Letting my kids stay up late isn’t always without consequence (mom’s often way crankier than the kids), but we do make some of our best family memories while hanging out at night and relaxing or being silly together. My husband and I know that these moments go quickly, so we try to appreciate them all!

What’s a moment where being a parent made you better at your job, or vice versa?

Becoming a parent helped me put things into perspective and not sweat the small stuff the way I used to when I did not have kids. Recognizing what is actually urgent, having compassion and curiosity for different points of view, and being present in the moment were all skills I honed after becoming a mom.

When have you felt most misunderstood as a working parent, and what do you wish people knew?

I felt really misunderstood when I first became a mom and (well-meaning) people (including family, friends, and strangers) would ask if I intended to go back to work after my (hard-fought and well-deserved) maternity leave. I was shocked that this was still a question primarily directed at women, based on outdated (!) gender expectations. I understand the sentiment—it is hard to be a working parent, true—but parents can remain ambitious and can be active caregivers while focused on work, too. They just need the right support.

If you could design one new workplace policy for all working parents, what would it be?

Paid leave for anyone who identifies as a caregiver, regardless of their sex, role in a birth, or how long they’ve been working at a company. And let’s please get rid of the terms “primary caregiver” vs. “secondary caregiver,” etc! Oh, and flexibility, always.

How did family planning intersect with your career ambitions?

I’ve always been passionate about women’s rights—in the workplace, in connection with their reproductive healthcare, and in the home or in relationships. Becoming a mom really made me see how our system does not support women or mothers. But it can, and that’s why I speak up about my experiences and continue to advocate for better public and private policies to promote gender equity.

If you could offer one piece of guidance to new parents entering this phase of life now, what perspective or practices would you share?

If it feels hard, that’s not a reflection of you not doing enough. And always remember that support is available!