Amy
McKeel
Executive Director at Ogilvy
"The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next"
"The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next"
Thu May 14 - 5:40 PM EDT/New York (See in local time)
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05/14/2026 5:40 PM
05/14/2026 06:20 PM
America/New_York
#WTGC2026
"The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next"
#WTGC2026
"The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next"
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"The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next"
"The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next"
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Session: The Motherhood Penalty in Tech — and What Companies Must Do Next
This is a HUGE issue in tech: retention of women, leadership drop-off, pregnancy bias, return-to-work failures, lack of parental accommodations. Women in tech are burnt out. They’re carrying caregiving, emotional labor, invisible work at home and at work.Key talking points:
The cognitive + emotional load that disproportionately falls on women
The overlap between burnout and hormonal health
How companies can reduce unnecessary mental load for female employees
Boundary-setting and communication tools from your guests
The role of leadership in normalizing transparency
Key Takeaways
- The cognitive + emotional load that disproportionately falls on women
- The overlap between burnout and hormonal health
- The role of leadership in normalizing transparency
- Evidence-based changes workplaces can make (flexibility, parental leave, lactation support, realistic timelines, etc.)
- How leaders can build culture that does not punish motherhood
Bio
Amy McKeel is the co-founder and co-host of What I Wish I Knew, a rapidly growing women’s health and parenting podcast with more than 11,000 downloads, 13.1K Instagram followers, and a monthly reach of 40,000+ accounts across social, plus an expanding YouTube audience. Known for their honest, science-backed conversations and relatable storytelling, Amy & her co-host Christina Hunt interview leading experts — including Jenny Best of Solid Starts, Jessica Rolph of Lovevery, Dr. Sarah Oreck, Dr. Siggie, and pediatric PT Dr. Allison Mell of Tots on Target — to bring parents the education and emotional support they wish they had during pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood.Together, Christina and Amy blend decades of experience in marketing, brand strategy, clinical care, and lived motherhood. Christina is a marketing strategist, educator, and founder of Haus von Albe; Amy is a Director at Ogilvy, specializing in brand and communications strategy. United by their shared mission to close the information gap in women’s health, they’ve built WIWIK into a trusted, fast-growing platform that helps parents feel informed, confident, and less alone.
Priya Rednam Waldo is a licensed therapist, coach and CEO of Healing Home Counseling Group, a 7-figure perinatal mental health practice she built from the ground up. With credentials from Johns Hopkins University, she specializes in supporting high-achieving women in tech, medicine, law, and corporate leadership to navigate early motherhood without abandoning their ambition, joy or wellbeing.
As a passionate advocate for career-driven women, Priya is equally focused on revolutionizing workplace systems through international keynote speaking and brand partnerships. Her work empowers ambitious mothers to thrive and challenges organizations to build environments worthy of them.
A West Point honors graduate and former U.S. Army Captain, Priya brings a rare combination of leadership, clinical expertise and lived experience to her work. She holds advanced certifications in perinatal mental health, maternal grief and loss, dual MPH and LMSW and EMDR for BIPOC and birth-related trauma.
Priya is the proud daughter of Indian immigrants, wife of an Irishman and mother of four - welcomed through both birth and adoption. She has navigated the intersection of cultural identity, high achievement and modern motherhood firsthand. And, she possesses a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding non-traditional family structures, high-demand professions and challenges faced in male-dominated industries.
Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Vogue India, and Parents Magazine. Her dedication to supporting women and mothers is evident in all aspects of her career.
Elena Martínez Guerrero is a midwife and clinical nutritionist specializing in women’s hormonal health. Through her clinical work, she helps women understand patterns in their bodies that often go unnoticed or are dismissed as “normal.” Her project Hormonas con Ciencia focuses on translating female physiology into meaningful, evidence-based insights, bridging clinical judgment, data, and health technology.Cu
