What happens when the “corporate husband” is actually the wife?

Chantel Hirschel, Director of Revenue Operations at Sana, talks about her career growth, motherhood, and building a nontraditional family dynamic. Chantel opens up about her husband’s life-changing accident, becoming the sole provider, balancing leadership in tech with raising two young children, and the emotional realities of postpartum recovery while working in high-pressure environments.

In this conversation, Chantel opens up about parental leave, stay-at-home dads, mental load, gender expectations, childcare, flexible work, and the sacrifices that come with designing a life that actually works for your family.

If you’re a working parent navigating ambition, burnout, identity, or the constant juggle between career and home life, this episode will hit close to home.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Meet Chantel Hirschel

(03:22) Chantel’s early career and breadwinner decisions

(03:55) Coping with tragedy and change

(05:35) Quitting UPS to take new risks

(07:38) Fast returns and postpartum realities

(11:58) Long tenure and leave experiences

(14:08) Managing work flexibility during pregnancy

(17:01) Dad bias at medical appointments

(19:34) Learning to share parenting responsibilities

(20:47) Solo parenting strengths emerge over time

(24:26) Finding flow with three children

(29:34) Advice on stay-at-home spouse setup

(32:39) Managing mental load and letting go

(34:22) Save of the week parenting stories

Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/

Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/

Connect with Chantel Hirschel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantel-hirschel/

Check out Sana: http://www.sanabenefits.com

Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius

www.shareyourgenius.com