Parenting as an Executive with Oisin Hanrahan, Chris Gervais, Sandy Ortez, moderated by Adam Fishman.
- Date
- 2023-09-08
- Host
- Personal
About this event
Parenting and executive leadership both demand judgment, stamina, and the ability to stay calm when the stakes feel high. This conversation brings those worlds together in a way that’s honest, practical, and useful: a chance to hear how senior leaders navigate ambition, family life, tradeoffs, and the day-to-day reality of trying to do both well. If you’re building a career while raising children, or thinking seriously about how those parts of life intersect, this is the kind of discussion that can shift how you approach your time, energy, and expectations. With Oisin Hanrahan, Chris Gervais, and Sandy Ortez in conversation, moderated by Adam Fishman, the event is designed to create real insight rather than polished talking points. About the Event This is an in-person conversation focused on a question many professionals wrestle with but rarely get to discuss openly: what does it actually look like to parent while operating at an executive level? Rather than treating work and family as separate topics, the event centers on the overlap between them and the decisions that come with that overlap. The format brings together multiple perspectives, which matters for a topic like this. There is no single blueprint for balancing leadership responsibilities with parenting, and hearing from several executives makes space for nuance, differences in style, and lessons learned from experience. Because the session is moderated by Adam Fishman, attendees can expect a conversation with structure and momentum. The goal is not just storytelling for its own sake, but a discussion that gets into the practical side of executive life: calendars, boundaries, guilt, priorities, support systems, and the moments when the plan stops working. This event also sits naturally at the intersection of community, networking, and shared experience. It’s a place to learn from the speakers, but also to be in a room with other people thinking seriously about the same pressures, questions, and tradeoffs. What to Expect Expect a moderated panel-style discussion that explores the realities of parenting as a senior leader. The speakers will likely approach the topic from different angles, which is part of what makes the conversation valuable. Instead of a one-note take, attendees can look forward to a broader view of how executives make decisions about presence, performance, family needs, and professional expectations. The conversation may touch on topics like: How executive roles change the logistics and emotional demands of parenting Ways leaders set boundaries without stepping back from ambition The tradeoffs that come with travel, long hours, and high-responsibility work How partners, caregivers, teams, and managers shape what is sustainable What becomes more important as children grow and careers evolve The difference between external success and a life that actually feels workable Because this is an in-person event, there is also a strong community dimension. You can expect some amount of informal connection before or after the main conversation, giving attendees space to continue discussing what resonated, compare notes, and meet others navigating similar questions. The tone is likely to be candid and grounded rather than abstract. That matters. People attending this kind of event are usually not looking for generic advice; they want specifics, perspective, and language for challenges they already know firsthand. Why Attend For many professionals, parenting and leadership are two of the most meaningful parts of life, and also two of the most demanding. Hearing experienced executives talk openly about how they manage both can help replace vague pressure with more concrete thinking. You may leave with better questions to ask yourself, a healthier standard for success, or new ideas for making your own setup more sustainable. There’s also value in seeing that there is no single “right” answer. Some of the most useful takeaways often come from understanding how different people solve similar problems in different ways. That can be especially helpful if you’ve felt boxed in by narrow assumptions about what high performance or committed parenting should look like. This event is also a strong fit for people who want more than content alone. The community and networking aspect means you are not only listening; you are entering a room with peers and leaders who care about the same issues. That can lead to better conversations, stronger professional relationships, and a sense that these challenges can be discussed directly rather than handled in isolation. You should attend if you want practical perspective on questions such as: How do you lead at a high level without letting work consume every available hour? What kinds of boundaries are realistic in demanding roles? How do other executives think about tradeoffs, guilt, and competing priorities? What support structures make executive parenting more manageable? How can you build a career that works not just on paper, but in daily life? Practical Details When: Friday, September 8 at 1:00 PM EDT Location: In person Because the event takes place in person, plan to arrive with enough time to get settled and make the most of the networking element. These conversations are often just as valuable in the room before and after the formal discussion as they are during the panel itself. If this topic is close to your life right now, it may be worth coming prepared with a few questions of your own. Think about the specific tension points you’re navigating, whether that’s scheduling, travel, visibility at work, partnership dynamics, or redefining success in a season of family responsibility. This event is especially well suited to attendees who appreciate thoughtful conversation, practical insight, and a professional community that can talk honestly about life beyond job titles. If that sounds like what you need, Friday afternoon is a strong time to step out of the usual pace of work and spend time on a topic that affects both career and home in lasting ways.
Who should attend
If you’re navigating serious career responsibility alongside family life, this conversation is built for you. - You’re a founder, executive, senior operator, or team leader trying to manage the demands of a high-responsibility role while also being present at home. - You’re a parent who wants practical perspective, not generic work-life balance advice, and you’d benefit from hearing how other leaders handle tradeoffs, boundaries, and competing priorities. - You’re expecting a child, planning for parenthood, or returning to work after a major family transition and want a more realistic picture of what executive life can look like. - You work closely with senior leaders and want to better understand the pressures parents face in leadership roles, whether as a manager, chief of staff, people leader, or trusted partner. - You value being in a room with thoughtful peers who are also figuring this out and want conversation that goes beyond surface-level networking. - You’re looking for language, frameworks, or examples that can help you make better decisions about ambition, time, family logistics, and long-term sustainability.