The Parenthood Advantage

Impactful anecdotes, insightful case studies, and thorough research… a powerful resource...Each chapter provides reflective questions and thought-provoking conversation starters for business leaders and their employees.

Donovan and Kaplan’s strong points are well framed: they clearly articulate what happens when parenthood becomes a reality. The Parenthood Advantage describe persuasively that organizations need to look to improve and measure their processes, their cultural biases, their preferences and their metrics for measuring impact to take into account the real life experiences of everyone who works for them.

This book is impactful—eye-opening research, relatable stories, and practical takeaways. It gave me pause to reflect on my own career experiences while also offering concrete recommendations for how companies can better support working parents.

Parenthood isn’t a barrier to leadership — it’s a catalyst. With data, stories, and actionable insights, this book proves why supported parents build stronger leaders and stronger organizations.

I wish I had had this book before I went on parental leave! It would have helped me to better communicate with my managers and taught me how to get clear about my career goals.

This book beautifully aligns with SparkEffect’s data showing that trust is a measurable business asset. The Parenthood Advantage reframes parenthood as one of the most formative leadership experiences—one that cultivates the same capabilities our research identifies as core to trust elasticity: empathy, adaptability, and relational continuity. It’s a timely, evidence-based call for leaders to value the human experiences that strengthen organizations from within.

As I read this book, what stood out to me most was how naturally parenting skills carry over into the workplace. The author makes a convincing case that managing a family isn’t all that different from managing a team. Overall, it’s a thoughtful and affirming read that changed how I think about the value parents add at work.