When a dynamic pre‑IPO tech company reviewed its parental leave support, what they thought was a seamless experience didn’t hold up under scrutiny.
In Episode 13, host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes Sophie Babinski, Principal Consultant at Pli & Repli and Co‑Founder of Manella, to share how one organization discovered critical gaps between its progressive policies and the real experiences of employees on leave.
Through qualitative interviews, manager workshops, and empathy-based tools, Sophie led a shift from transactional leave systems to more human-centred design. Initiatives like manager toolkits, structured touchpoints before and after leave, and a supplemental compensation review cycle became pivotal retention strategies.
If you’re responsible for HR policies, employee experience, or talent retention, this episode offers practical tools to create smoother transitions, foster trust, and support inclusion.
Listen to the full conversation on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Until next month.
More About Our Guest
Sophie Babinski
Sophie Babinski is the founder of Pli & Repli, a consulting practice that helps organizations design flexible, human-centered systems for life transitions like parental leave and return-to-work. She’s also the co-founder and CEO of Manela, a new platform supporting parents and caregivers through curated education, resources, and care—offered as a benefit to forward-thinking workplaces.
With over a decade of experience in communications, and human-centred design, Sophie brings structure and empathy to the places where work and life intersect.
Visit the Pli and Repli website.
Connect to Sophie on LinkedIn
