4 Reasons Why Fatherhood At Work Has Changed | Paul Sullivan

The Disrupted Workforce

DETAILS | How has fatherhood changed in the last three years, and is it time for a new approach at work? In this reflective episode, Paul Sullivan, former New York Times columnist and founder of The Company of Dads, shares his insightful journey from the newsroom to reshaping the narrative and policies supporting fatherhood at work.
Paul defines 'Lead Dads' as fathers who take the forefront in prioritizing parenting and caregiving, challenging traditional gender roles and stereotypes. We also discuss why it makes a tremendous difference to see Lead Dads in senior leadership roles, how this shift benefits parents, retention, branding, and business, and why the CMO and CHRO should own and promote this strategic advantage.
This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of parenting, work, and societal change. Tune in to explore how embracing the concept of Lead Dads can drive positive change in your organization and contribute to a more equitable and empathetic business environment.
TIME STAMPS |

[01:00] Introduction to Paul Sullivan and The Company of Dads.

[02:40] Paul's journey from Journalism to fatherhood advocacy.

[08:46] The characteristics and behaviors of a Lead Dad.

[11:18] The impact of COVID-19 on fatherhood and work, culture, retention, and the bottom line.

[15:22] Scheduling Jenga, personal stories, and advocacy.

[19:36] Historically, dads have been neglected, judged, and even shamed in the workplace.

[25:45] Core solutions in this evolution and making it safe to have this conversation.

[32:57] Leaders who don't have kids don't understand what parents go through.

[35:56] Fathers need connection and community so they don't feel alone.

[39:11] Speed round questions.

[45:18] Closing gratitude and how to find Paul online.
GUEST | Paul Sullivan founded The Company of Dads, the first platform dedicated to creating a community for Lead Dads. Its mission is to help Lead Dads feel less isolated and more confident that they have made the correct choice to take on the bulk of the parenting and family duties - or at the very least disentangle from traditional stereotypes around who does what at home. As a Lead Dad himself, Paul intimately understands the joys, frustrations, isolation, and reticence around talking about being a Lead Dad. It's a role growing in numbers but far from normalized. Before starting The Company of Dads in 2021, Paul wrote the Wealth Matters column in The New York Times for 13 years. He also created the Money Game column in GOLF Magazine. He is the author of two books, Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of The Super Wealthy.
OVERVIEW | Are you ready to ADAPT and REINVENT YOURSELF for the most disrupted and digital workforce in history? What would it feel like to belong and not get stuck? It is estimated over 1 billion people will need reskilling by 2030, and more than 300 million jobs will be impacted by AI — work, identity, and what it means to be human are rapidly changing. Join hosts Nate Thompson and Alex Schwartz and the TOP VOICES in the Future of Work to uncover how to meet this dynamic new reality driven by AI, hybrid work, societal shifts, and our increasingly digital world. Discover why a Future of Work Mindset is your key to prepare, navigate and thrive!
We are grateful you are here, and welcome to the TDW Tribe! www.thedisruptedworkforce.com