Kelly Ling is the founder of Stork & Spark, a coaching and community platform dedicated to supporting career-ambitious, expectant parents in navigating pregnancy, leave, and the transition back to work. Before founding Stork & Spark, she spent 15 years in corporate roles, focusing on strategy, innovation, and learning & development. Along the way, she had two children who have helped fuel her creative and entrepreneurial spirit. She is an ICF-certified executive coach and earned her MBA from UC-Berkeley Haas.
If your business could have a mascot, what would it be and why?
A Stork! Beyond the obvious reasons (i.e., it’s in the name of the company), my Chinese name is also derived from a mystical bird, similar to a Stork.
What strategies do you employ to maintain a healthy work-life balance while running your own business?
Lots of calendar blocking – I love meeting people and taking meetings, but this can also drain my energy quickly. To stay my best self, be present in conversations, and allow time to process or share follow-ups, I give myself at least 30 minutes of padding between meetings and aim to limit them to four or fewer per working day.
Self-care – I go on walks every day to think, brainstorm, and process. I also try to get a massage or some kind of self-pampering activity once a quarter.
Child-care help – Even though I work from home, childcare is a must to be able to focus. Our toddler is in preschool, and we have a part-time nanny to help with our infant.
Family time – Weekends and evenings are dedicated to family time. Whether it’s park dates, local hikes, or visiting family and friends, this time is sacred and protected.
When faced with unexpected detours on your business path, how do you pivot with grace and resilience, showing fellow women entrepreneurs the way forward?
I believe there are learnings in every obstacle and success that comes our way. Taking a moment to think through the lessons and what (if anything) I might change in the future is a helpful exercise to make any experience a growth opportunity. I often say it’s important to have a plan but assume nothing will go to plan!
How do you measure the success of your business beyond financial metrics, such as customer satisfaction or community engagement?
I am passionate about empowering parents to take agency in their careers while also prioritizing parenthood and family. Part of my success metrics includes the scaled reach I have through social platforms like LinkedIn. I am also excited to elevate and share parents’ stories, so being able to provide a platform for them and create awareness and engagement from there is another way I measure success.
Can you share a memorable moment where you witnessed significant growth or transformation in your business, illustrating the impact of your services/products?
One sometimes controversial recommendation I have for newly pregnant moms is to share their news with their manager as early as possible (i.e., around 6-8 weeks). The pushback is often that they want to wait to ensure the pregnancy is viable or to tell their family first. While this is conventional wisdom, the reality is that in the first trimester, moms are often ill, fatigued, and anxious about their pregnancy, all while facing societal pressure not to share. This can impact work performance and force moms to carry the mental load of this big secret, acting as if nothing has changed when, in fact, their whole world is changing.
My reasons for sharing this news early are:
- To reduce the mental load moms carry in this early stage so they can be confident in their work performance and ask for accommodations if needed.
- If the pregnancy unfortunately ends in miscarriage, they can seek resources like bereavement and counseling, or at the very least, receive empathy and understanding at work during a difficult time.
For those who have implemented this approach, I have seen a weight lifted off their shoulders after sharing their news. It is often the “AHA” catalyst moment for taking control of their pregnancy experience at work.
What role do you believe mentorship plays in the success of small businesses, and how have mentors influenced your own entrepreneurial journey?
Mentorship plays an enormous role in the success of small businesses—it’s incredibly helpful to learn from those who have been in your shoes, especially if they are supportive and cheering you on. You can also avoid some costly mistakes that mentors might have made in their own experiences.
I have built a small group of mentors and advisors who are at different stages in their ventures. They help keep me accountable by being there to share my updates and provide guidance. Just knowing they are out there and cheering for me motivates me to continue growing. Their support also inspires me to be a mentor to those just starting their entrepreneurial journeys.
What’s your work all about, and how does it make a difference in the world?
I am an advocate for career-ambitious individuals embarking on the transformational journey into parenthood. I believe pregnancy and parental leave can be a career growth lever rather than a pause or downshift. I help clients navigate key challenges and questions such as:
- When and how do I share pregnancy news at work?
- How will pregnancy and maternity leave impact my career growth trajectory?
- How do I set up a strong leave coverage plan?
- What kind of support system will I need when I return to work?
- How might my priorities and values evolve once I become a parent?
My work helps create a more equitable and supportive workplace where parenthood and career ambition can thrive. I’m passionate about empowering individuals to advocate for themselves and their families, leading to reduced stress, stronger personal and professional relationships, and increased career and life satisfaction. Ultimately, I strive to foster positive change in how society views and supports working parents.
