191. How one dad is redesigning work for parents, with Amit Singh Kalley

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re joined by Amit Kalley, former deputy headteacher turned founder of For Working Parents. Amit’s mission is simple: make workplaces genuinely parent-friendly. But his journey here wasn’t. After the traumatic birth of his daughter during lockdown and a late ADHD diagnosis, Amit reached breaking point. What followed was a powerful pivot—one that’s now helping hundreds of parents and employers build cultures where family and work don’t have to fight.

💡 Key Takeaways from Amit Kalley

👶 Support for Parents Isn’t a “Nice to Have”

Amit explains why parental support—especially for dads—is essential infrastructure, not a perk.

🧠 ADHD Isn’t a Superpower

He talks candidly about late diagnosis, stigma, and the unhelpful pressure to be ‘productive’ while masking neurodivergence.

🗣️ Storytelling Changes Culture

Amit shares how his lived experience is shifting the conversation inside businesses—by making space for honesty, not hype.

💼 No More Perfect Parent Myths

Whether it’s guilt, burnout or hustle culture, Amit breaks down the invisible load working parents carry—and how to change it.

📱 The Viral Emoji Table Is Real (and Slightly Terrifying)

His Periodic Table of Emojis is helping parents decode what their teens are really saying online—and it’s more useful than you think.

🔗 Resources & Links

Website: https://forworkingparents.com/

Newsletter: https://forworkingparents.com/parent-up-newsletter/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitsinghkalley/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forworkingparents/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forworkingparents

Emoji Decoder Guide: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7308760051261853696-5gmt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAPpxk8B1ivB8GiszIgdppDkaIkcd6hBmOo

📢 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this with someone who needs to hear it—especially if they’re balancing parenthood, leadership and life.

🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may help:

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

👋 Connect with Al & Leanne

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat