Puneet Manuja and his wife Richa, co-founders of YourDOST, recently shared their experiences of raising their son while managing their startup in Bengaluru. In a LinkedIn post, Puneet detailed the challenges they faced integrating their newborn, Rudra, into their professional lives. “One of the most challenging situations for us as couple founders is balancing our newborn with our other baby YourDOST,” Puneet wrote.
“The guilt of not being able to give our 100% to either role was (and is) real. Some days, we questioned if we were doing enough as parents or as leaders.”
To cope, the couple leaned on both their team and family for support. A suggestion from a friend led them to bring Rudra to the office — a move they found incredibly effective.
Puneet shared a message Richa sent to the office WhatsApp group, informing the team that their son would be joining them at work for the day. “Good morning, everyone. Rudra is in the office today.
Balancing startup and family life
If he creates any trouble and disturbance please do let me know (without any hesitation) so that we can ensure things are sorted. We are also learning,” the message read.
The decision was met with positive feedback from their colleagues and resonated with many users online, who commended the couple for their innovative approach to balancing work and family life. The post struck a chord with many, as they shared their admiration and support. “It’s great that you’re leaning on your team and family for support.
I am sure the experiences you are sharing will resonate with many other parents who are facing similar challenges,” one user commented. Another added, “It can be overwhelmingly overwhelming to take care of two babies simultaneously. Be kind to yourself and to each other.
All the very best!”
For parents juggling careers and family, Puneet and Richa’s story is a testament that while the struggle is real, integrating family into work can be a viable solution. The couple’s experience shows that with a supportive team and innovative thinking, it’s possible to balance both worlds successfully.
