Center for Parental Leave Leadership

What Center for Parental Leave Leadership does

Center for Parental Leave Leadership (CPLL) is a Portland, Oregon-based private consulting and coaching firm founded in 2014 by Dr. Amy Beacom, operating exclusively in the parental leave coaching and consulting niche. The company created the parental leave coaching category in 2006 and built the foundational RETAIN Coaching™ methodology, the 10A Transition Touchpoints™ framework, and the 3 Phases of Leave™ framework that now constitute industry-standard vocabulary in HR, DEI, and caregiver support programs. Core products include the RETAIN Coaching Hub (a digital platform and mobile app launched 2023 providing self-led coaching, training, and peer community for parents, managers, and HR professionals), the Leave Leader™ Manager Training Series (three self-led programs including NIH-funded Leaders and Leaves™ and Leave Supportive Supervisory Behaviors™), and the RETAIN Coaching Institute (cohort-based certification program with 40+ hours of training). Supporting tools include the only validated Parental Leave Transition Assessment (PLTA™) and PLTA-MQ manager questionnaire, the W-PMH perinatal mental health screening built with Postpartum Support International, and the Next Steps: Action Plan™ planning tool.

CPLL's business model combines enterprise consulting and research services (policy design, organizational systems guidance, the Lead on Leave™ Policy & Practice Audit), recurring subscription revenue from the RETAIN Coaching Hub, professional services revenue from certification and manager training programs, and one-time book royalties from The Parental Leave Playbook (Wiley, 2021). Go-to-market is enterprise B2B with content marketing and direct field sales targeting HR and DEI leaders, supplemented by a distributed network of 150+ certified RETAIN Parental Leave Coaches across 36 states and 7 countries. Customer segments include organizations (Fortune 500 to government agencies, nonprofits, startups), managers and people leaders, working parents, and coaches/practitioners seeking credentialing. Notable enterprise relationships include Microsoft (nine-year flagship client since founding) and Habitus Incorporated. The company has produced peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology through an NIH STTR-funded randomized controlled trial (900+ employees, 500+ managers) conducted in partnership with Purdue University and Oregon Health & Science University, and operates with a lean internal team of 1-10 employees supplemented by the certified coach network.

Name

Center for Parental Leave Leadership

Legal name

Center for Parental Leave Leadership, Inc.

Website

https://cplleadership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Center for Parental Leave Leadership is a Portland-based consulting firm founded in 2014 that built the RETAIN Coaching™ methodology, the only evidence-based parental leave coaching framework in the field. It serves HR leaders, managers, and working parents through a digital hub, certification programs, and enterprise consulting, supported by a 150+ coach network and NIH-funded research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting & Research Services: Strategic consulting engagements for organizations including policy design, organizational systems guidance, change management, and custom research programs. Engagements are scoped and agreed upon before work begins.
2. RETAIN Coaching Hub™ Subscription: Digital platform subscription providing structured learning, expert coaching, peer community, and resources for parents, managers, and HR professionals. Available via desktop or app with customizable options for organizations.
3. Certification & Training Programs: RETAIN Coach certification (cohort-based) training internal coaches, plus Leave Leader™ Manager Training Series for organizational deployment.
4. The Parental Leave Playbook Book Sales: Co-authored book published by Wiley (2021), available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers. Also included digitally in RETAIN Coaching Hub.
5. Lead on Leave™ Policy & Practice Audit: Comprehensive expert-led review of organization's parental leave policy, practice, and culture, delivered as a structured written report with tiered recommendations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CPLL provides parental leave consulting, coaching, certification, and manager training built on the proprietary RETAIN Coaching™ methodology. Its offerings include the RETAIN Coaching Hub digital platform, the Leave Leader™ Manager Training Series, RETAIN Coach Certification, the Lead on Leave™ Policy & Practice Audit, and strategic consulting engagements designed to transform parental leave from a retention risk into a leadership development opportunity for organizations.

Product overview

Center for Parental Leave Leadership offers a unified portfolio built around the RETAIN Coaching methodology—the only evidence-based, human-centered approach to parental leave coaching and consulting. The core product is the RETAIN Coaching Hub, a comprehensive digital platform providing structured learning, expert coaching, peer community, and resources for parents, managers, and HR professionals. This is complemented by the Leave Leader Manager Training Series (three self-led programs), in-house and external RETAIN Coach Certification, Strategic Consulting services (including the Lead on Leave Policy & Practice Audit), customized workshops, and The Parental Leave Playbook book. Key methodologies and tools include the 3 Phases of Leave Framework, 10A Transition Touchpoints framework, W-PMH Screening Tool (with Postpartum Support International), and the PLTA/PLTA-MQ assessments. The company also offers specialized training products developed with NIH funding through Drs. Kossek and Hammer (Leaders and Leaves, Leave Supportive Supervisory Behaviors). Together, these products form a complete ecosystem for parental leave transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RETAIN Coaching Hub: The only digital platform built exclusively for everyone touched by parental leave. Parents, managers, and HR professionals get structured learning, expert coaching, peer community, and proven resources.
• Leave Leader Manager Training Series
• Lead on Leave Policy & Practice Audit
• Making Leave Manageable
• Leaders and Leaves
• Leave Supportive Supervisory Behaviors
• RETAIN Coaching Institute
• Lead Your Leave

Products and services

• RETAIN Coaching Hub The only digital platform built exclusively for everyone touched by parental leave. Provides structured learning, expert coaching, peer community, and proven resources for parents, managers, and HR professionals across all three phases of leave. Available via desktop and mobile app.
• Leave Leader Manager Training Series Three self-led manager training programs for managers covering all types of workplace leave. Managers who complete all three earn a Leave Leader Certificate of Completion.
• RETAIN Coaching Certification Rigorous certification program training coaches in the RETAIN Coaching methodology, the 3 Phases of Leave, and the 10A Transition Touchpoints framework. Includes PLTA and PLTA-MQ certification. Offered through cohort-based training with over 40 hours of training.
• The Parental Leave Playbook Co-authored by Dr. Amy Beacom and Sue Campbell (Wiley, 2021). The first evidence-based coaching guide written specifically for parents and managers navigating the parental leave transition.
• Lead on Leave Policy & Practice Audit Comprehensive expert-led review of an organization's current parental leave policy, practice, and culture. Delivers structured written report with findings and tiered recommendations organized by priority.
• Strategic Consulting Expert consulting partnership for parental leave policy design, organizational systems guidance, change management, custom research programs, and program evaluation. Includes on-demand advisory support.
• Customized Workshops and Training Custom programs and workshops tailored to organizational needs, culture, and goals. Includes leadership development for returning parents, industry-specific manager training, perinatal mental health workshops, and HR navigator training.
• Parental Leave Transition Assessment (PLTA) The only validated parental leave assessment in existence, generating a personalized report identifying each parent's unique strengths, challenges, and areas in need of focus.
• W-PMH Screening Tool Workplace Perinatal Mental Health Screening Tool developed in partnership with Postpartum Support International (PSI). The first free, confidential perinatal mental health screening designed specifically for workplace settings using a globally validated scale.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% would recommend RETAIN Coaching to others
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• MicrosoftflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014First client when CPLL was founded in 2014. Microsoft was leading the United States by expanding their parental leave policy and looked to improve practice using RETAIN's unique parent/manager aligned approach. Worked together for nine years to enhance the employee experience.
• Postpartum Support International (PSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership (decade+) with PSI for perinatal mental health expertise. PSI is the leading global authority on perinatal mental health. Jointly developed W-PMH Screening Tool - the first free, confidential perinatal mental health screening designed specifically for workplace settings. PSI provides global support infrastructure integrated into RETAIN Hub.
• Dr. Ellen Ernst Kossek (Purdue University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for Leave Leader™ Manager Training Series. Dr. Kossek is Basil S. Turner Distinguished Professor of Management Emeritus at Purdue University and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University. Developed Leaders and Leaves™ and Leave Supportive Supervisory Behaviors™ training programs. Research published in Journal of Applied Psychology.
• Dr. Leslie Hammer (Oregon Health & Science University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for Leave Leader™ Manager Training Series. Dr. Hammer is Associate Director of Applied Research at Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences and Director of the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center at OHSU. Co-developed Family Supportive Supervisor Behavior (FSSB) training and Mental Health Supportive Supervisor Behavior (MHSSB) training.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for randomized controlled trial of Leave Leader™ training programs. Study conducted in partnership with Purdue University and Oregon Health & Science University. IRB approved study with 900+ employees and 500+ managers participating.
• Oregon Health & Science UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for randomized controlled trial of Leave Leader™ training programs. Part of NIH-funded study (grant #2R42AG060347-02A1) on leave supportive supervisor behaviors.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercer: Mercer is a global benefits and HR consulting firm that advises employers on leave, workforce policy, and employee benefits. It competes for HR-department budgets with substantially broader consulting, actuarial, and benefits capabilities than CPLL.
• Unum Group: Unum is an established provider of employee benefits, disability, and leave-related coverage. It is comparable through its employer relationships and leave administration focus, but it operates at substantially greater insurance and financial scale.
• Businessolver: Businessolver operates an employer benefits administration platform spanning health, wellness, and leave-related programs. It is relevant because benefits leaders can procure family and leave support through a broad existing platform rather than a specialist provider.
• Workday: Workday provides HCM and enterprise benefits software used by many of the same HR decision-makers CPLL targets. Its broad suite creates a bundled incumbent comparison and can compete for leave-program technology and employee-support spend.

Direct peers

• Cleo: Cleo provides family benefits, navigation, and personalized coaching to working parents and employers. It is comparable because it addresses the same parental transition and benefits-buyer audience, with stronger emphasis on high-touch family support.
• Maven Clinic: Maven is an employer-sponsored digital family-health platform offering fertility, pregnancy, parenting, and return-to-work support. It closely overlaps CPLL's family coaching and employer-paid support model, although Maven serves a broader reproductive and pediatric continuum.

Emerging players

• Wellthy: Wellthy offers employer-sponsored caregiving support, concierge navigation, and expert guidance for employees managing care for family members. It is relevant as an adjacent family-transition platform and coaching network serving HR and benefits buyers.
• AbsenceSoft: AbsenceSoft provides cloud-based absence and leave management, including FMLA and paid-leave administration. It is comparable through its employer-facing leave focus, though CPLL is differentiated by behavioral coaching, assessments, and organizational change support.
• Cocoon: Cocoon provides technology for administering and managing employee leave. It serves the same employer leave-management need as CPLL but focuses more on workflow automation and benefits administration than coaching and organizational consulting.
• Carrot Fertility: Carrot Fertility provides employer-sponsored family-building and fertility benefits with expert navigation and clinical support. It is an adjacent peer because it sells family-transition support to the same employer benefits audience, though it does not center the full leave-return transition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cplleadership
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cplleadership
• Facebookfacebook.com/centerforparentalleaveleadership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-parental-leave-leadership
• Instagraminstagram.com/cplleadership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Parental Leave Leadership