From CMO to Full-Time Dad (and Back Again) Ep #174 | Umang Shah

This week on The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with Umang Shah — marketing executive, fractional CMO, and founder of Inovari — for a thoughtful conversation about what happens when your entire worldview shifts after becoming a parent. Umang Shah is a seasoned marketing executive with 20+ years of experience leading global marketing innovation across industries like tech, retail, CPG, life sciences, and financial services. He’s held leadership roles at companies like Microsoft, Walmart, Campbell’s, Medidata, and Northwestern Mutual. Named one of Adweek’s 50 Vital Leaders in Tech, Media, and Marketing, Umang now runs his own consultancy, Inovari, where he helps startups and growth-stage companies stay perpetually relevant. Together, they unpack how fatherhood has impacted Umang’s career decisions, health, and lifestyle, and why the pandemic was a major turning point for realigning priorities. They talk about the emotional and mental adjustments required to show up fully — both at home and at work — and why being present is sometimes the hardest but most valuable thing you can do. Whether you’re a new parent, a seasoned one, or someone thinking about how to better balance your ambition with the rest of your life, this episode offers candid reflections and real-world insight. ✨ All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together. Takeaways Parenthood forces a reset on what really matters Success doesn’t mean much without well-being Kids model what we do, not what we say Flexibility in consulting can be freeing, but not without its pressures Enjoying the ride is often more important than controlling it 🔗 CONNECT WITH UMANG SHAH 👥 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shahumang 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan_ 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 🌐 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlDadShow 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show