MEET THE DEVELOPER
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Peanut is not just a network for moms. It’s a community of women who happen to be moms—a place of truth, authenticity, and humor. Of the many resources available to parents, Peanut emerges as a platform for like-minded women to meet and share interests beyond their children. Because the hardest job in the world doesn’t have to be the loneliest.
Here, app founder and CEO Michelle Kennedy discusses finding Peanut's voice, dealing with criticism, and why moms need to stop beating themselves up.
Where did the need for Peanut come from?
No one prepares you for the sort of social shock to the system that comes with motherhood. One minute you’re surrounded by people all the time, and the next, you’re not.
How did you find your voice for Peanut?
We had to be really bold. Everyone wants you to play it safe when dealing with motherhood. There wasn’t anyone out there being cheeky, taking risks, acknowledging the good and the bad.
What we set out to do was unite women. There are people who'll get it, and there are people who'll take offense.
Michelle Kennedy, Peanut founder
You've worked at Badoo, Bumble, and now Peanut. What have you learned about social media?
People are so quick to say technology is damaging human relationships. It’s not. It’s making everyone more accessible.
What would you tell young women who are just starting their careers?
That you don’t have to be a different person when you walk into that investor meeting. You can just be you and be confident. I heard that message 15 years ago but didn’t really understand. We need to keep telling young women that over and over so we all actually start to believe it.
You're a woman-first community. Why don’t you mention feminism in any of your branding?
I'm clearly a feminist. I believe in equality. It wasn't a conscious decision to omit the term, but at the same time, we don’t want core issues of motherhood to get lost in the noise of broader feminism. Things like flexible work hours and maternity leave are feminist issues, but they're also mother issues. We want to remain focused.
Peanut currently excludes fathers. How do you respond to some of the criticism you’ve received from men?
Some of the male attitude has been really surprising. From hoping my company folds to calling me sexist, it’s all very alarming. We're not trying to diminish fathers, grandparents, or any caregivers of children. But what we set out to do was unite women. There are people who'll get it, and there are people who'll take offense. It's not meant to be offensive.
Has this been the response of all men?
No. Actually, I just got a message on my LinkedIn from a husband who told me Peanut has “been an incredible lifeline” for his wife. What an amazing husband! With modern woman comes modern man…
It has never been more important for women to feel that they have a platform for their voice to be heard.
Michelle Kennedy
Would your life have been different had something like Peanut existed when you had your son?
After he was born, my girlfriends would be out, and I remember thinking, “What happened to my life?” To have had just one other woman say, “Hi! I’m also awake for a 2 a.m. feeding” would've made the feeling of “I must be the loneliest girl in the world” just disappear.
What’s new for moms on Peanut and why should they be excited?
We've just launched Peanut Groups, a way for women to connect across the community on topics that matter to them, where they can ask and answer questions, share experiences, and converse. It has never been more important for women to feel that they have a platform for their voice to be heard. I think every mama deserves that.