It's working for Kate Torgersen, Founder of Milk Stork
Lafayette, CA
3 children
I don’t think that the IOC ever really considered that some athletes might be breastfeeding. It’s the kind of pervasive blindspot that we see in so many institutions and policies, and one that is navigated day in and day out by lactating and pumping parents. And, a blind spot that would not exist if there were greater diversity of perspectives and experiences in leadership positions.
The breastfeeding community has benefited from entrepreneurs with vision. We are featuring impressive, forward-thinking women who raised the bar for other women.
Kate Torgersen is a gold medal winner – a mother of three who took a bold and overdue approach to addressing the needs of breastfeeding women. In specific, Kate Torgerson was paying close attention to the glaring lack of support for pumping on the road.
Work travel as a new mother is enough of a hurdle. Kate reimagined the experience and in doing so, Milk Stork was born. Needless to say, her vision for mothers had refined the experience of pumping during work travel in remarkable ways.
According to the 2024 State of Breastfeeding study, 80% of women who breastfeed work. Be it part or full time, these women work and pump. And what of the milk? Milk Stork took that question to heart and continues to deliver innovative solutions. Meet Kate Torgensen.
Doing your best is more than enough. And, doing your best isn’t the same thing as getting it perfect.
(Not that I would have listened because I was getting so much unsolicited advice at the time :)…
In 2014 I had was faced with a 4-day business trip.
I was committed to breastfeeding the twins for at least 12 months (as I had done for my firstborn). Together, we had fought hard to maintain our breastfeeding relationship – the twins had overcome tongue ties, latching and weight gain issues, and tandem nursing. For me: I was producing a gallon of milk every 2 days and was pumping relentlessly upon my return to work to maintain my supply and meet their demand.
As I prepared for the trip, I began troubleshooting the logistics and quickly learned that there were no services that would help me ship my milk back home. To send milk home, I need to create a DIY solution that would involve sourcing dry ice and shipping materials at my destination without a rental car. I knew immediately, that dry ice in a hotel room was more than I could deal with.
So, before I left, I pumped 2 “extra” gallons of milk to cover my absence (on top of the gallons that they were already drinking!) and then I pumped like crazy during the trip to maintain my supply. All this pumping generated 2 gallons of highly perishable breast milk that I had to manage in my hotel fridge. At the end of the trip, I had to lug all that hard-earned breast milk home along with 4 gallon-sized Ziplocs filled with ice (in addition to my suitcase, computer bag/purse, and breast pump bag). It was so heavy! And, needless to say, it was a nightmare of frustration and humiliation bringing it through TSA.
By the time I got on the plane, I was pissed. Dealing with all that milk amplified the logistical challenges, constraints, and arbitrary injustices that so many moms face when it comes to breastfeeding and navigating the world. It was just unacceptable and I was done with it.
The next day I called my dad and said “Hey dad, I have an idea” and he said, “where do we start?”
Never. I never ever expected to be an entrepreneur – and frankly, I never even expected to be in the “business world”. I’ve always just chased opportunities that excited me – after college, I worked in Tahoe as a ski instructor in the winter and an archaeological technician and a wildland firefighter in the summer. My passion for the outdoors lifestyle led to an opportunity at Clif Bar. During my time at Clif Bar I also earned my MFA in painting. Then one day at Clif Bar (15 years in) I was faced with a 4-day business trip when our breastfeeding twins were about 8 months old — that experience led to Milk Stork. Completely unpredictable and total fun.
When I found out that the IOC was not going to allow breastfeeding athletes to travel with their mothers to the Games, I was enraged. While there are certainly legitimate issues and concerns about the impact around COVID for spectators, infants/breastfeeding children should not be put in the same category as “international spectators”. The lack of consideration for these athletes’ breastfeeding relationships prioritized the entertainment value of the Games over the athletes’ experiences as mothers and their commitment to their families and children. Additionally, it forced athletes into a false choice (in that it is NOT a real choice) between realizing their ambitions as athletes (after an incredible investment and sacrifice) and their families. The assumption that athletes would travel without bringing their breastfeeding children also demonstrates a complete and utter lack of understanding about our experiences as mothers – namely, that our connection to our children is a power source of strength, ambition, and performance. Motherhood is not an impediment to grit and ambition, it is a source of it. There is no way that these mothers could travel to the Games and perform at their best without their babies.
I don’t think that the IOC ever really considered that some athletes might be breastfeeding. It’s the kind of pervasive blindspot that we see in so many institutions and policies, and one that is navigated day in and day out by lactating and pumping parents. And, a blind spot that would not exist if there were greater diversity of perspectives and experiences in leadership positions.
After breastfeeding athletes and their fans spoke out, the IOC overturned its policy and allowed athletes to travel with their babies. HOWEVER, athletes are not the only people going to the Olympics/Paralympics – there are coaches, physical therapists, program managers, and a multitude of other people that make the Olympics happen and help athletes perform at their best. While essential to the success of the Games, these people are more behind-the-scenes and did not have the opportunity to bring their breastfeeding infants to the Games when the IOC overturned its policy.
I am proud to say that we were able to support these mothers and shipped over 21 gallons of milk from Tokyo to the US during the Olympics. We will continue to provide breast milk shipping for these essential roles during the Paralympic Games.
I don’t. There are days when I get a ton of stuff done and there are days that I don’t. If homeschooling 3 kids during COVID has taught me anything, it’s that I’m human and can’t do it all.
I start each day with, “what are the 3 big things that need to get done today?” – and that’s what I focus on. And, I schedule my work and projects so that it is crystal clear what can realistically fit in the workday and what can’t.
Staying inspired and dedicated really requires time off and rest. I believe that work needs to operate at a human scale, not the other way around. I don’t work long grueling hours – I work normal regular hours. I don’t work at night – and I rarely work on the weekends.
With 3 kids (including twins) I’ve gone without sleep for too long. Now that my kids are older, I get the 8 hours of sleep each night that is essential for my good health and to model good sleep hygiene for the kids.
When I think of the biggest challenges in my life – there are two, IVF and then, having 3 kids under 3 years old (including twins).
IVF was hard because it doesn’t matter how much love, effort, or want you put into it, you have no control over the outcome. It is a lesson that you cannot bend the universe to your dreams.
Three kids under the age of 3 years old – that was hard because of the sheer, relentlessness of the logistics. There were days that I changed 25 diapers. And there were weeks when I only got a handful of hours of sleep.
Going back to work felt like a vacation.
Instead of scrubbing and cleaning your pump parts after every pumping session, just rinse and refrigerate them. Then clean them thoroughly once at night. You’re welcome!
The other working moms at my company. At the time I was working at Clif Bar – we had the most amazing community of working moms. Also, Clif Bar had onsite childcare – the most incredible employee benefit!! – so all of our kids were in childcare together. Those moms, kids, and the childcare teachers were my tribe.
I don’t have a formal mentor – that said when I face challenges or opportunities that are new territories I seek people with experience in those areas for advice. I am not afraid of asking for help or advice.
In terms of acting as a mentor… I am always 100% available to anyone that comes to me for guidance or advice. I never say no.
As a working parent, I never expected a global pandemic would happen and make life so hard, or that having fun and bonding with my family (in spite of it) would be so easy.