Gender Roles Be Damned: This Startup CEO Quit His Job to Be a Better Dad Max Schireson says that, as a male CEO, he's never been asked how he balances being a father and running a company.

By Jason Fell

The perception of men and women executives and their family lives is often skewed. People still expect women to struggle with balancing family and work. Men? Not so much.

Meanwhile, at least one male CEO is putting his family first. So much so that he's quitting his job.

On his personal blog, Max Schireson, CEO of New York City-based open-source document database startup MongoDB, announced that he is stepping down from his role as chief executive in order to spend more time with his wife and three children, who live in California.

"As a male CEO, I have been asked what kind of car I drive and what type of music I like, but never how I balance the demands of being both a dad and a CEO," Schireson wrote. "Friends and colleagues often ask my wife how she balances her job and motherhood. Somehow, the same people don't ask me."

Related: Hey, Dad: Give Your Daughter's Career a Boost. Do the Dishes.

To be clear, Schireson isn't quitting MongoDB altogether. He's transitioning to vice chairman and will "remain with the company full time," MongoDB announced in a press release.

Earlier this summer, Today Show host Matt Lauer came under fire for asking newly-appointed General Motors CEO Mary Barra if she thinks she is an equally good executive and parent. Some people called the question sexist. Lauer defended himself by saying he would have asked a male executive the same question.

"Life is about choices," Schireson wrote. "Right now, I choose to spend more time with my family and am confident that I can continue to have an [sic] meaningful and rewarding work life while doing so."

Schireson's full post is worth a read. You can find it here.

Related: Stop Fixing Women to Act Like Men

Jason Fell

Entrepreneur Staff

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing the Entrepreneur Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as Entrepreneur.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Fundraising

4 Trends In Fundraising That Will Impact the Future of Philanthropy

Increasing the success of your nonprofit requires you to adapt to changes.

Data & Recovery

One of the Best Protections Against Cyber Threats That Normally Costs $4,900 is Now Only $390

Protect your company files using cloud storage with maximum post-quantum encryption.

Leadership

'Seeing People I Helped Succeed Is My Greatest Thrill': Baseball Star Dexter Fowler and Restaurateur Michael Tanha Outline a Playbook for Success

Retired World Series Champion Dexter Fowler and hospitality entrepreneur Michael Tanha discuss what drives their passion to succeed on the new episode of "The Playbook."

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

Jon Taffer Teamed Up With This $300 Million Franchise Company to Build Something Bigger Than Restaurants

Taffer, known for his role in 'Bar Rescue,' teamed up with Craveworthy Brands to expand his concept, Taffer's Tavern.

Business News

'The Market Is Hot': Here's How Much a Typical Meta Employee Makes in a Year

Data from federal filings offers a glimpse into base salary ranges at Meta for roles ranging from AI research scientist to data analyst.