Ever wonder what happens when you trade a slower European lifestyle for the high-octane energy of New York City as a dad? In this episode of The Working Dads Podcast, marketing executive Nick Tran sits down to discuss the realities of raising kids abroad, setting strict family boundaries, and navigating the corporate grind without losing sight of what matters. Tune in to discover why protecting your time at home is the ultimate executive decision.
In this episode, Nick Tran joins Jonathan on The Working Dads Podcast to share his candid journey as a global marketing executive and father of two. Moving back to New York City after spending three years living in London, Nick reflects on what it truly means to raise kids with a global perspective while maintaining strict family boundaries. He dives into the realities of balancing a high-level corporate career, navigating the chaotic shift from a slow European lifestyle back to the U.S. hustle, protecting children from toxic screen-time culture, and why being fully present at the dinner table matters more than any professional milestone.
Three things you'll learn:
1. How living abroad can transform your children's perspective and help them build a lifelong global mindset.
2. The practical boundaries and discipline needed to protect your family culture when returning to a fast-paced corporate environment.
3. Why strict limits on short-form screen time are critical for modern child development, and how to guide kids toward meaningful media.
What we cover:
00:00 – Introduction and the chaotic joy of the kids' first day back to school in New York
04:15 – Moving back to New York after three years living a slower, European-centric lifestyle in London
05:43 – Setting strict family boundaries: Committing to home-cooked family dinners amidst the New York hustle
07:30 – Navigating screen-time guardrails, short-form video risks, and introducing kids to classic Looney Tunes
12:10 – How a child’s unfiltered perspective influences creative problem-solving and modern marketing
14:28 – The shifting landscape of the alcohol and spirits industry: Are younger generations actually drinking less?
16:15 – Why the reason people go out has changed: Shifting from drinking-centric culture to activity-based socializing
18:35 – The post-COVID pendulum swing: Doubling down on physical activations and real-world brand experiences over AI
20:50 – The challenge for CMOs: Justifying long-term offline experiential marketing budgets to CFOs
26:00 – Transitioning across iconic companies (TikTok, Hulu, Samsung) with the ultimate goal of teaching in grad school
28:10 – Early memories: Bringing a two-year-old to work and playing with prop money guns
31:10 – How working inside tech giants completely shifted his perspective on kids and technology
34:10 – The cardboard box metaphor: Why kids don't need expensive toys, they just need your presence
35:48 – Final advice for new fathers: Cultivating true human connection in an increasingly isolated, screen-driven world
About Working Dads
Working Dads is the podcast for fathers figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Every week host Johnathan Grzybowski sits down with working dads — founders, executives, investors, and everyday fathers — for honest conversations about the guilt, the grind, the marriage, the money, and what it actually takes to build a career and a family without dropping the ball on either.
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