From laptop-toting C-sections to spreadsheet nightmares, employee leave management has long been one of HR’s most complex and frustrating challenges. Mahima Chawla, CEO and co-founder of Cocoon, is changing all that with a revolutionary approach to leave administration.
In HRchat episode 799, Mahima talks with me about how a chance conversation sparked her journey into the leave management space. When a colleague described bringing her laptop to her C-section to file for state benefits, Mahima was shocked by the fragmented nature of employee leave – with different time allocations, multiple payment sources, and employees left to navigate complicated paperwork during already stressful life transitions. After speaking with dozens of HR leaders who universally described leave as “an absolute nightmare,” she recognized an opportunity to transform this overlooked but critical function.
Cocoon tackles five major headaches for HR teams: navigating complex compliance regulations, managing multi-source payroll calculations, coordinating intricate workflows, improving employee experiences, and providing valuable benchmarking data. What makes their approach unique is their focus on automation – Mahima explains that 95% of leave management involves objective decisions perfectly suited for software handling, creating consistency while freeing HR professionals from administrative burdens.
Beyond streamlining processes, Cocoon is addressing financial barriers that often prevent employees from taking needed leave. By ensuring employees understand their payment sources and helping them access entitled funds, the platform supports both employers and workers during critical life moments. Looking ahead, Mahima envisions expanding Cocoon’s capabilities across more industries and geographies, while predicting that the definition of “leave” itself will continue evolving beyond traditional categories to embrace more of life’s realities.
Connect with Mahima on LinkedIn and follow Cocoon’s page for updates on their appearances at major industry events in 2025.