Michelle Battersby Appointed President of Peanut, the Social Network for Women

“Empowering and deeply personal”: New appointment highlights women-led leadership in tech

Australian entrepreneur Michelle Battersby has been named President of Peanut, the global social network designed to support women through key life transitions — from fertility and pregnancy to motherhood and menopause. The appointment comes at a significant personal moment for Battersby, who was 30 weeks pregnant at the time of appointment.

A Personal and Professional Milestone

Battersby described the role as both symbolic and transformative.

“This feels empowering and deeply personal,” she said. “It reflects what Peanut stands for — supporting women through every stage of life. I’m passionate about elevating women in tech, and Peanut is a platform that gives them not just a voice, but a real community and support system.”

Her appointment underscores the possibilities of leadership that embrace — rather than sideline — the realities of women’s lives.

Reuniting Two Tech Trailblazers

The role also marks a reunion between Battersby and Peanut founder and CEO Michelle Kennedy. The pair first worked together at Bumble, where Battersby became the brand’s first Australian hire tasked with scaling across the Asia-Pacific region, while Kennedy sat on the board.

Later, Kennedy backed Battersby’s startup Sunroom, which was acquired by Fanfix in 2023. Now, the two women are once again collaborating to accelerate Peanut’s expansion across the United States, Australia and beyond.

“I hired Michelle at 30 weeks pregnant because she’s exactly the kind of leader tech needs: purpose-driven, vulnerable, sharp, and deeply connected to the realities women face,” said Kennedy.

Peanut’s Growing Impact

Since its launch in 2017, Peanut has grown to over 5.5 million users globally, providing a space for conversations often absent from mainstream platforms — IVF, miscarriage, identity loss, postnatal depression and menopause among them.

Peanut’s own research underscores the need for such a platform:

• 94% of women say they are expected to put themselves last after having children.

• 93% feel their identity has been reduced to just “mum.”

• Nearly three-quarters report loneliness or feeling unseen during early motherhood.

Shaping a New Model of Leadership

Battersby’s appointment highlights the rarity — and importance — of women leading and shaping culture in the tech industry. For her, the challenges facing Peanut’s community are not abstract statistics but lived experiences she is navigating in real time.

As Kennedy noted, Battersby’s leadership signals a broader shift towards a model of tech that reflects women’s realities and amplifies their voices. It also demonstrates the growing power of platforms built by women, for women — at a time when mainstream media and technology often fail to capture those experiences.