The Working TechMum
I have been a full time working mum for almost 6 years. Time really has flown:
6 Years
4 Managers
3 Companies
3 Industries
2 Maternity leaves
(sounds like a Christmas Song, just need a partridge in a pear tree)
Across the 6 years I’ve experienced 4 managers; each with their own management style and each having their impact on my work experience and work life balance.
Previous working experience as a mother
My first maternity leave was not in the tech industry. Maternity leave was well planned out by the management team, HR we’re very helpful in explaining the process, there were no hiccups in salary, stress free and I was supported to use my KIT days to ease myself in to the return to work.
However last minute management move around saw me returning to a job that I loved but with a new management team, and new manager who was new to the company.
To be quite brutally honest, what should have been an exciting time to accelerate my career and get back into the world of working , was very much rather the opposite. I was made to feel like a new employee by my new manager. This manager treated me like I didn’t know the job or industry at all, micro managed everything I did and squashed my growth.
In addition, as a first time mother in this industry I also found myself really juggling work-life balance. I would have to drop my daughter off at my cousins house for 7am, so that she could take my daughter to nursery for it opening at 8am. I had to start my working day at the office for 8am so that I could leave work and collect my daughter from nursery for 5.30pm. It was long days for us both.
My manager at the time also had the attitude of “if I can sort child care at short notice so can you” and “if you are not at your desk you are not being productive”. Lack of growth and progression , as well as just unnecessary work overload resulted in me looking elsewhere. It’s a shame really because I loved the team and the work that I was doing!
Fast forward a couple of years and I found myself working in the Employer Branding industry. The working culture here was far less corporate, with people being treated as people. If my daughter had a “stay and play” session in school I was able to attend without feeling guilty and trusted to make up the time back. I’d stay late or choose to work my lunch. This manager encouraged me to push myself outside of my comfort zone, allowed me to take ownership of tasks; and I truly believe Julie was the manager that built my confidence up; enabled me to grow, take lead and ultimately the next steps in my career.
Whilst I never experienced a maternity leave process at this company, I definitely had a healthy work life balance. By having the small flexibility to see such precious rewarding parenthood moments, being able to attend parents evening without having to explain myself; it made me want to give my all (and more) back the company. Every task, whether it was a small side task or a big project I would throw myself in giving 150%. I loved this company, I still hold it in high regard and always will. Every employee, including the management team, really lives by the Ph. Creative brand “defenders of happiness”. If you’re looking for an employer brand strategy and creative team I definitely recommend them. (Not biased at all 😂)
The Tech Industry : Working world of a mother
Now, if it isn’t obvious this next section is going to be focusing on my time at HCL Tech! I cannot believe it’s 3 years almost! Wow!
My first year I was a mother of 1! Joining a new industry, throwing myself in head first learning all things new. The CIT program at HCL was the opportunity for me to really set out my career plan, not just for the next couple of years but for the first time have a 5year plan of the position that I want to get to!
As a mum, we all want to be the best version of ourselves for our kids. For me, I want to achieve and set the example. I want my daughter to grow up with ambition to be on the Executive Leadership Team or CEO of a company!
Anyway, back to my first year at HCL Tech.
Working remotely was a breath of fresh air! For the first time in my life I was able to do the school run, no questions asked. I got my work done. I would start work before Olivia woke in the morning. Take her to school, work all day, pick her up from after school and finish my work whilst she ate her tea watching Moana! It sounds simple. But to me this made my life so much easier, I wasn’t spending 2.5 hours commuting in traffic! I was able to work around the school run, and plan my day accordingly. The project I was on also did not require me to travel. On the occasion that I did need to travel, this was asked a week in advance and I could sort it.
Maternity leave at HCL
Being only 18months into my role at HCL I found out that I was expecting my second child (and last! 2 kids and 2 dogs… my house is chaotic enough now😂). HR and my manager Alex Yeoman were very supportive right up until me going onto my mat leave, answering all the questions I had. I decided to take 6months maternity leave, and HCL supported me in coming back part time for the first 6months. This is what I wanted to do, and they allowed me to do this. Huge thank you for this support!
It was during this 6months maternity leave that I created this blog! To keep up with everything D365 Marketing (CI Journeys). My first project gave me the opportunity learn about the platform and with all the feature releases I felt the blog was a good way of me keeping up to date. We know how much a platform can change in 6months!
After 6months part time I then went back to work full time! And feel like I’ve never been away.
Working as a mother of two!
After coming back to work full time, and being on projects pushing myself to learn more, HCL gave me a promotion and I’m now a Lead Functional Consultant; and very proud of myself for getting to this level. My plan is for in a few years time to be a solution architect. That’s where I want to be. And I know that the team will support me in getting there.
Similar to previously mentioned, at the beginning of the year I worked on a hackathon. This required me to travel. I was given advanced notice to make child care arrangements and it went smoothly. I think companies should take note of this. I appreciate some meetings can be out of nowhere and can’t be helped, but having that week notice definitely helps things feel smoother.
The last few months in particular have been a little chaotic for me. And the reason I write this, is that I hope it brings comfort to other working mums in a similar position. Some things we just cannot foresee, we can’t plan and they just happen. It’s out of our control.
Between my two children, I have had more hospital visits than I can count in the last few months and feel like I should have a special chair waiting just for me to sit in A&E. Some visits have been planned (tonsillectomy) and others not so much (seizures and viral meningitis). I have been going back and forth to emergency “drop of the hat” appointments, where more check ups have been required. Thankfully both children are now ok and long may it continue!👏
The one thing I want to say about HCL during this time: the management team and my project team have cared. They have treated me like a person, not a cog in a wheel. I was told to do what I needed to do and take care of my children. This has meant the world to me. I was given flexibility to work different hours during this crazy time where everything felt like it was all happening at once.
EVEN THE DOG DECIDED TO INJUR HIMSELF AND GET INVOLVED IN THE CHAOS! BUT THANKFULLY HE DIDNT NEED A TRIP TO THE VET.
The main thing that I was given was flexibility and trust by HCL. They trusted me to do my work at a time that suited me , around the hospital appointments. I wasn’t made to feel guilty for attending hospital appointments. And for that I will forever be grateful. It sounds so simple, but some companies really can get it wrong here.
I truly believe that this industry, or at least HCL Tech allows you to “get out what you put in”, and this applies to everyone not just a working mum. If you want to achieve and learn, you can and you will. (Being a mum with kids defo doesn’t stop you - If anything it just makes you more determined)
My quick summary of the above!
In summary, having children does not hinder your growth; poor management style does. The right company and the right manager will allow you to grow , achieve , progress and trust you to do your job (giving you the flexibility when you need it most); because they know you will get the job done regardless of whether you have kids or not!
