Mums in Tech ft. Amanda Spicer

As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Amanda Spicer, Co-Founder at Your Eco.

The purpose of our 'MotherBoard’ content series is to highlight incredible working mums within tech & data, as well as individuals and businesses that are supportive and progressive within their approach to creating more inclusive tech & data teams for women.

Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your current role?

As a Co-Founder of Your Eco, I spearhead the strategic direction and operational execution of our multi-million pound startup, which specialises in the technical EPC aspects of net-zero programmes. I'm instrumental in driving the engineering, procurement, and construction phases of large-scale renewable energy rollouts, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently, on time, and within budget whilst adhering to the highest technical standards and sustainability principles. My leadership likely involves setting the company's vision, fostering key partnerships, overseeing project development from inception to completion, and building a high-performing team dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net-zero future. Overseeing marketing we have featured on Channel 4 and with major business players in our extraordinary growth journey.

Since launching in 2016, Your Eco has grown from a bootstrapped start-up into a multi-million-pound enterprise. With a projected turnover of £8 million for FY 23/24 and £60 million in the pipeline, we’ve grown by 130% in the past year alone keeping 25 in house jobs, as well as 40 subcontractors running across 5 delivery teams simultaneously.

If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?

Balancing the demands of a fulfilling career in the dynamic tech/renewables sector, built upon a solid foundation in STEM fields, with the joys and responsibilities of motherhood requires resilience, adaptability, and a passion for both family and a sense of humour.

“By making small, consistent adjustments to my routine I create dedicated, high-quality moments with both my teenagers and staff.”

How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?

Achieving work-life balance as a working mum I use Kaizen tools for colleague mentoring, and dedicate evenings and weekends to my daughters sport schedules, necessitating a focus on quality over quantity. By making small, consistent adjustments to my routine I create dedicated, high-quality moments with both my teenagers and staff – even brief periods of focused attention by immediately closing my laptop when they come into the room – and apply this same principle to mentoring, ensuring these activities are genuinely rewarding rather than draining.

What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?

With two decade in STEM in biotech and now clean tech, I know a thing or two about being the only female in the room, and how I’ve leaned into sharing my motherhood workload instead of hiding it.

“You want something done, ask a busy mum! It’s why we have such high female recruitment.”

What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?

Delegation, and the Eisenhower matrix for priorities.

When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?

Don’t go back too early. Take your career pauses and enjoy the moment. You can keep your hand in during the early years to keep your professional network moving. It’s a moment in time, and doesn’t last forever. When you return, do so phased so you add up to a full time commitment so you have a balance. Also a hefty dose of yoga and running has helped calm a somewhat whirlwind of a mind at times in those early years.

“It’s been vital to my own well being and the health of my business and family to balance both together”

What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?

Showing empathy. You want something done, ask a busy mu! It’s why we have such high female recruitment.

Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?

Keep showing up. Looking over the last few decades it hasn’t been a cake walk, but it’s been vital to my own well being and the health of my business and family to balance both together. I also would like to thank my yoga mat for always catching me as well when I felt like falling.

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