Mums in Tech ft. Catalina-Ionela Popa-Cornet Jones
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Catalina-Ionela Popa-Cornet Jones, Lead iOS Engineer at Bloom & Wild.
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?
Hello, I am Catalina, lead iOS engineer at Bloom & Wild and I am currently working on the 2 iOS applications that the company has. I was recently promoted to the lead position, but my current role entails leading and developing features but also fixing issues to keep the light on.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
It’s challenging to say the least!
“My greatest challenge was to come to terms that I am never going back to the person I once was before giving birth”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
I am lucky enough that my son goes to the nursery full time which removes the physical burden. However, mentally I still feel overwhelmed most of the time. What helps me keep this balance is organisation and doing the admin tasks during the week at lunch time (I work from home). That way, I have more time to spend with my family once I finish work.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
My greatest challenge was to come to terms that I am never going back to the person I once was before giving birth and also keep focus on my work whilst my son is being taken care of by someone else. Bloom & Wild offers mental health support through Open up which has helped me overcome those obstacles.
“Mental health support should be top priority but also understanding and patience.”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
I would say the most important skills are patience and the ability to keep focus longer periods of time.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
Like I said previously, OpenUp has helped me a lot during this period of returning to my role but also my manager and my husband with their support.
“Don’t give up! It was so hard to get back into my role as a lot has changed in the 8 months that I was away. But once I did, it was so rewarding!”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Mental health support should be top priority but also understanding and patience.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Don’t give up! It was so hard to get back into my role as a lot has changed in the 8 months that I was away. But once I did, it was so rewarding! (That rewarding that I got promoted 1 year after returning from maternity leave).
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