Mums in Tech ft. Christina Lovelock
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Christina Lovelock, Author and Tech Leader.
The purpose of our 'MotherBoard’ content series is to highlight incredible working mums within tech, as well as individuals and businesses that are supportive and progressive within their approach to creating more inclusive tech teams for women.
Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your current role?
Hi! I am Christina, I have worked in tech for over 20 years, mostly for large public sector organisations. I am the author of two books, Delivering Business Analysis, and Careers in Tech, Data and Digital, which recently won an award. I now have a portfolio career, which means I am involved in a number of initiatives and organisations, including being a digital apprentice assessor, a consultant, speaker and qualified coach. I am a director of a cross-industry leadership forum and Director of Community at Herd Consulting. I also write for online and print magazines. I volunteer as a STEMAmbassador and as a book reviewer for the charity Technology Books for Children. I am on a mission to inspire the next generation of tech professionals and help a wide range of people discover that getting into tech doesn’t have to mean learning how to code!
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
Working in tech is a commitment to life-long learning, linked to that - my tech career has given me some amazing experiences and enabled me to make friends all over the world.
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
I’m not going to lie, it’s hard! I love my work, and that sometimes means long hours and travel. I do miss out on things (both family and work related). It is literally impossible to ‘have it all’.
I talk to my daughter about what I do, and sometimes I am able to involve her in events or trips, and I know she is really proud of me, so that helps. But the mum-guilt is real!
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
Many of the roles I have done since becoming a mother have been part-time. These have been senior roles, with staff and budget responsibilities, and although my hours (and pay) were reduced, my workload never was! If you work part-time, you need to have a tough conversation about how the work will actually be reduced, rather than doing the same amount of work as your colleagues in less time.
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
I saw a quote a few years ago: “In 10 years the only people who will remember you worked late is your kids”. This really stuck with me, and now I really try to figure out what's the most important thing, and what will have to wait until Monday!
We often use the phrase ‘balancing’ – but juggling feels like a more accurate description. Some weeks the juggling act all comes crashing down, and you have to really prioritise and be able to ask for help. These are vital skills for both work and home life.
“We often use the phrase ‘balancing’ – but juggling feels like a more accurate description. ”
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
One of the most helpful things I’ve noticed is when senior leaders are open about their parental responsibilities, normalising discussions about school pick-ups and other school and child related logistics. The thing that helped the most though was having a husband who did an equal (sometimes more than equal!) share of the parenting and care. So many women do far more than their partners.
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Having a genuinely flexible approach to working hours and location. Mandating ‘minimum 3 days back in the office’ is not helpful or needed for most tech roles! A flexible policy helps everyone, not just working parents, AND allows organisations to attract and retain talented individuals.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Beware of non-promotable work, or ‘office housework’ as it’s sometimes called. Things we do that doesn’t make for valuable examples in job interviews! Make sure you are not doing more than your share, and if you find you are, talk to your colleagues about how it can be shared more evenly.
“Beware of non-promotable work, or ‘office housework’ as it’s sometimes called. Things we do that doesn’t make for valuable examples in job interviews! Make sure you are not doing more than your share, and if you find you are, talk to your colleagues about how it can be shared more evenly.”
MotherBoard is a Business Charter, Community & Event Series, driving tangible change for mums working in the tech industry.
Interested in getting involved? Become a signatory today