Mums in Tech - feat. Claire Thomas
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Claire Thomas, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Hitachi Digital.
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?
I’m Claire. I live in London with my husband and two sons, age 4 and 2. I’ve spent 16 years working in the technology industry, 14 in Sales before switching to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. I am the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Hitachi Digital, leading efforts to improve DEI across 10,000 employees in 35+ countries. We are a data storage and digital services business, providing products and services to clients across a wide range of industries.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
Exhilarating, unpredictable, fast-paced, varied, stretching and fun.
“Being a working mum in tech is Exhilarating, unpredictable, fast-paced, varied, stretching and fun”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
Finding balance is really hard, especially with the pressures we put on ourselves to be top performers and the idea many of us come back with that we have to somehow ‘prove’ we’re still committed. I now find this odd, as my personal experience is that working mums are some of the most hard-working, efficient and dedicated employees! The reality is that some weeks are more balanced than others, and the balance changes regularly. My husband and I talk regularly about who is doing what each week, any work-related events that are outside 9-5 and where we’ll both be.
I’ve got very good at setting and communicating boundaries. I came back from my first maternity leave on compressed hours so I could have Friday with my son. I immediately had to communicate this change and that I would not be attending any meetings that day unless urgent. I also said that I would be flexible where needed, for example, if an all-company event was on a Friday. At the time, I was leading a team of 15 salespeople, so I told them I was available for their urgent queries on my personal mobile. In a year, I got a handful of calls and I’m glad I stuck to those boundaries for myself, as if I’d started to let them slip, others would have followed my lead.
In my DEI role, I find it easier to protect my boundaries, as I feel a responsibility to role model that choosing a balance that works for your family is a good thing, even if it means working in a different way to the majority. I still work compressed hours, I have a 2-hour block in my calendar every day for dinner/bath/bedtime with my boys, and a message on my emails that says, “I work flexibly around my family time: whilst I may email outside normal working hours, please don’t feel obliged to reply outside your own.” And when I am working, I’m focused and prioritise work, sometimes saying no to things that will have less impact
“ I had no idea what parents / carers were juggling every day before even turning up for work until I had my own children. Being a mum has taught me to not make assumptions about other people’s lives or the support they need, and to be curious about others without being nosy. ”
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
My greatest challenge has been being a mother in general, and that’s not specific to tech. I had a bumpy conception journey due to undiagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome which I kept very private due to fear it would impact my career opportunities (which turned out not to be true – I got promoted both times I was pregnant!).
I then really struggled to adjust to the new world of motherhood, which I found incredibly lonely compared to the highly social, extroverted life I had been used to all my career. I have different struggles now, with two joyfully boisterous boys under 5 asserting their authority in the world, and broken sleep for 4 years taking its toll. I’m lucky to have found some incredibly supportive friends locally and a few networks where I can share my challenges, know that I am not alone, and talk through solutions. My husband and I also share nights, so that each of us gets a better sleep at some point to recover, and we find ways to get time for ourselves now and again for a break!
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
The biggest skill is empathy. I had no idea what parents / carers were juggling every day before even turning up for work until I had my own children. Being a mum has taught me to not make assumptions about other people’s lives or the support they need, and to be curious about others without being nosy. I have also developed skills in patience, negotiation (aka bribery – though I don’t advocate that in the workplace!), listening, emotions, power, prioritising and understanding that good enough is good enough.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
Someone to talk to who had recently returned to work to help with tips, advice and wobbles.
“Believe in yourself, be brave in applying for roles even if you don’t meet all the millions of requirements on job descriptions (nobody does!) and don’t be afraid to ask for the flexibility you need to make your life work the way you want it to. And have some fun!”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Flexibility. This should be offered to everyone, not just working mothers. Knowing that you are trusted by your employer to get your work done, however you need to fit around your family, is incredibly empowering. And not forcing people back into office environments for fixed days per week with no real reason except ‘it helps productivity’. This penalises carers, parents, people with disabilities or neurodivergence and the global majority, who have seen many benefits from hybrid / remote working and therefore hinders diversity and inclusion efforts. And for anyone who says, “but we used to all get into the office by 9am before Covid”, I’d question if they’d ever tried to get themselves ready whilst a child hangs off their legs, feed everyone, drop a child at childcare / school and commute to their place of work by 9am. For anyone who did this 5 days a week in the past, I salute you. You must have been totally exhausted!
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
We need more of us in this industry to make sure the technology that is so pervasive in every aspect of our lives meets the needs of everyone. You have a ton of skills that companies should be scrambling to acquire. Believe in yourself, be brave in applying for roles even if you don’t meet all the millions of requirements on job descriptions (nobody does!) and don’t be afraid to ask for the flexibility you need to make your life work the way you want it to. And have some fun!
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