Mums in Tech – feat. Ellen Wood

For our ‘Mums in Tech’ series we caught up with Ellen Wood, Senior Partnerships Manager at CybSafe. CybSafe measures and tracks security behaviour to improve security controls and awareness activities.

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.

Sophie @ MotherBoard: Can you please introduce yourself, your role and why you feel supporting mums working within tech is so important?

Ellen: I'm Ellen Wood, Senior Partnerships Manager at CybSafe and mum to two girls aged 3 and 1. I believe representation really matters, to see women in long standing and senior positions in tech companies whilst raising children has always been inspirational to me, especially since embarking on my own motherhood journey and experiencing how tough it really is. I do believe however that many more are needed for true representation.

Sophie @ MotherBoard: What does a typical work/ parenting day look like for you?

Ellen: As a remote first organisation, I work mainly from my home office whilst also travelling to meet partners and attend industry events. We have an incredible nanny who facilitates the sometimes longer working hours and travel and provides a constant presence for the girls. A typical day would start at 6 with the baby, all the usual morning house jobs and my husband and I take turns to exercise every other morning. After the work day we take over from our nanny whilst the girls have dinner and spend some quality time with them. On travel days or overnight stays the juggle is far greater for the parent at home! Constant communication of must do’s and diaries is crucial for us to make it work. ‘The Blend’ by Toni Asare has been a great read recently, lots of tips on how to blend successfully but also why it’s so important to let some things go. 

Sophie @ MotherBoard: How have you managed to build a successful career, whilst also embarking on motherhood and what challenges have you faced in finding a balance?

Ellen: I’ve had the support of two great tech companies as employers, the women I’ve worked with have always pushed me to do more and been there to support when I needed it most. My husband also works in cybersecurity so has always understood the priorities, challenges but also why it’s so important to keep my skills up and encouraged me to do so. 

Sophie @ MotherBoard: What is the hardest moment you have had as a mum whilst at work?                                              

Ellen: I find when either child is very unwell by far the hardest, all your mother instincts are telling you to be with them and sometimes work just has to wait. 

Sophie @ MotherBoard: What do you think businesses need to do to support mums working in tech & data better?

Ellen: Greater dialogue about the working mums in the org is always a good place to start. There still feels like there is a culture of work like you don’t have children but mother like you don’t work and that just makes it feel impossible to succeed. My organisation have encouraged me to set up an employee resource group to support working mums and parents and we are launching it in April. To have a forum within the business to speak only and receive advice with no judgement will be so powerful. 

Sophie @ MotherBoard:What do you think the government needs to do to make it easier for mums to balance a career and parenting?

Ellen: Better funded childcare so working parents have options to see what will suit them and their job best, the stress of trying to find the right childcare and then find a space whilst on maternity leave is so detrimental to mums mental health and does nothing to encourage women back into the workplace. Join ‘Pregnant then Screwed’ for more info!

Sophie @ MotherBoard:Do you have any final words of advice to our readers about balancing being a mum and having a successful career?

Ellen: I’ve learnt that you don’t need to pretend that being a mum doesn’t come first, of course it does! However building your village to support you will enable you to do both, and be the best version of both sides of you.