Mums in Tech - feat. Gemma Rodgers
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Gemma Rodgers, Software Developer at Newicon.
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 Gemma, a full-time Software Developer based in Bristol, and part-time freelance photographer and content creator in my (very limited) spare time! And if that wasn't enough to juggle, I'm a single mum to my brilliant 12-year-old daughter. My current role at Newicon is incredibly varied and sees me working on several different and exciting bespoke software and IoT projects for clients in the medtech, energytech and aerospace industries.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
Challenging, exhilarating, sometimes-frustrating, often-satisfying, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
“Being a mum in tech is challenging, exhilarating, sometimes-frustrating, often-satisfying, and I wouldn't change it for the world. ”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
I'm not sure I believe in balance on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes, I'm more work-focused, and sometimes I'm more family-focused. When I returned to software in 2023 after 12 years of self-employment, my main non-negotiables were that I needed a role that had variety and flexibility at the heart of it. Working with a software agency seemed to be a much stronger fit than a larger corporate, and I've had no regrets about this choice. I have the freedom to choose my in-office and working-from-home days, and working hours. The main difference I made was to relinquish a significant number of "default parent" roles I'd taken on to my daughter's father whom I co-parent with. This freed up an immense amount of brain space, time, and guilt.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
Juggling childcare around the school holidays is often the main bone of contention. As my child is now at secondary school, there is a lot more flexibility as I'm not required for school pick-ups and I don't need to organise wraparound care. I don't think people understand just how inflexible it can be trying to manage work around a school day and school term when standard employment doesn't take this into account when you have younger kids.
“I don't think people understand just how inflexible it can be trying to manage work around a school day and school term when standard employment doesn't take this into account when you have younger kids.”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
My main transferable skill has been to not sweat the small stuff! Careers can be a great source of validation and accomplishment, but they aren't the be-all and end-all. They should add to your life, but life exists outside of work. Being a parent will take you from the highest highs to the lowest lows, often within the same hour, but every challenge, whether child-related or work-related, can be figured out. If you won't remember it tomorrow, you don't need to spend more time ruminating on it today.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
The main issue was understanding how I would be able to showcase my tech skills on a CV with a 12-year "career break" in a world where my CV would be judged for suitability by an automated system first (and often discarded immediately). Bear in mind that I was self-employed for most of the 12 years AND raising a child, so I only wish it were a "break"!
“Your role is important, both in the workplace and at home. The tech world desperately needs more women's voices, ideas, and leadership skills, so if you find yourself in a role where you are not valued, there are many other places that WILL value you. Keep persisting. ”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility. The ability to have choices on working hours and working environment around family care is incredibly helpful, as is the compassion to know that, as people raising the next generation of workers, we sometimes need to rearrange plans on very short-notice.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Your role is important, both in the workplace and at home. The tech world desperately needs more women's voices, ideas, and leadership skills, so if you find yourself in a role where you are not valued, there are many other places that WILL value you. Keep persisting.
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