Mums in Tech ft. Kate Clark
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Kate Clark, Founder/CEO at öogo.
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?
I’m Kate. Sole parent (sole provider) to Hugo and Martha. Solo Founder of öogo a global childcare booking platform with applications across corporate benefits, consumer, events and hospitality. I’ve been involved with start ups before but never as sole founder or CEO. My role as we prepare to scale is to wear all the hats and to hold the purse strings tightly. We are proudly frugal and learning the solutions to all the problems that present the old fashioned way - by rolling up our sleeves and figuring it out. I currently oversee product, finance, legal, sales, marketing and community. The next step is to start to assemble the team that will take us to the next level. We’ve had to learn all about the world of corporate benefits, hospitality, events and consumer marketplaces.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
Being a working mother in tech is swimming against the tide in a storm with only the promise of a break on the horizon. You exist fully alert at all times, alive, raw, constantly tired but buoyed up by some invisible force to continue pushing against all the odds.
“Being a working mother in tech is swimming against the tide in a storm with only the promise of a break on the horizon.”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
I’m not sure I do. It’s a constant, daily, weekly, hourly juggle. As one gets attention and focus the other lacks and there is no getting away from that without a partner in either life or business.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
Childcare.
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
Perspective.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
Childcare
(I returned to work three weeks after the birth of each child)
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Childcare - if the kids are well looked after, Mothers are freed up to do their best work. Childcare needs to be more than careful supervision. If a mother feels like her children are receiving the kind of care she would herself give or better, she will be free of guilt and mental load to be her best self at work. If she can be her best self at work, she has the best of herself left over for her children.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
1) The hardships are in many ways a privilege
2) Talk about things that are hard and ask for and accept help
3) Keep going and push through - we need you x
MotherBoard is a Business Charter, Community & Event Series, driving tangible change for mums working in the tech industry.
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