Mums in Tech ft. Sheida Heidari
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Sheida Heidari, Content Designer at EE.
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 Sheida and I work as a content designer at BT Group for EE mobile. My role involves collaborating with other designers, researchers and developers to ensure the digital experience our customers go through in their mobile shopping journey is simple, personal and inclusive. I get to be a creative problem solver and a representative for our users by understanding their motivation for coming to our website or app. I keep in mind how much information they should consume during their journey, including when and where, and how much effort it takes for them to get from point a to point b.
I’m also a mum (which is my favourite title) and have a one-year-old son.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do and some days you’ll feel you’ve been terrible at both, but you’ve done the best you can and that’s enough.
“It’s a juggling act. It’s completely ok to push a meeting so you can look after your child or even ask for help with childcare so you can go into the office and get some work done.”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
The key for me when trying to balance both was accepting it’s not always going to be 50/50.
Some days you’re going to have to prioritise one after the other. It’s a juggling act. It’s completely ok to push a meeting so you can look after your child or even ask for help with childcare so you can go into the office and get some work done.
Everyone has their own way of doings things and it’s all about finding something that works for you.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
When you return to work after maternity leave, you’re typically met with a lot of grace and understanding from the people around you who know you need some time to get back into the swing of things. I thankfully had that, but it felt like it came with an expiry date after a month.
Most likely, people forget that part of your life and how long that adjustment takes. It’s been tricky setting boundaries (like no meetings past a certain time) and having people stick to them. It takes a lot of perseverance but I’m finally getting to a place where people respect and trust my new way of working.
“I also have a whole new appreciation and compassion for working mums. We really are superheroes!”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
Apart from having to work on very little sleep, being a mother has given me lots of patience and perspective. If I’ve had a stressful day at work, I used to carry on thinking about it, but I can let that sort of thing go now because my son keeps me busy, and I want to give him my energy and time when the workday is done. I also have a whole new appreciation and compassion for working mums. We really are superheroes!
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
When I returned to work after maternity leave, I was enrolled on to this return-to-work coaching programme. We had 4 sessions spread across a few months where we covered how to set boundaries in the workplace, being honest about what a successful work/life balance looks and feels like to us and had a safe space to ask for support. It was so helpful speaking to other women in the same position and you get to share your struggles but also your wins. It became the support group I never knew I needed.
I’d highly encourage any mums returning to work soon to seek these programmes out if you’re company have one, and if not, start something of your own.
“You don’t need to feel guilty when you’re at the office and you’re away from your children, or guilty when you’re with your children and not at work.”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Take their concerns seriously. Employers need to make the effort to listen to any worries they have or adjustments they need to make so they can give their best in their role.
It’s also important to value their work by offering praise and feedback whenever you can. I feel there’s extra pressure for mums to prove to everyone that they can do everything, but valuing their achievements goes a long way in them rediscovering their identity outside of being a mum.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
I’m still trying to get better at this, but you don’t need to feel guilty when you’re at the office and you’re away from your children, or guilty when you’re with your children and not at work. You’re doing the best you can so go easy on yourself.
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