Mums in Tech – feat. Philippa Davies
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Philippa Davies, Engineering Director at Reaction Engines
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.
Amber: Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your current role?
Philippa: Hi, I'm Philippa Davies, Mum of 3 and the Engineering Director at Reaction Engines, an Aerospace and Technology company based in Oxford. In addition to my role at Reaction Engines, I'm also the Founder of Uplifted Leaders, a platform dedicated to supporting women through maternity leave in STEM careers. I have recently finished maternity leave with my 3rd child and returned to my role as the Engineering Director.
This role is multifaceted; it involves shaping company strategy, leading a team of around 150 engineers, and overseeing the delivery of critical technology for our projects. I'm also incredibly proud to have been recognised as one of the UK's Top 50 Women in Engineering.
Being a working mum in tech fills me with immense pride, knowing I'm setting a positive example for my children.
Amber: How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
Philippa: I find the biggest hurdle to overcome is my own mindset and how I mentally tackle the different challenges of juggling the two. Whether that is managing the mum guilt or managing boundaries at work, particularly if we don’t work full time, our own caring nature and desire to do a good job means we often carry a substantial mental load.
In my opinion, this is often the biggest barrier to balance. I am proud of the work that I do, and I know my kids are too. But most importantly, I know that my children are happy which I use to tackle these situations when my mind starts to feel overwhelmed.
“Whether that is managing the mum guilt or managing boundaries at work… our own caring nature and desire to do a good job means we often carry a substantial mental load. ”
Amber: What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
Philippa: Returning to work after maternity leave was undoubtedly my greatest challenge as a working mum in tech. Tech projects move quickly, and often the skills needed or the dynamics of the team evolve over the course of a year. My confidence was knocked when I first came back to work, especially after my second child where the changes were more significant. I had to learn to embrace change and upskill to find the career path that would work for me.
Amber: What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
Philippa: Motherhood has honed my multitasking, problem-solving, and time-management skills, all invaluable in my tech role. It has also heightened my focus at work, enabling me to be more efficient and prioritise critical goals.
“Motherhood has honed my multitasking, problem-solving, and time-management skills, all invaluable in my tech role”
Amber: When you were returning to work, what one thing would have helped you the most?
Philippa: Positive relationships with allies in my workplace helped me tackle the challenges I faced when I returned to work. However, the most valuable support would have been tailored training for managers.
While I had invested in personal development during my maternity leave, I was unprepared for the extent of change in processes, people, and projects. I didn’t know how much change there was until I was already overwhelmed.
Managers, who often lack lived experience of extended leave, play a pivotal role in the return experience. Structured re-induction plans with clear expectations could have smoothed my transition back to work.
Amber: What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Philippa: Employers should support a more flexible work culture and ensure there is support for everyone to make that work. I work my role across 4 days which allows me to balance my work life with being a parent and keeping on top of things at home. It's crucial to highlight success stories of women thriving with flexible work arrangements to inspire and encourage others.
“Your unique blend of tech talent and motherhood skills make you an asset. Find ways to showcase them and celebrate them during performance reviews. These are really important skills that not everyone has.”
Amber: Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Philippa: Your unique blend of tech talent and motherhood skills make you an asset. Make sure you don’t underestimate the value of the skills that you have gained through maternity leave and as a working parent. Find ways to showcase them and celebrate them during performance reviews. These are really important skills that not everyone has.
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