Mums in Tech - feat. Rebecca Worsley
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Rebecca Worsley, Director of Rainy City.
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?
Hi, I’m Rebecca, founder and MD of Rainy City. I started the agency over 6 years ago and am proud to be the first female founder of a Shopify Plus agency in Europe! As founder/MD my role is focussed on driving the agency forward with ambitious growth plans and being the visionary for the agency. A lot of my role involves working closely with my leadership team and pushing forward with our goals. I’m also responsible for new business so handle all of our sales calls.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
The craziest, most challenging and mental experience, but so much fun.
“Being a mum in tech is the craziest, most challenging and mental experience, but so much fun. ”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
I don't think I’ve found it yet. I spoke about this recently on a panel and said it was an area I’m still trying to figure out. My little boy is 7 months old now and I went back to work when he was only a few weeks old so I’m trying to find the balance between being super present when I’m with him and being able to cherish the moments whilst he’s still young to also running a 7-figure business and hitting our goals and targets here.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
My greatest challenge has been trying to do it all and not appear to be less of a “worker” because I have a child. I’ve found myself saying yes to almost everything so I appear that I can do it all - run a business, be a good mum and have it all together! It’s definitely a struggle.
“My greatest challenge has been trying to do it all and not appear to be less of a “worker” because I have a child. I’ve found myself saying yes to almost everything so I appear that I can do it all - run a business, be a good mum and have it all together! It’s definitely a struggle.”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
I think I have more empathy and understanding, before I had a baby I was very to the point and quite forthcoming, now I have taken a slight step back and think about people’s reasonings before making a judgement on their ability to perform.
I’ve always been organised and efficient but now instead of just thinking about my own mental notes I have to have them for the baby too! Nap times, feed times, everything is stored in my head and I’m able to reel off information like never before!
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
My return to work wasn’t very normal I started back 3 weeks after he was born, only on a low level - having lots of the team come and work with me at my house and started doing sales calls again, I wouldn’t recommend it, the hormones are crazy and as a first-time mum, I had no idea what I was doing.
My leadership team was fairly new so I didn’t give them enough support to be able to manage everything seamlessly whilst I was off, but you don’t know what you don’t know, if there’s a next time I'll definitely put more of a focus into having the agency run without my heavy involvement.
“I think I have more empathy and understanding, before I had a baby I was very to the point and quite forthcoming, now I have taken a slight step back and think about people’s reasonings before making a judgement on their ability to perform. ”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
I don’t know if I’m the best to answer this one as I went back to work so soon but since I’ve had the baby and I am the first one in the team we’ve implemented a really good and solid Maternity Leave Policy - 20 weeks full pay and 20 weeks half pay which hopefully helps new mums not feel the pressure of returning to work so quickly!
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
You’ve got this.
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