Mums in Tech ft. Rhiannon Brenton
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Rhiannon Brenton, who leads Technology Excellence on the Vodafone Business Technology Solutions (VBTS) leadership team.
The purpose of our 'MotherBoard’ interview 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 Rhiannon Brenton, I lead Technology Excellence on the Vodafone Business Technology Solutions (VBTS) leadership team. My team are responsible for operational excellence, business performance, digital transformation, innovation, workforce enablement and strategic programmes across our engineering and technology teams. I joined Vodafone in 2023 to build the Operational Excellence function from the ground up, and since then we've established Centres of Excellence, launched the Engineering Academy, introduced new digital capabilities and driven improvements that make life easier for our engineers and customers. Alongside my day job, I'm passionate about increasing diversity within engineering and technology. Three years ago, I founded the Women in Engineering Network within Vodafone Business and established a partnership with the Women's Engineering Society (WES), an organisation that works tirelessly to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in STEM. Susan Robson, CEO of WES, is doing incredible work in this space, and I'm proud that Vodafone can play a role in supporting that mission.
For me, creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive isn't just the right thing to do, it's essential if we want to attract, develop and retain the diverse talent our industry needs for the future.
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 mum in tech is a constant balancing act between two very different worlds. At work, I'm focused on delivering results and supporting teams to succeed; at home, I'm helping my two young boys grow into happy, confident young people, and their happiness is the most important KPI I have.
“Being a working mum in tech is a constant balancing act between two very different worlds. At work, I'm focused on delivering results and supporting teams to succeed; at home, I'm helping my two young boys grow into happy, confident young people, and their happiness is the most important KPI I have.”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
For me, balance isn't about getting everything right every day, it's about being present wherever I am. When I'm at work, I focus on making an impact and supporting my team. When I'm at home, I try to be fully present with my two boys. I've also learned the importance of setting boundaries, asking for help when needed, and accepting that some days work gets more attention and other days family does. Over time, I've realised that balance is something you continually adjust rather than something you achieve once. I feel incredibly fortunate to have a supportive husband and family who are my biggest cheerleaders. They encourage me to keep pushing myself and achieving my goals, and on the tougher days they remind me why I love what I do. They also help me remember that by pursuing a career I'm passionate about, I'm setting a positive example for my boys, showing them the value of hard work, ambition and doing something that makes you happy.
I've come to realise that balance isn't about choosing between being a good mum and having a successful career; it's about building a life where both can coexist, even if it doesn't always look perfect.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the feeling that I needed to prove myself in every room while also dealing with the guilt that many working parents experience. Technology and engineering can still be male-dominated environments, and early in my career there were very few female role models in leadership positions. Learning that I could be both an ambitious leader and a dedicated mum, without compromising either, has been a significant personal journey.
I owe a huge amount to two mentors who supported me through the transition back to work after maternity leave. They helped me see that becoming a mother hadn't taken anything away from my professional capabilities, in fact, it had added to them. One piece of advice has stayed with me ever since. One mentor, an incredibly inspiring lady Somayeh Aghnia Co-Founder of the London School of Innovation and Geeks Ltd, said, "You've just been on the most brilliant training course of your life, now come back and put those new skills into action."
That completely changed my mindset. Instead of viewing time away from the workplace as a setback, I started to recognise the new skills I had developed: resilience, adaptability, prioritisation, empathy and the ability to perform under pressure. Those skills have made me a stronger leader, and learning to embrace that rather than apologise for it was a real turning point for me.
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
Motherhood has made me a much stronger leader. It's improved my empathy, patience and ability to adapt when things don't go to plan. It has also strengthened my prioritisation skills because when you're balancing family and work, you become very clear on what truly matters. Perhaps most importantly, becoming a mother helped me understand people better and lead with greater compassion and authenticity.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
Having supportive and understanding leaders makes a huge difference. Returning to work can be daunting, particularly when you're rebuilding confidence and adapting to a completely different routine. After my first son was born, I made the decision to change careers and move into a new industry. It was a huge step, and one I may not have taken without having my manager, Gareth Hopkins, who genuinely believed in me. The trust, encouragement and opportunity he gave me at such an important stage of my life had a lasting impact, and it's shaped the way I lead and support others today.
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
The biggest priority should be creating a culture where flexibility is genuinely supported and not just talked about. Flexible working benefits everyone, but for working mothers it can be the difference between staying and leaving an organisation. Employers should also focus on visible role models, supportive parental policies and ensuring career progression continues after maternity leave. Becoming a parent should never be seen as a barrier to leadership opportunities.
In fact, over the last few years I've received numerous messages from women saying that seeing me progress into senior leadership roles whilst raising a young family has helped them believe that it's achievable for them too. Representation really matters. If people can see someone successfully navigating both career and family life, it helps them picture that future for themselves. I've always believed in keeping the door open for others and supporting women coming through behind me, just as others did for me.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Don't underestimate the value of what you bring. The skills you develop as a parent, resilience, problem-solving, adaptability, empathy and leadership, are incredibly valuable in technology and engineering. Don't wait until you feel 100% ready before putting yourself forward for opportunities. Have confidence in your abilities, build a strong support network and remember that your career doesn't have to follow a perfect path to be successful. Most importantly, be kind to yourself, you are doing better than you think.
One thing I've learned throughout my career is the importance of learning from others. I'm fortunate to have two mentors who support me in different ways. One is at the later stages of her career, Jenny Cridland, in HR Transformation and generously shares a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom that you simply can't find in a textbook. The other Claire Ridgers, VF’s Strategy and Transformation Director, is on an incredible trajectory, pushing boundaries and inspiring me to think bigger about what's possible. Having both perspectives has been invaluable and reminds me that we never stop learning, regardless of where we are in our careers.
And finally, if you can see it, you can be it. That's why it's so important that we continue to increase the visibility of women and mothers in technology. Every time we share our stories, challenge perceptions and support one another, we help the next generation believe that these careers are absolutely for them. If my journey helps even one woman feel more confident about pursuing her ambitions whilst raising a family, then that's something I'm incredibly proud of.
“Don't underestimate the value of what you bring. The skills you develop as a parent, resilience, problem-solving, adaptability, empathy and leadership, are incredibly valuable in technology and engineering. Don't wait until you feel 100% ready before putting yourself forward for opportunities. Have confidence in your abilities, build a strong support network and remember that your career doesn't have to follow a perfect path to be successful. Most importantly, be kind to yourself, you are doing better than you think.”
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