Mums in Tech ft. Samantha Kingston
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Samantha Kingston, CEO at Virtual Umbrella.
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?
My name is Samantha, I have been working in the immersive technology industry for over ten years. I co-founded my company Virtual Umbrella in 2015 with my partner Bertie. As a co-founder and CEO my responsibility is keeping my company running, working with great clients and keeping up to date with where the industry is going.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
I am sat on a rollercoaster while holding two cups of tea; An exhilarating challenge of trying to have balance.
“I am sat on a rollercoaster while holding two cups of tea; An exhilarating challenge of trying to have balance.”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
It’s very early days to my maternity leave finishing and coming back to work. It has been daunting in the first few weeks and almost not knowing where to begin, but I do feel that I can slowly see the way it was before I had a baby and learning to work with that. I currently work two days a week and so far that has helped me ease back into working life, while knowing I still have three business days at home with my baby
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
Knowing that my capacity has changed. I can no longer attend all the networking events or industry conferences that I would normally attend. Partly due to where they are hosted or the time of the events. It can make you feel like you have been outcasted, not intentionally but can be frustrating. However, it just means I can be part of the change. I can make sure that when I am hosting events or networking that they are inclusive of working parents.
“It has been daunting in the first few weeks and almost not knowing where to begin, but I do feel that I can slowly see the way it was before I had a baby and learning to work with that.”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
I have gained a lot of patience. My baby had colic in first few months and this was incredibly hard to help them through that time, but I learnt that sometime we have to wait and endure. I hope that this new skills allows me to remain more calm within stressful situations and take a breath.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
Having an incredibly supporting partner in life and work. I am lucky to share my life with my co-founder and so there is already a great understanding of how hard it can be coming back to work. Bertie has worked very hard to allow me to have the time off that I needed, and we are now working as a team to work on this transition. We are aware that it will be challenging at points with work, childcare, sickness and unforeseen circumstances but I know we can figure it out together
“Find your tribe. I have not been back to work long but I have already had so many great chats with other working mums in the tech industry.”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Flexibility. No two days are going to be the same for a working mother. We can plan and hope for a smooth working life, but that is not always the case. Knowing that things might not always go to plan but allowing the flexibility to work around obstacles will make coming back to work a much greater transition than without it.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Find your tribe. I have not been back to work long but I have already had so many great chats with other working mums in the tech industry and it has been great to not feel alone in it and almost have others to justify how you feel in those moments where you may lack confidence with stepping back into work.
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