Mums in Tech ft. Sammy White
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Sammy White, Learning Lead at Glean.
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 work in EdTech as a former teacher. I am the subject expert on learning and we build this into our product from start to finish. Every button, icon, feature is considered with learning in mind. I do this part time, my main role is mum of 2 primary school aged kids.
If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?
Fast paced at home and work getting easier to balance as the kids get older.
“Just like a work event is non-negotiable, sometimes childcare is non-negotiable too. It’s having a level of empathy that helps when these situations arise.”
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
Part time hours have helped me massively, I have spread my 0.8 over 5 days meaning I finish in time for pick up every day. This also means I can do every club and activity drop off my kids have as well. I have the flexibility to work from home a lot which helps keep the balance as well.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
Tokenistic flexible working policies have hindered me in the past. When companies say they offer flexible working but when it comes down to it they don’t budge on their requirements. Sometimes in tech you are needed in the business on a certain day or for a certain thing and it is unavoidable, I am thinking quarterly town halls, feature releases, hack weeks. I would like folks to know that if I have said no to attending in person I have tried every possible way to make it work and not be made to feel bad when I have to say no. Just like a work event is non-negotiable, sometimes childcare is non-negotiable too. It’s having a level of empathy that helps when these situations arise.
“That skill of empathising when negotiating and finding resolution especially in workplace conflict is a skill that I really developed when I became a mother.”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
My administration skills as a mother have improved exponentially. Weekly school and nursery newsletters whipped into calendars, scheduling of pick up and drop offs I am a master of. Negotiation with a child over meal times has meant I can negotiate hard at work now as well! Jokes aside, that skill of empathising when negotiating and finding resolution especially in workplace conflict is a skill that I really developed when I became a mother. I have a new outlook on conflict, that being a parent has given me.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
An understanding that I was trying my best. I think back to both maternity return periods and the first period I was not given that and it was incredibly hard. I was constantly made to feel guilty for being a working mother. My second maternity leave I had that and it felt so much more collaborative and easy returning to work.
“Employers have suggested to me over the years that a gender ERG is adequate, it isn’t in my view.”
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
ERGs need working mother representatives. I always make the suggestion that working mothers are a unique group with unique needs and insights into your business, ignoring their voice will lead to problems. Employers have suggested to me over the years that a gender ERG is adequate, it isn’t in my view. A gender ERG about gender diversity will have and should have a different focus to an ERG focussed on the needs of working parents.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
Try to operate on a feasible and reasonable scale. First question, ask yourself is the request feasible, probably this is always a yes, you are a working mother and it is easy to think you are super human. Secondly ask yourself, is it reasonable to action this request? And have you considered your own needs in that? Be kind to yourself!
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