Mums in Tech ft. Valeria Del Sordo
As part of our ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Valeria Del Sordo, eCommerce Solutions Specialist at GENE Commerce.
The purpose of our 'MotherBoard’ content 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?
Hi, I’m Valeria Del Sordo, an eCommerce Solutions Specialist at GENE and mum to my 17-month-old daughter, Vittoria. I’ve worked in eCommerce for the last 15 years, both on client and agency side, and throughout that time I’ve developed a strong passion for the fast-paced, ever-evolving nature of the industry.
In my current role, I work closely with clients to understand their needs and requirements, then translate those into actionable development roadmaps. I also support their strategies for UX improvements and CRO across websites and apps, while helping defi ne long-term visions for new features and functionalities. I love making digital products more user-friendly and solving real user problems, always supported by data and market research.
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 means managing a never-ending to-do list while trying to stay present with your kids, balancing the pressure to be productive at work with the need to be emotionally and physically available for my family, especially when things don’t go according to plan. The attitude of employers is crucial in determining whether this juggling act feels sustainable or overwhelming.
How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?
Finding balance is an ongoing challenge, but there are a couple of key elements that can make it signifi cantly easier.
First, the workplace attitude plays a huge role. I’m really lucky that my agency, GENE, truly values trust and fl exibility - not just in words but in practice. They’re incredibly supportive of balancing work and personal life, and they’re particularly understanding of the needs of mums. When I returned to work, I needed to work shorter hours two days a week for the initial period, and they not only accommodated this but never made me feel guilty about it. Now, I’m back to full-time, but I work four days a week, and they had no issue with that - they trusted my organisational skills and believed my productivity wouldn’t be impacted. And, if I need to attend appointments or my baby is sick, they’re always supportive and understanding.
The second key element is having that same level of support at home. While it wasn’t easy at fi rst, and it can still be challenging at times, my partner and I have learned to fi nd a balance between our demanding jobs. We plan as much as possible in advance, stay fl exible when needed, and ask for help from family or a babysitter when necessary. We’ve had to adapt and be resourceful, but it’s all about teamwork.
What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?
The greatest challenge has been accepting that, no matter how organised I am or how much I plan in advance, things don’t always go as expected. As someone who loves to be prepared and dislikes uncertainty, I’ve learned that both at work and in life, you can only control so much. Dealing with the unexpected (whether it’s a work crisis when your baby needs you, or a sick child when you have a mountain of work to tackle) has been a huge learning curve. It’s taught me to adapt, re-plan, and sometimes let go of the idea of perfection.
“The greatest challenge has been accepting that, no matter how organised I am or how much I plan in advance, things don’t always go as expected.”
What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?
At the end of the day, I believe motherhood makes you more efficient and adaptable in every aspect of life, whether at work or at home. You learn to maximise your time, focus on what really matters, and get the most out of every hour you have. It sharpens your perspective as well.
When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?
The most helpful thing when returning to work was having a supportive and understanding team. Knowing that my employer was committed to making the transition easier and providing fl exibility made all the difference. Having KIT days along the way also helped me stay connected to the team, and being updated on company news made me feel like I wasn’t returning out of the blue. Additionally, the encouragement to take things easy in the fi rst few weeks was invaluable - it allowed me to ease back into the rhythm without feeling overwhelmed.
What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?
Flexibility is absolutely key. Employers need to recognise that every working mother’s (and really, everyone’s) situation is unique and offer tailored solutions to support them. Beyond that, it’s important they understand the value and potential people bring to the workplace when they feel trusted. When employees feel supported, they often give back even more.
It’s also crucial that a mother’s career progression remains a priority, regardless of reduced hours, and this should apply to everyone. If you’re still delivering results and doing your job well, working fewer hours shouldn’t be seen as a trade-off for career growth.
Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?
To all the working mothers out there, my advice is to trust yourself - be thankful for the support you receive from your employer but don’t hesitate to speak up and advocate for yourself when something isn’t right. Our presence in the workplace is incredibly powerful – we bring invaluable perspectives, serve as role models for younger women, and play a key role in transforming the tech industry.
“To all the working mothers out there, my advice is to trust yourself - be thankful for the support you receive from your employer but don’t hesitate to speak up and advocate for yourself when something isn’t right.”
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