Mums in Tech ft. Anne Stevens

As part of the ‘Mums in Tech’ series, MotherBoard caught up with Anne Stevens, Director of User Experience, Design and Research at Elsevier.

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?

I have worked in UX for 25 years now for companies such as Channel 4, Tesco and Just Eat Takeaway. Three years ago I made the move into the life sciences domain at Astrazeneca, and now I lead the UX team at Elsevier working on our suite of scientific research tools. These are used by a wide variety of companies, including those focused on pharmaceutical development.

If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?

It’s a constant juggling act of figuring out who or what most needs your attention at any given time.

How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?

I have always maintained clear boundaries between work and my personal life and I think that has helped me a lot. For 13 years I worked a four day week and I was very protective of my Fridays off. It was important for me to spend time with my children and not let work seep into that time. I try to be as efficient as I can during my working hours, but leave those responsibilities behind when I am spending time with my family.

What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?

Trying to be there for my children, especially when they were younger. When they were at primary school it was a constant juggle of trying to be there for day time events, dropping off at breakfast club, picking up from afters school club etc. There are so many competing demands on your time between home and work and sometimes it’s hard to know what to prioritise.

What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?

I think being a mother had made me a better line manager. It has developed my skills around patience, listening and empathy.

When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?

I was lucky enough to have a lot of support from my parents who looked after my children one day a week and offered countless hours of babysitting. This element of flexibility (and cost effectiveness!) to my childcare enabled me to be present at work in ways that would not have been possible without them.

What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?

Offering flexible hours (to dads as well). If I could wave my magic wand I would create term-time only jobs in Tech, but really I think these don’t exist. Flexible working is a lot easier now with the rise of working from home but it’s still not a given and I think this is the number one thing that enables mothers to stay in the workforce.

Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?

Don’t give up! It’s hard when your children are little and it feels like a constant juggle, but my children are now 13 and 17 and need a lot less of my time and so I am very glad to have a rewarding career that gives me inspiration in life beyond being a mother.

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