Mums in Tech ft. Cleone Nuttgens-Wright

Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your current role?

I’m Cleone, and I work as a Principal Programme Manager for Snap Analytics. My role is a hybrid one – half looking after clients, heading up delivery projects for them and managing the overall relationship, and half working on our delivery and PMO processes, governance and best practice.

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

Tough, but so rewarding!

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

My kids are older now thankfully, but when they were little I was able to drop down to four days a week, which helped with the balance. I did find it really challenging at times because I had to rely on childcare from others (often strangers when you start out) and regularly missed out on school events etc that other mums could attend. It was sad and hard and tiring at times, but my career was important to me, and on balance I think I was a happier person, and therefore a better mother, by fulfilling my ambitions.

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

During my days with young children tech was even more male dominated than it is now, and there were definitely times when I didn’t get as much understanding and support as I think I would now. It wasn’t so much that the men in charge didn’t care or were deliberately awkward, but more that they didn’t really understand. Often they had kids of their own, but they also had a partner who would take the bulk of the emotional (and often practical) toll of caring for young children, so there was sometimes impatience along the lines of “can’t someone else take care of them?” when emergencies happened, or when I couldn’t work late, etc.

I feel like this is changing in a really positive way, but while tech is still male dominated, I don’t think this problem will go away completely.

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

Patience! Staying calm under pressure, and most of all, resilience. As a programme manager, account lead, team lead and manager I am much more attuned to the people around me after becoming a mother. Having dealt with multi-tasking under pressure for many years, whilst juggling small people’s heightened emotions (and big people’s heightened emotions too, for that matter) I feel I am pretty well equipped to deal with just about anything work might throw at me!

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

Four days a week working was great, but actually what would have been even better was true flexibility. The companies I worked for knew I was committed, driven and not someone who would be lazy or sloppy with my work, so in hindsight flexibility to work different hours would have probably been the most useful pattern for me. I would always have got the job done, but I could have spent more time with my kids while doing it.

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

As above – flexibility. I really believe mothers offered truly flexible working can add so much value, while balancing their most important job of all as a mum.

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

It’s a really fantastic industry to be a part of, and as an older woman I can see it changing and improving for women and parents before my eyes. I promise you, things are markedly better now than they were 20 years ago, and in another 20 years they will be even better. Keep the faith, keep talking, keep pushing for true flexibility!

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