Mums in Tech ft. Dr Julia Dietlmeier

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

I hold a PhD degree in Machine Learning/Computer Vision and work as a postdoctoral researcher at Dublin City University, Ireland. I do research in medical imaging with AI where I develop novel algorithms to process different scans.

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

If you can survive completing a tech PhD with young children, managing tech projects once they are grown up feels like a walk in the park.

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

Cooking helps – I am not a great cook but I am trying to find time to cook over the weekend.

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

My greatest challenge was the emotional toll of placing my toddlers in childcare every single day; even with a wonderful childminder, walking away to focus on tech and my PhD broke my heart every morning.

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

Resilience and patience.

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

Well, I was not really returning to work as I never actually left. With all the relocations from one country to another and working on my Masters in the USA and PhD degree in Ireland, I never actually had a paid time-off. Yeah, having close family beside would have helped me the most.

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

Providing hybrid (remote and office) working options.

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

Raising my children has been the most challenging and rewarding research project of my life. My ultimate advice is never to let the fear of a demanding tech career eclipse your life at home; jobs and tech opportunities will always come and go, but your family is the most permanent and valuable asset you will ever build.