Mums in Tech ft. Ellie McCarthy

As part of MotherBoard’s ‘Mums in Tech’ series, we caught up with Ellie McCarthy, Client Relationships and Product Management Lead at William Joseph.

The purpose of the ‘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?

As Client Relationships & Product Management Lead at William Joseph, I partner with charities and third-sector organisations to deliver digital products and services that create meaningful impact. We’re a digital, branding and strategy agency working with charities, health, and education organisations. Our mission is to create equity by design

I guide teams and clients through agile delivery, helping them adopt new ways of working while we co-create solutions that genuinely serve their users. I act as the strategic lead and primary client contact, ensuring we build not just great products, but great relationships, grounded in trust and shared goals.

I’m also the proud co-founder of Charity Book Club; a space for community, connection, and conversation beyond traditional networking. And my most important role is being mum to two wonderful children, Aria and Louis.

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

A balancing act between giving my all at work and having energy left for home.

“I would not want to stop working, I love it just as much as I love having adventures with my family.”

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

I’m very lucky to work in an agency that has trust built into the culture. Everyone is fully remote, and choose their hours outside core times. I currently work 4 days a week so that I can spend Fridays having fun with my little people. If they are ill, I’m able to miss work to look after them, guilt free. Attending appointments is also fine. This flexibility gives me the chance to handle everything that motherhood throws at me, and still have the career I love. I would not want to stop working, I love it just as much as I love having adventures with my family.

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

Letting go of work at home, and home at work. It’s healthy to bring your true self to work, but not so healthy to be overwhelmed with household tasks while trying to deliver, or checking Slack when at the playground with the kids.

“It’s healthy to bring your true self to work, but not so healthy to be overwhelmed with household tasks while trying to deliver, or checking Slack when at the playground with the kids.”

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

Prioritisation at pace, empathy, resilience, leadership, perspective.

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

My return to work was very supportive and well thought through, I had regular KIT days in the lead up, so nothing was a real surprise. My manager kept a log of ‘things that have changed’ to share with me. I preferred an immediate leap into 4 days, but some prefer a phased return. All the team understood that many sick days would happen in the early days of a new nursery, I’d be sleep derived, and would have had a tough morning with drop offs. There wasn’t any pressure.

“Find your tribe – people you can share with who understand what you’re going through.”

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

Be flexible – whether that’s days within the week, hours within the day, location, whatever. It’s the outcomes that matter, not the outputs.

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

Find your tribe – people you can share with who understand what you’re going through. It feels especially important in this industry.

MotherBoard is a Business Charter, Community & Event Series, driving tangible change for mums working in the tech industry.

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