Mums in Tech ft. Maryam Gbemisola

As part of the ‘Mums in Tech’ series, MotherBoard caught up with Maryam Gbemisola, Business Intelligence Analyst.

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?

My name is Maryam Gbemisola, a Business Intelligence Analyst and the founder of Data Tech Academy. In my role, I turn raw data into clear insights using tools like Power BI, Tableau, Excel, and SQL. I lead projects on sales analysis, financial modeling, HR reports, and customer churn to help businesses grow. I also run a WhatsApp community of over 500 members, mentor women in tech through various groups , and host free webinars to empower others in data skills. It is all about making data simple and meaningful while building supportive networks.

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

It is a task yet rewarding experience of sleeping late and waking early to work on data , planning the day while tending to the kids. Every task achieved is a win for both my career and my kids.

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

I make balance by doing tasks that don’t require full attention when the kids are around or when I do not have much time,like a 15-minute quick learning session during nap time or updating my portfolio while the kids play. I prioritize family first by having ‘no media break ‘. It’s not perfect, but I focus on progress rather than perfection and I don’t beat myself so hard when I don’t achieve some task.

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

My biggest challenge has been finding quiet time to focus on deep work during the day like building dashboards or mentoring sessions when the kids are around. Sometimes , I send them to play in the compound or with neighbors if I need to fully concentrate, It is tough without a dedicated study space. I also get things done late in the night when they are asleep and early in the morning before they are awake.

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

Motherhood has sharpened my multitasking, like switching from a data report to quickly preparing lunch. I have also built my empathy for mentoring women helping mentee grow has taught me patience , empathy and leadership that makes me better at guiding teams through tough projects.

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

When returning to work, the one thing that helped me the most was self-motivation, driven by knowing that my kids and others look up to me, and that I have big goals to achieve for our future.

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

Employers should prioritize flexible work options, remote work options and built-in mentorship programs, so mums can blend career growth with family life without burning out.