Mums in Tech ft. Samantha Taylor

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

I’m Sam Taylor, AI Implementation Manager at Unilink Software. My role is to help people across the business understand, adopt and confidently use AI in their everyday work. Rather than focusing purely on technology, I spend much of my time working with people – understanding how they work, identifying opportunities to improve productivity and quality, and helping teams build the confidence to embrace AI in a practical and responsible way. Before moving into AI, I spent over a decade in finance, information security, project management and Agile delivery, which has given me a broad understanding of how organisations operate and how to bring people with you through change.

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

Working in tech while raising my son means constantly adapting, learning and prioritising – but those same skills make you better at both and allow me to pass my knowledge and skills onto him to help his future.

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

I don’t think balance is something you ever completely achieve – it’s something you continually adjust. There are weeks where work needs more of me and weeks where family comes first. I’ve learnt to be kinder to myself about that and to focus on being present wherever I am, rather than trying to do everything perfectly.

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

One of the biggest challenges has been learning to put myself forward. As a working mum it’s easy to focus on everyone else – your family, your team, your colleagues – and forget to invest in yourself. Over the last year I’ve deliberately started saying yes to opportunities that scared me, from speaking at conferences to industry panels. Those experiences have helped me grow enormously, both professionally and personally.

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

My son is my absolute world. Everything I do, both in and out of work, is to allow me to spend time with him, support him, treat him, and help him transition into adult life. Becoming a mum has made me a better leader. I’ve become more patient, a better listener, and much more aware that everyone approaches challenges differently, and that they need different approaches to learning and adopting. These skills have been invaluable in AI implementation because successful adoption isn’t about technology – it’s about understanding people, meeting them where they are and helping them build confidence at their own pace.

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

Having people who trusted me and judged me on my contribution rather than my working pattern made a huge difference. Returning to work can knock your confidence, so having supportive managers and colleagues who gave me opportunities to grow helped me rebuild that confidence. Flexibility is important, but so is feeling valued and trusted, and that despite now having a significant responsibility, you can still excel professionally. Us women are very adaptable and great at multi-tasking. We can be successful mother’s and successful professionals.

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

Trust. Give people flexibility where possible but combine that with meaningful opportunities to develop. Working mothers shouldn’t feel that career progression stops after having children. Invest in them, involve them in interesting work and judge success by outcomes.

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

I’ve always believed in working hard. From my first job at 13, I’ve wanted to learn, improve and take on new challenges. Returning to work after having my son was one of the biggest transitions of my career. After a year away, the workplace had inevitably moved on – people had changed roles, new colleagues had joined, processes had evolved – and alongside learning how to be a mum, I was also trying to find my place professionally again. It felt overwhelming at times, and I think many mothers will recognise that feeling.

As the years have passed and my son has grown through nursery and into school, new opportunities have presented themselves. I’ve learnt that there probably isn’t a perfect work-life balance, only a constant process of adapting. The ability to prioritise, switch between competing demands, stay organised and remain calm under pressure isn’t just part of motherhood – it’s a valuable leadership skill.

One thing I’d say to any mum is this: don’t feel guilty for still having ambition. Becoming a mother doesn’t mean your professional aspirations disappear, nor should they. Wanting a fulfilling career and wanting to be a great parent are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the skills we develop as mothers – empathy, resilience, patience, communication and adaptability – make us stronger professionals, just as the confidence and experience we gain at work can make us better parents. We shouldn’t feel we have to choose one identity over the other; it’s okay to be proud of both.

Looking back, I worried that taking a year out would set my career back. Instead, it became the start of a very different chapter. Some of the biggest opportunities of my career have come since becoming a mum. So, my advice would simply be keep learning, keep saying yes to opportunities that excite or even scare you, and don’t underestimate what you’re capable of. Motherhood doesn’t limit your potential – it often reveals strengths you never realised you had.