Becoming a Mum… learning on the ‘job’.

A little after turning 31, I became Managing Director of Seen Studios.

After a decade working client-side—working hard and proving my worth—I joined the agency, determined to make my mark. Within 18 months, I stepped into the role of MD, completely focused on what I could bring to the agency: how I could strengthen it, push it further in the industry, and make a lasting impact. At the time, I wasn’t thinking much about my personal life goals. Sure, I wanted kids, but it felt distant—something I could figure out later.

Fast forward a year, and I was pregnant with my first child. After a relatively ‘relaxed’ first two trimesters, it started to dawn on me that perhaps you can’t ‘have it all’ and that something would have to give. I had built a professional lifestyle that revolved around late nights at the office, after-work socialising with clients and colleagues, frequent travel, and always being available at a moment’s notice. (Something I’m still working on today—my zero-mail inbox demon!) 

It was a routine I had mastered, and I enjoyed it. But with motherhood on the horizon, I realised that maintaining this lifestyle while also being a present, engaged parent was going to be a challenge. For the first time, I felt the weight of competing demands between my professional and personal worlds—a new and unsettling feeling, as I had always been proud of my work ethic and commitment. I was determined to not let that change.

I’m aware of comments and perceptions that question how leaders with children can be successful... ‘But how do you have the time to fit everything in?’ ‘What if you need to stay late or handle a work emergency?’ Or, dare I say it, comments that simply challenge the notion of ‘working hard’.

Luckily, I’m supported by an incredible team—both at work and at home. Many of my colleagues at the agency have children, and I like to think that even those who don’t, can see that balancing parenthood with work is possible, even if it looks a little different for everyone. This sense of support has been crucial in helping me navigate the complexities of motherhood while maintaining my role as MD. It also reminded me that I don’t need to be everything to everyone all the time.

As I adjusted to this new groove, I began to realise that I now had less time for certain things, which forced me to be more strategic about how I spent it. For example, I had to start asking myself hard questions like, “Do I really need to go on this trip or attend this event?”, or “Is there someone else on the team who would benefit from the opportunity?” This shift in mindset helped me become more calculated toward my goals. I became more intentional, focusing my attention on the right spaces, rather than trying to be everywhere at once.

Of course, the feeling of being pulled in two directions doesn’t go away. I’ve become more open about the fact that I have children, and I’m comfortable sharing that I may not always be available first thing in the morning due to nursery and school drop-offs… but then there are also times when I barely say bye to my kids when dropping them at childcare because I need to get online for 9 am.

Interestingly, motherhood has pushed me to try new things that I might not have done otherwise. At the start of the year, I founded a new group of like-minded leaders within the marketing world. ‘Creative Marketing Mums’ allows me, and others, to connect, chat, share advice, and simply be with other women who are ‘in the same boat’, balancing the pressures of agency life and parenthood. 

This wasn’t meant to be another article questioning, ‘How can parents manage the juggle?’ because I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all solution. It heavily relies on individuals figuring it out depending on their personal circumstances.

That said, being both a mum and an agency leader, I see it as my responsibility to try and make it easier for the parents in my own team by helping them ‘figure it out’. Companies need to open their eyes to the fact that reproduction isn’t going anywhere—and in fact, it’s essential for the world to keep turning and the economy to keep growing.

So, how can we help parents and carers, ‘figure it out’? These are some of the things I have put in place to support my team: 

• Transparent and accessible maternity, paternity, adoption, and baby loss policies 
• Supportive and clear structures for when people are on leave 
• Open and honest forums for flexible working requests to take place  
• Workplace nursery benefit schemes 
• Additional ‘emergency days’ that are given on top of holidays (for those moments that you just can’t prep for!) 
• Parental leave support  
• Flexible starts and finishes 
• An open ear for conversations, advice and everything in between ☺ 

If you would like to join us at Creative Marketing Mums, then drop me a DM on LinkedIn!