MotherBoard Ambassador Spotlight: Tony Allen

In 2023, Motherboard set up the ADLIB x MotherBoard Ambassador scheme for employees wanting to volunteer their time and join our mission of creating a more gender-fair and inclusive tech industry. As part of a series showcasing the amazing volunteers and ambassadors, MotherBoard caught up with Tony Allen, Head of Marketing, Digital & eCommerce Recruitment at ADLIB.

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

I head up the Marketing, Digital & eCommerce Recruitment team here at ADLIB. My team works with a broad range of agencies and in-house marketing teams, many of them with a Tech function, but not all. I joined ADLIB in 2021 and when I heard about MotherBoard I knew I wanted to get involved, so when the role of Ambassador was created I didn’t hesitate.

It’s amazing to see how far MotherBoard has come since then, and to be able to play a role in helping spread the word and get businesses signed up to the Charter is awesome!

What motivated you to become a MotherBoard ambassador?

There are many reasons, but one is that I’m a dad and husband, and although I’m most certainly a privileged, white male, and many of the stereotypes, I’ve too have experienced the impact of things via my family.

My wife worked in Marketing/Digital until our second child was born and spent the next 4 years struggling to land a role that was related to her career to date and fitted around the nursery/school runs, and everything else that comes with managing young humans.

The system is utterly broken and like many mums out there, my wife found herself pushed out of her career, for simply for choosing to bear children. 78% of women in the UK bear children by the age of 45. If you’re not being inclusive of mums then you’re not being inclusive of women.

As a father, I’d also like my daughter to be able to access a world of work where her career aspirations can be supported if she decides to become a parent.

Whatever your gender, whether you’re a mum, dad, parent or not, this affects you.

“The system is utterly broken and like many mums out there, my wife found herself pushed out of her career, for simply for choosing to bear children. 78% of women in the UK bear children by the age of 45. If you’re not being inclusive of mums then you’re not being inclusive of women.”

What does being a MotherBoard Ambassador mean to you?

Being an Ambassador means lots of things. I’ve become part of a community, attended some amazing events, and have the opportunity to signpost the Charter at any opportunity! Helping to get a new business signed up for the Charter is something I find very satisfying.

I’ve learnt so much through MotherBoard’s events and speakers and continue to do so.

I think MotherBoard’s impact reporting is also an important point. Purpose should be tangible and improved upon year on year, which the Impact Report shows.

“Often, businesses want to be more inclusive but don’t know where to begin, or are held back by perfectionism. Sometimes all that’s needed is a bit of encouragement to take the first small steps and the MotherBoard Community is a great place to feel encouraged and inspired.”

What are you most looking forward to as part of being an ambassador? 

Often, businesses want to be more inclusive but don’t know where to begin, or are held back by perfectionism. Sometimes all that’s needed is a bit of encouragement to take the first small steps and the MotherBoard Community is a great place to feel encouraged and inspired.

We also need more allies, and male ones too. As the data shows, there aren’t enough women in leadership roles making decisions about how a business is run for its employees. It shouldn’t just be up to female workers to have the difficult conversations and encourage people in leadership roles to see their point of view. The more male colleagues that engage with the likes of MotherBoard, the quicker change will happen.

“It shouldn’t just be up to female workers to have the difficult conversations and encourage people in leadership roles to see their point of view. The more male colleagues that engage with the likes of MotherBoard, the quicker change will happen.”

Any final words of advice for other people looking to better support mothers in the Tech Industry?

Reach out and chat to Sophie or any of the MotherBoard team. Consider joining the charter, wherever you feel you are on your journey. And attend one of MotherBoard’s events – you will always learn something new. Don’t forget to bring a colleague too! The more allies the quicker change can happen.

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

Interested in getting involved? Become a signatory today