Mums in Tech – feat. Fiona Watson

As part of the ‘Mums in Tech’ series, MotherBoard caught up with Fiona Watson, Chief Marketing Officer at ICS.AI.

The purpose of this ‘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?

Hello, I’m a Chief Marketing Officer at ICS.AI, a growing public sector AI solutions provider. Based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, I’m mother to Oscar (5), and Thea (7). My role spans across various elements of marketing, from strategy and proposition, to comms, content and branding. Before joining ICS.AI, I spend a decade at Barclays, where I navigated through diverse comms, campaign and commercial management roles and was supported through two maternity leaves. I transitioned to this role 18 months ago, seeking to realign with my passion for marketing.

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

Two words come to mind – “chaos” and “whirlwind”. Balancing motherhood and a demanding career is a constant juggle, and a juggle where I don’t feel I’m always getting the balance quite right.

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

Striking the right balance is tough. The greatest challenge is managing the constant rush between work and motherhood, striving to be effective in my role while being there for my children.

I’m grateful for employers who prioritise family, allowing me to blend professional responsibilities with motherhood in a flexible way – trusting me to get the job done. During lockdown, the “family first” policy Barclays had was a lifesaver, especially with my daughter starting school and the dynamic changing even further.

My recent shift to full-time, structured around my family needs, is a blessing, though it often extends my workday into the night. I do however still struggle with an imbalance, often questioning if I’ve “done enough”, battling through imposter syndrome, as well as the occasional “part-timer” comments when I leave early 2 days a week to collect the children from school. While the flexibility to work from home is very much welcomed, it is a double-edged sword in a way, with the challenge of when do you switch off?

Having never quite found the time to ever prioritise myself and fit in any well-being or mental health focused activities, I’ve recently made this more of a non-negotiable and committed to early morning boot camps three times a week – a challenging but essential addition to my routine.

Growing up with a mother who successfully ran her own business from home (and made it look super easy), I aim to provide my children with a similar blend of presence and independence. She was always there for us, but it was clear she worked hard, and we grew up with a strong independent female role model as a base. Something that has definitely shaped me into the person I am today and if I can do the same for my children then I’ll be happy.

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

My biggest challenge is the constant juggle – being an effective professional while managing the endless to-do list and rapidly switching gears between work and motherhood. The struggle of balancing work deadlines with the simple yet important demands of my children is a constant in my life.  The “no, I can’t play a 7th game of Uno because I need to go and finish a press release draft”. I’m very aware that the kids are only young for such a short time, and I’ve always been keen to make the most of those bedtime cuddles before they no longer want that from mummy!

Another challenge is having the time to keep up to date with what’s happening in the industry. The AI industry is fast-paced, especially with the advent of generative AI. But, how do you find time with a busy working and personal life to attend events, network, learn, read the latest articles etc. Something has to give and I’m never quite sure what it should be!

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

Motherhood has honed my multitasking, patience, and resilience, which are crucial in my role as a CMO. These skills have proven invaluable in managing a busy work schedule and leading a team effectively, as well as the resilience being part of the senior leadership team requires (especially when you’re the only female and working parent to young children on the board.

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

When I returned to work, part-time flexibility was the key. The support I received from Barclays during this transition phase was invaluable, allowing me to return to work 3.5 days a week, which helped me keep more of a balance in those really important early years. Financially, the extortionate childcare costs were challenging, but it was necessary to maintain my career trajectory (at £75 a day for 2 children in nursery, it was really easy to see why so many parents are forced to not return to work, it’s just not financially viable for so many).

In larger organisations, support networks are readily available for working parents, but in smaller organisations, the challenges are more pronounced, especially in senior roles. This underscores the need for more comprehensive support for working parents, both in terms of childcare costs and flexible working arrangements.

While I still face a juggle, I definitely did it the right way around – waiting until the children were both at school before taking on the additional challenge of my first leadership role and returning to full-time.

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

The top priority for employers should be offering flexible and dynamic working arrangements to support working mothers (and all parents) effectively. As workplaces evolve post-pandemic, adapting to the needs to working parents is essential for a balanced and inclusive workforce.

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

To fellow mothers in tech, remember to be kind to yourself. Your best effort is absolutely good enough. It’s a challenging journey, but with the right support, self-care and determination, it’s definitely possible to thrive both at home and in your career.

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