Mums in Tech ft. Anna Zawada

As part of the ‘Mums in Tech’ series, MotherBoard caught up with Anna Zawada, Senior Insight Manager at RAC.

The purpose of the ‘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?

Currently, I am Senior Insight Manager at RAC (the orange vans). My team is part of the Insight function within the dynamic Group Customer & Marketing department. We handle everything from market research to digital analytics, translating insights into actionable recommendations that shape strategy and influence decision-making. My role involves supporting my team and offering guidance. I’m proud to say my team is gender-balanced in a male-dominated industry. This diversity brings a wealth of perspectives, enhancing our ability to provide well-rounded and balanced analyses.

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

With the ongoing development of AI, it’s crucial to ensure working mothers are involved and represented in the tech industry… Mums can fix anything.

“With the ongoing development of AI, it’s crucial to ensure working mothers are involved and represented in the tech industry… Mums can fix anything.”

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

I wouldn’t call it a balance. On a daily basis, it’s about figuring out who needs my attention the most—be it at home or at work. Having a strong support network in both areas is essential. My partner is incredibly supportive of my career and understands that he is equally responsible for our kids. It’s not about him doing me a favour but about him fulfilling his part of the deal. At work, my direct managers are involved fathers and this positively influences their managerial style. This supportive environment makes a significant difference, giving me a chance to manage both my career and family responsibilities more effectively.

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

The greatest challenge has been finding time for personal development, such as additional training or upskilling. With so many priorities, it’s easy to push this aside. You might hesitate to attend a conference or extended training if it means being away from home. However, there are many ways to continue learning online, from podcasts with interesting speakers to training modules and short videos on demand. Women often put themselves last, but this can backfire in the long term from a career perspective. It’s crucial to prioritise personal development to stay competitive and advance in your career.

“Flexibility for both genders should be the top priority. If we want a more diverse workforce and more women in the industry, we need to support both mothers and fathers. ”

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

As a mother, I’ve developed a deep understanding of how precious time is. I’ve never been more focused in my life because the time I spend away from my kids has to be worth it. Another skill is multitasking. In my current role, I’m involved in many different projects, either directly or by supporting my team. This requires the ability to switch quickly between assignments and stay on top of things. I’ve also learned to delegate more effectively and push back on tasks that don’t align with our business strategy or should be handled by another team. These skills have made me more efficient and effective in my professional life.

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

The most helpful thing when returning to work was encouragement and reassurance that it’s okay to leave your baby in capable hands. Overcoming imposter syndrome was crucial – if anything it amplified during the maternity leave. Working in a male-dominated business initially made it challenging to relate to colleagues after my return. However, seeing other senior female managers excel, helped me reconnect with my professional skills. It was important to recognise that I still had the same abilities and that my contributions remained valuable.

“Remember, you are a role model for your kids… It would be great if my daughters could see themselves pursuing a career in tech if they choose to. It’s important to create an environment where women feel valued and supported, so they can thrive both professionally and personally. ”

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

Flexibility for both genders should be the top priority. If we want a more diverse workforce and more women in the industry, we need to support both mothers and fathers. Recently, I came across a quote that resonated with me:

“If we empower women to work outside the house without expecting men to work inside the house, then we aren’t empowering women, we’re exploiting them” – Farida D.

Change is happening, albeit slowly. In my career, I’ve encountered a new generation of managers who are more family-oriented and understand the benefits of diversity. Many men support female empowerment and gender equality, but there’s still not enough involvement in the tech industry to make significant progress. Let’s normalise senior male managers taking time off to care for their sick child, leaving on time or stopping conference calls early in the mornings or late in the afternoons to accommodate school runs.

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

Support each other and celebrate each other’s successes. Positive feedback from colleagues is vital, especially for mothers who may not receive it at home. Remember, you are a role model for your kids. My mother, an engineer, always encouraged us to get involved in STEM subjects, showing me that women are equally capable. While I didn’t follow that path, it gave me a subconscious boost. It would be great if my daughters could see themselves pursuing a career in tech if they choose to. It’s important to create an environment where women feel valued and supported, so they can thrive both professionally and personally.

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