"How I balance being a new Mum and working full-time."
At Enate, people come first. Our team of engineers, marketers and customer champions span the globe, from London to Bangalore. We’re proud to be a remote-first company that values impact over hours spent at the desk. We’ve built a flexible environment where employees can balance work with a lifestyle that works for them. In this series, we’re turning the spotlight onto our team to share their experiences of life at Enate.
This week, we’re chatting with Emma Thyer, VP of Marketing, who brings over a decade of SaaS start-up expertise to Enate and recently became a parent.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m VP of Marketing, and lead a brilliant team of creatives, growth hackers and generalist marketers. Our shared goal (and challenge) is to grow the brand, and reach the right people with our solution at exactly the right time. Marketing sits across all departments, so we collaborate closely with teams across the business to ensure we’re always communicating the best story.
As part of the senior leadership team, I also play a role in shaping the broader direction of the company, making sure that marketing not only creates demand, but also supports long-term growth and customer satisfaction.
My background is in marketing for tech start-ups. From Relo to Nutmeg Investments, they’ve all had two things in common: Passionate founders and impactful products. My biggest challenge in all these roles has been to get the world to believe in their vision, which is a something I find incredibly rewarding.
How does Enate’s remote working set-up accommodate parenthood?
I recently became a mum to Charlie, my baby boy. While I try to fit him into my routine as best as possible, ‘Baby Admin’ (as I like to call it) takes priority. Bottle sterilising, pumping, doctor’s appointments… It’s a lot! Plus, I naturally want to spend as much quality time as possible with him.
Enate’s remote work policy has massively helped with this transition. It’s enabled me to relocate from London to Berkshire to be closer to family, while still being positioned between Enate’s Cheltenham and London offices for in-person meet-ups. Commuting wise, I save around 4 hours a day, and £80 in train fares. This gives me 20 extra hours back each week to spend with Charlie, not to mention the financial saving. It’s a win-win.
Being at home also makes breastfeeding and pumping so much easier. I can do it from my desk, whenever I need, without letting it get in the way of my working day.
How do you balance being a new mum and VP of Marketing?
Honestly, it’s hard, and there’s no magic answer. Life with a baby is chaotic and unpredictable. I keep my work life structured and organised but take a more relaxed approach to mum life, staying positive and enjoying the moments as they come.
Working from home has been key. I can see Charlie throughout the day and spend quality time with him in the evening. It’s a set-up that simply wouldn’t be possible with an onsite job. Enate is a refreshing company to work for as they really understand that life happens sometimes. You’re trusted to manage your work, while dealing with the occasional curveball.
Has there been any flexibility with your working hours?
Charlie starts nursery next year, and Enate has been great about flexing my hours for drop-offs and pick-ups. It means I get a bit of time with him before bed, and can catch up on missed work at a better time.
In what ways (if any) does the company culture support parents?
Enate has been incredibly supportive throughout the whole process, from my pregnancy to maternity leave, and now with the return to working full-time. We planned for my absence as a team, and the leadership and marketing team were fantastic throughout.
Plenty of Enate employees have young families, so it’s common company practice to strike the right balance between work and personal life. There is a general understanding that happy, motivated employees produce better work.
What was it like transitioning back to work?
I kept in touch periodically during my leave, joining calls during Charlie’s nap times or walks. This was completely my own choice so I didn’t feel out of the loop. I appreciated being able to check in as it gave me moments of grown-up conversation, which I really needed. I was even able to attend Enate’s summer party and catch-up with everyone in-person. All of this made the transition back to work much smoother and allowed me to get stuck back into things quickly.
What advice would you give to other new parents juggling work and family?
Be open and honest about what you need, and find a workplace that’s willing to meet you halfway. That dialogue has made all the difference for me at Enate.
What needs to change for working mums in society?
People are starting families later in life, and traditional gender roles have evolved, but maternity policies are often still stuck in the 1950s. More balanced leave for both parents would ease pressure on Mums to pause their careers and could be transformative for many families.
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