Hi! I’m Silja, and I’m a mum of four. 🙋♀️
So, what’s the math of being a working mum in tech?
I’m a data person, so I keep seeing numbers everywhere.
Dentist visit once a year? Multiply by four.
Regular doctor checkup? Multiply by four.
A “quick” 3 PM school concert? Multiply by four.
And add travel time.
Then there are the fun ones:
Winter boots? €50 × 4.
Hats, gloves, or swimsuits? Always multiply by four – plus a few spares, because someone will forget theirs.
Hobbies? €60 × 8 if everyone wants two.
At one point, I even started keeping an Excel sheet with shoe types and sizes, because I had lost track of what we have and made a few unnecessary purchases. Not sure I should share this, but the list had 100+ items.
It’s funny, but behind all this math lies something I’m deeply grateful for: that I can make it work.
Working in tech has given me something many parents in other fields can’t always count on – flexibility. I can be there for the Christmas concert and still lead my projects with impact.
At Bolt, no one blinks when I say, “I’ll be out for my kid’s school play.”
Leaders like Ali and Stanislav, who’ve managed me over the years, have always supported me fully in that. They live in a culture that trusts people to deliver – not to sit at a desk from nine to five.
And I do need to mention I’m not doing it alone. My husband Mikk does his fair share (and often even more). Still, there are more things to be multiplied by four, so both of us are needed.
So here’s my small message to every mum (or dad) who wonders if a career in tech is compatible with family life:
It absolutely can be.
(P.S. If you ever need to practice mental arithmetic, I highly recommend having four kids. 😄)
👉 Curious how it really works behind the scenes? Ask me anything about being a working mum in tech – right here under this post! 👇👀
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If you want to grow your career while still rocking it as a parent, we’re hiring: careers.bolt.eu