How Mondelēz Helps Working Mums Balance Career and Family

Thursday, October 31, 2024

What’s one tip you would share with other working moms on balancing career and family?

I have two! When I finish for the day, I do my best to leave the day behind me, this allows me to be mentally present for my family. It is also so important to make some time for yourself when you can. As the saying goes “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. For me, I try to get 30 -40 minutes to myself in the morning, before the chaos begins, I am genuinely a better mother, wife, and employee when I make this happen for myself.

Tell us about yourself and your career so far at Mondelēz International.

I have been with Mondelēz International for 8 years, working in sales. Throughout my time here, I have worked across various customers in both the Grocery and Convenience Channel, my current role is Key Account Management looking after Seasons for the Convenience Channel. I love building and nurturing relationships, working with people, attention to detail and seeing hard work come to life. Outside of work, I am a mom to Olivia who is 4 and Ben who is 2 and I am expecting my third child early next year. In my rare spare time, I love to go for a walk and listen to a podcast. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and trying out new recipes, as well as spending time with my family and friends.

How would you describe Mondelēz's work culture?

There is a really positive work culture within Mondelēz there is a strong emphasis on feedback, trust and psychological safety. This allows for an environment of open communication, learning and personal growth. There is also a strong emphasis on wellbeing and an understanding of the need for a work life balance to help support the demands of life outside of work. We are a small close team in Ireland. As a team we have good personal and professional relationships, this makes it a safe space to learn and grow. The work culture is one that values diversity and inclusion, and there are lots of opportunities for career development and advancement.

How did Mondelēz support your transition back to work after maternity leave?

I really enjoyed my transition back to work after maternity leave, I was really ready to come back to work which I believe is half the battle. I kept in contact with some of my colleagues throughout my leave which kept me feeling connected. I have a great relationship with my manager, near the end of my maternity leave we had the occasional phone conversation and met for lunch, this made coming back less daunting. Everyone was so welcoming, and I slotted back in quite quickly which is exactly what I wanted – like I never left!

Can you discuss any personal experiences of how Mondelēz has helped you balance your career and family responsibilities?

Hybrid and flexible working have been a game changer, it has allowed me to start work early in the day, use less time commuting or commute at a time when there is less traffic and to use my working hours more efficiently - this has given me a better balance in my career and family responsibilities. Mondelēz is a very family orientated company, this radiates through the business and is lead from the top, there is a great understanding of the need for flexibility and work life balance making it easier to manage both my professional and personal life.

How does Mondelēz support flexible work arrangements for you as a working mums?

For me it is about trust and flexibility and there is huge opportunity to gain both in Mondelēz, this then allows you to balance family responsibilities and support potential stressful situations that might arise. Young children and childcare can be very unpredictable. I’ve had a few occasions where one of my children might be home sick or the childcare has had to close due to staffing ratios, I’ve always felt very comfortable ringing my manager with a plan of how I will make the day work and he’s always been very supportive. The flexibility of hybrid working and being able to work after hours on occasion is priceless to me, this has allowed me to continue to meet my work commitments while also being present for my family when they need me. The company's understanding and support during these times have made a huge difference in my ability to balance my career and family responsibilities.

What are some best practices that Mondelēz has implemented to support working mums that other companies could adopt?

For a lot of women, balancing work and childcare can be a roadblock to returning to the workplace and on both occasions, Mondelēz have made it seamless for me. They also offer excellent maternity cover for 6 months and are hugely supportive of growing families. They have a supportive and inclusive culture that understands the challenges and demands of being a working mother / parent. Overall, these practices have helped to create a supportive and accommodating environment for working mothers/parents, other companies could benefit from implementing similar measures to support their employees.