Hello, everyone. I see already people joining in this session. It's great to see you feel free to be active in the chat. Um It's absolutely my pleasure to introduce today. Uh Hasni Oyan, she is the software development manager in Synopsis and her background is super interesting.

She has uh more than 10 years of experience in software development, both as a development as a developer and as a manager. And today she's going to be talking a little bit more about the combination of being both a mom and the manager. Is this possible how to make it possible and what challenges it imposes as Nick? Thank you so much for joining us today. Uh Whenever you're ready, feel free to take it

away. Thanks a lot for intro. Um Hello, everyone. Um Let's wait one more minute. So everyone will join and we'll start. Ok, let's start. So hello and welcome to this session on the topic of good manager and or a good mom. So my name is Hasmik Osian and I'm a social development manager at Synopsis. I'm joining you from Ya and Armenia. Um I have just returned back from my maternity leave, so I would like to share with all of you, how is it to be a manager when you are already a mom? So let's do a little bit interactive sessions. So if you have any comments or some questions, just put it in the chat. Uh So at the end I will try to answer then. So let's go. Um uh at first, um it's very difficult to be a women in the tech field because we are working mostly in the male dominant environment. And um being a manager with high level responsibilities is much more difficult. And the one important topic there is maternity leave. Um And um that's why during this presentation, I would like to talk about the, how is it to be a manager in the tech field?

And we will walk through the stages of maternity and to see what kind of challenges we do have during each stage of maternity uh to see how we can find a balance between being a manager and being a man. So how is it to be a manager in the tech field when you're a woman? So I started my career as a software development intern at synopsis. But then I left the company and after several years, I got again an offer from synopsis for a management position. Uh So, uh it was a difficult decision to take because um I know that it's not only about the technical leadership, but it's much more when you are a manager in the tech field. Um So um I do a careful investigation to understand what uh what is expected from a manager in the tech field. So I understand that it's not only about technical things but also about the less control on your agenda or several levels of focus. So you are not working only with the uh computers, with your projects, but you are also working with people. And uh here you need to expect some tough discussions, someone is leaving company, you are hiring a new person or you need to expect also difficult discussion decisions.

Um And for example, um you need to fire someone that's a difficult decision to make, you know, as a manager. So you need to be prepared for such kind of things when you are a manager in the tech field. So after thinking a lot, I decided to take this adventure and I accepted offer and I started my path in the management position. So when I started, I understand that it's a very much more challenges in this position. And the first thing is a different standard. Uh So everyone believes in the fact that men are doing better in the tech field than women. But in my practice, I see a lot of cases where women are doing much more better than men. Uh So, but, but this mindset is actually here with us and uh it is affecting also back when you're a manager. So you need to work a lot so to be respected and accepted by your male colleagues. Um So, and the other thing that we have like a challenge is um responsibilities that we have at home because in some countries, also women are responsible for everything that is happening at home. And um we need to get a support to um overcome it. Uh So that's also a challenge when you have more responsibilities at home and more responsibilities at workplace. Uh The other thing is um lack of female role models. Um Usually women are afraid to take a higher responsible positions in tech field.

That's why we have uh lack of female role models, which is very bad in the tech field. And the final thing is the maternity planning. This is a really challenge. So today's topic will be about this maternity leave. Um What to expect from that. So let's start from that uh to see what kind of stages we do have in maternity and what kind of respon responsibilities uh managers have there. Um So I divided it into four stages. It's a planning pregnancy leave and actual return back to office. Um So uh uh when I accept the offer, synopsis with my husband, we are planning to have a baby. But um I understood that it's neural new responsibility. So we need to wait a little bit until I will feel comfortable with my neural. So um uh when you are a manager and you have other kind of responsibilities. You need to plan accordingly on that. It could affect the timeline of your projects. Overall team health, the goals of each team member, your own goals and upcoming milestones for team. And based on the outcome of this, each, each point, uh the planning can, can be shifted. So then it comes to a pregnancy. Um uh you during the pregnancy period, you need to uh discuss with not only with your manager, but also with your team members to let them know that you are going to leave soon. And um you need to delegate your responsibilities.

Then uh in my case, two of my key um employees took the technical activities uh for myself and they, they just decided to cover it during my absence. And um the management uh activities goes to my manager. Uh So I share all my knowledge with them. Uh So they will continue during my absence. Uh And we started to schedule my leave. However, it's also very difficult because um uh at first we are discussing different dates and it was changing because there are a lot, a lot of urgent topics to do there. Um So it's also um uh it's need to be planned accordingly based what, what you have to do in that current situation. So then you are leaving for maternity leave. Um but you need to be available because there are a lot of urgent issues that like someone is leaving the company, you need to be there to discuss the root codes, et cetera. And um some customer has some uh important topics to discuss. You need to be there. So in my case, I was available during all my uh maternity leave. Um it was uh not like um 24 hours during the day, but I was available for urgent topics and then uh we were planning a return date based on the current situation. It was also very hard because um at first, I was thinking I will go to the work when my baby became five months old. But then um I understand that it's not possible because I do have issues to find a good babysitter for my baby.

So the plants have been shifted and I returned back uh when my baby became seven months old. Um So um after return, it's a three months, I'm back to, to work. And uh I understand that uh there are a lot of catch processes. A lot of things has been changed during these nine months and uh of field has been changed, project team, everything has been changed and it's like never ending catch up process. And then um as you are not responsible only for yourself, but you are also responsible for your baby. Now, you need to uh set the expectations with your team members. So they will know when you are available when you are not available. Uh And you need to discuss also with your company to understand what kind of uh return options you have. For example, at synopsis. Yeah, we have a stage return option for breastfeeding moms. Uh which means that you can uh decide to go back to work um um in a half time and then gradually become a full time employee. So um I returned back as a full time and uh that was really stressful. So, so in your company, if you have a way also to return in stage option, just take it because that would be much more uh easy for you to adapt. Uh So now let's go through each maternity stage to understand what kind of challenges we face there.

So during the planning and pregnancy period, uh usually when women are planning their maternity leave, it doesn't matter if you are a manager or you are just a software developer. Usually women are afraid of delayed promotions, salary increases uh facing the bias to workplace because even in the tech field, uh there are a lot of you can be the only women in your team. So um um you are afraid to tell people that you are going to be for maternity leave, that's understandable, but you should not be afraid of that. And also you women are usually um much more responsible. I will say that and um when planning to leave, uh they are planning based on the timelines of a project and uh changes that are happening in their entire life like they are changing the job, they are changing company, et cetera. Um And the, the other main challenge um during the pregnancy period, we have this emotion disbalance and uh we feel very guilty in front of everyone in front of your team, in front of your management that you are going to leave soon for, for some time. Uh and uh during the working hours, you are going for some checkups and it's also you feel that guilt that uh you're going soon to leave your team there.

And then the next challenge is to plan your leave schedule and uh you need to plan it, not only with your uh management, but you need to plan it. Um after discussing with your peers and discussing with your team, uh because there are different activities on your shoulders and you need to sync up with everyone. Um So when you are already on leave, what kind of challenges we see here, you try to be in touch with your team and your group uh because you do not want to miss everything. Um um But, uh you know, in some, you need to do the important decision making even when you are far from your team. For example, in my case, one of my employees decided to leave the company, uh when I was on leave and um um I was available to talk with her to understand what is the root cause, how we are going to proceed with that. Uh So that, that's really challenging to care about your baby and um which is something new for you and then uh make these important decisions and as you are a manager, everyone expects you to uh return back as soon as possible and you feel that pressure on you that you need to be back um as early as possible.

Uh And then you need to plan that actual return date. Um And that's also can be shifted because um I remember in the first three months, I was thinking, ok, I will return back um next month because baby is uh calm, he's sleeping uh quite well, but then it comes to the peeping process, then sleepless nights, I understand that I cannot return as in the planned date.

So we discussed again with my manager and decided that we need to shift a little bit this return date. So then you are actually back to your work. And here these are much more challenges we are facing there. Uh You're stressed out um because you see that everything has been changed, the project has been changed. There are a lot of new projects and uh we, you need to um learn what is happening there. And um it's actually, it's three months I'm here, but it's never ending catch up process. There are a lot of things yet. I need to catch up and then you uh you are thinking a lot about your baby and you cannot keep your right focus and energy at your workplace that's also difficult that you need to overcome. And then you feel that guilt uh in front of your baby that you're leaving him alone with babysitter. And you are not seeing that important milestones of your baby. Um But you need to organize your uh work and home hours um in such a way that you, you continue to meet your breastfeeding goals, uh You spend enough time with your baby and uh somehow meet also your deadlines at workplace and um combining um you know, to all these challenges, you also have not enough sleep or postpartum depression.

So there's a full package of challenges when you're back to work. So how to find a balance there being a manager and being a mom at first, you need to try to overcome your fears, just remember that everyone is doing that so you can do it as well. Um You need to ask for help. It's not about at your home place, but also at workplace. Uh because you have some colleagues uh who have passed this path of paternity and you can just ask for help, they can mentor you how to do it uh in a balanced way. And you need to ask your partner to help at home. For example, with my partner partner, we have decided to share these responsibilities with baby. Um So I can be able to uh do my meetings uh participate uh in different discussions at workplace. Um And then you need to help your company to understand and take actions. Um For example, at synopsis, we have a flexible hours for breastfeeding moms. Uh You can return, I also have a stage return options like half time employee, full time employee. And also recently, um synopsis synopsis decided to launch a new program. It's called the um parent body program where uh when you're becoming a new parent, uh you will be connected to some mentor who will help you to pass uh smoothly through this path.

So if your company is not doing, do not have such kind of culture as doing the synopsis, then just help your company to understand and take actions. Uh So you will pass this path very smoothly and then just forget about the guilt, uh mom, guilt and carer guilt. It's um uh yeah, um your, your baby and your car will be in the place and you just need to find the time uh for your um just organizing a um good way uh workplace and homeplace uh and try to be just there where you are. So uh if you are at workplace, do not think about the baby, what is happening there just try to be at workplace and do your job and when you are uh with your baby, just try to spend your time with your baby, not to um not to think about the work and about your projects that will help a lot.

So what are the main takeaways? Um plan ahead and put aside your fears uh that will help you to plan your uh whole maternity stages. And then uh tech companies play critical role uh in easing return from maternity leave. So if your company does not have that culture, culture, just help them to understand and take action. Um There's no right or wrong decision when to go for maternity leave and when to be back from maternity leave. So uh that's an individual decision and just do it in the way that you and your baby will be happy. And uh if you will plan everything accordingly and you will do a right delegation, then remember that uh everything will pass smoothly. Uh So it's again about the planning ahead. So try to do right delegation and take time of yourself and give a time to your body and mind for a rest. Just think about yourself as a mom and final thing. Just remember moms are the best managers because you are doing all of that. Just don't miss this um um these moments with your baby and uh enjoy that time. So uh thank you very much uh for uh attending this session. Uh I left on the right side, uh my contact information. So in linked in contact, so you can just uh uh contact me with your questions, with your comments. Um So if we have some questions, we have just one minute left.

So I will try to cover whatever we have. Let's see, what do we have? Thank you, Jasmine for sharing your experience. I think every mom can totally relate to what you told. Yeah, thank you very much. And I hope that this uh talk helped you a little bit. Uh and also you will plan your maternity accordingly. Thank you very much and uh my, our time is over and um let's be in touch in the future. Thanks. Have a good rest of the day.