For many women, juggling a career with the demands of motherhood can be exhausting.
But a high-flying Amazon executive and mother-of-two claims that far from being a hindrance, becoming a parent has boosted her productivity – and as a result, made her more successful.
Fiona McDonnell, Amazon’s European Director of Beer, Wine and Spirits, says that looking after her two sons, now aged seven and four, has allowed her to focus her time and energy more efficiently.
According to the latest ONS figures, a staggering ten out of 11 UK mothers are now at work – the highest proportion ever.
Here, Fiona, who has held top jobs at companies including Nike and Kellogg’s and lives in London, explains the five things she learned from being a working mum – and what you can learn too.
What I learned: Fiona McDonnell claims that far from being a hindrance, becoming a parent has boosted her productivity – and as a result, made her more successful
1. Tough transition: Being a first-time mum in the cut-throat business world
In 2015 I joined Amazon in Germany as Director of Toys and later in 2016 became Director of our Beer, Wines and Spirits business across Europe. I relocated to London earlier this year where I live with my Dutch husband Reimer and our two boys.
When I had my first son, I was Managing Director of a Dutch manufacturing business. At that time, I was working late and intensely, and I did wonder how I would be able to still do the job. I returned to work after 16 weeks’ leave (the Dutch standard) and had chosen to still feed my son myself.
2. Priority matters: Learning to drop the stuff that doesn’t matter
Logistically, the first few months were brutally organised to be able to feed and work, but it mattered to me to do this for my kids. I didn’t have extended family nearby, but my husband and I became a real team and we found a way.
What sounded impossible became a routine and I quickly found that I dropped the stuff that didn’t matter, made choices and got way more productive in the process. I have never looked back.
3. Being more ‘me’ (and learning to let go)
Prioritisation is not the only thing I have taken away from being a mum. Driven by the initial sleep deprivation, my coping mechanism was to notice where I got my energy and where not.
Fiona McDonnell, Amazon’s European Director of Beer, Wine and Spirits, says looking after her two sons Jasper, seven and Elliot, four (pictured) has allowed her to focus her time and energy more efficiently
Working mum: Fiona, who has held top jobs at companies including Nike and Kellogg’s, explains what she’s learned from being a working mum – and what you can learn too
I realised that it takes energy trying to be someone you are not, and as I was striving to be an authentic leader, becoming a mum really helped me let go.
Having children let me drop the rigid perception of what ‘a successful career woman’ looked like, and it let me be more ‘me’.
When pregnant with my second child, I was working in Poland in a factory environment and still held general meetings up until my last two weeks, with my baby ‘bump’ and still wearing my heels.
I remember a group of ladies who came up to tell me how much they valued me carrying on ‘as normal’ and looking like I enjoyed it too. I probably just stopped trying so hard and in doing so was more relaxed, effective and certainly contented.
4. Leave on time – and don’t take work home
Now at Amazon, my day starts with the family; having breakfast, getting ready, the general running around and then a long commute, which I use as working time and focus on the day ahead. I have no typical days but a mixture of meetings, developing my team, meeting vendors and spending time creating new things.
Can you have it all? For many women, juggling a career with the demands of motherhood can be exhausting – but Fiona says it can boost your productivity
‘Having children let me drop the rigid perception of what ‘a successful career woman’ looked like, and it let me be more “me”,’ explains Fiona (pictured here with her two sons)
I leave at 5pm and wrap up work on the train to be home for some bedtime stories with the kids at about 6.30pm. I am lucky that I have the tools and the freedom at Amazon to work flexibly and I fit the job in when and where it works best.
Amazon also supports the early years of parenthood with paternity leave and return to work policies, which are really valuable in giving new parents the room to find their own new routines too.
I don’t bring work home or on holiday so when I do work I am focused, productive and refreshed. When I first started at Amazon my kids would tell people, ‘Mummy works at the toys shop where the man brings everything to the door’.
I love their accurate view of the world. I take a lot of inspiration from the time I spend with my kids and use it at work.
5. You CAN have it all (sort of)
When I did a keynote speech for International Women’s Day, many of my examples had their origin in my personal life and colleagues told me that they were more easily able to connect to my story.
High-flier: In 2015 Fiona joined Amazon in Germany as Director of Toys and later in 2016 became Director of their Beer, Wines and Spirits business across Europe
‘Can women have it all?’ is such an incomplete question. Women are not all the same, and mothers are not all the same. We may all have different priorities in life.
There are so many opportunities today in terms of technology or policies that employers can deliver to support employees’ various preferences, or functions and industries to work in to find something that resonates for you.
The key thing I believe is making sure you define ‘having it all’ in your own way. Don’t measure yourself against other people’s definition of success as it doesn’t guarantee you’ll feel fulfilled.
My advice would be to know your own values, make your own choices to support your priorities, don’t be any less ambitious, but do it on your own terms. It matters only that YOU feel you have it all, and at the end of the day only you will know if you do.