Taboola — Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace

Host: Sonya Barlow, LMF Network

Panel 1 — The Balancing Act of Work and Kids

Speakers: Nicolas Chartier and Ollie Davies discuss the challenges of balancing work and fatherhood

• It takes time to build a framework in which your work and parenthood can balance
• There’s no perfect time to make it work. You have to make it work.
• There are sacrifices that have to be made, but on the other hand, you can reconstruct your career around parenthood — what value can you add that matches your current life. E.g. you can go to your manager with problems, but they may not be able to help. If you go to your manager with a plan of how you change your work to still meet business needs, then you’re more likely to find success
• Taboola is an environment where being a parent is celebrated. You can talk to people about the pressures you are under.
• When Taboola employees come back from parental leave, there is support available, though that doesn’t mean it’s not hard to get back to things. But it’s worth it.
• Changes to working style — Increased empathy in work, more open to feedback, learning to be more efficient with the time that you have.

Spotlight with Anjali Oldfield

• Three kids, Lili (14), Casper (12) and Sy (10)
• Initial guild around parenthood at work, but looking back that was self-inflicted. Today, Anjali is more deliberate about what she does. You can have it all, but you can’t be 100% on everything all the time. For example, her son does not want her at every event, just the sports events, so now she only attends the sports events.
• No longer feeling guilty at home for not being at work or feeling guilty at work for not being at home
• Stopped dithering and started being more decisive about what gets done and what doesn’t get done.
• Taking some time out has not gotten in the way of her career. Skills didn’t fall behind, just confidence.
• Don’t worry. Be present. Set boundaries.
• Justifying yourself is not helpful. Don’t apologise for being a Mum. Putting kids first isn’t wrong, you just have to settle your boundaries and decide what’s important for you.

Panel 2— Empowerment, Ownership, Career growth

Speakers: Stavcey Delaney, Madeleine Breatagnolle, Cait Rose

• There was a time when white men were everywhere and imposter syndrome was very real. But we’ve come a long way since then. It no longer feels representative of the female experience. “It’s on us as women to question it”. An imposter is someone who doesn’t belong. And perhaps that label shouldn’t be applied any more. We need to start to push back on it.
• It’s less about being an imposter than having confidence. Say to yourself “they hired me for a reason and I can handle myself so I’m not a fraud”.
• Inclusion means including everyone.
• Find people that advocate for you, find mentors, find sponsors. They’re not necessarily who you think they’re going to be. One thing you can do is map out your entire network, friends, family, colleagues and think about who actually, actively helps, you. Those are your sponsors.
• Don’t underestimate the power of help and promotion. Leaning in and being open to support, you’d be shocked at how fast it’ll help you grow and develop.
• Mentors are important but learn the ability to embrace help from everywhere.
• Inclusivity is a growing process. You cannot create a “safe space”, you can only create a safer space.