Mothers don't have to be superwoman - they just need good support

Juggling a new-born and working at a high level may be new to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern but it’s run of the mill stuff for staff at a top Hawke’s Bay-based tech firm.​

Havelock North entrepreneur and working mother of three children Sue De Bievre established the cloud-based accountancy company Beany around several working and new mothers.​

“I kind of established it around what would have worked for me. The first accountant I hired had five children and her youngest was 2, and then the next accountant we hired had four, and her youngest was just 12-weeks-old.​

“So we really did build the business around what worked for them, and I guess the key thing is flexibility. If there’s a sports day or a sick child, all employees [including men] can just duck out, no questions asked. That’s built into our support network, so they can work with complete flexibility.”​

Work was allocated to a set level, with the women having flexibility as to when it was done.​

“They are all highly-qualified, smart women who are used to juggling stuff and they just seem to make it work.​

“I really encourage every woman to build a bit of a support team around themselves, in the past there was this sort of Superwoman complex and I really think that’s not helpful.
“It’s really about building a village around yourself I think, and I’m sure Jacinda has already done that. She really strikes me as someone who will ask for the help she needs, as is being beautifully demonstrated by Jacinda and Clarke, the father can be actively involved in raising children and supporting his wife.​