Emma Jeffries on being a Mum, manager and Part-Time Worker

I lead the Broadband Portfolio in BT Enterprise's Customer Solutions. I'm responsible for delivering complex programmes that ensure the right customer experience is designed, trialled and deployed. This role covers a customer base of over 10 million people across the UK. I also head up the Robotics Process Automation (RPA) team. We work with technology that allows virtual robots to complete simple human processes to free up people to focus on other value-added work and deliver a great customer experience.

It's not always easy. I need to make sure that I'm always adding value and working in a way that delivers maximum quality and output. I do this by continually assessing working practices and styles, and implementing improvements to ensure I'm effective and can support my teams.

Thanks to the forward-thinking attitude of my managers and the business, I've not had to choose between a career and my family. This is incredibly important to me, as I value both equally. I've been fortunate to work in areas of the business that have created an environment where I'm valued based on my outcomes and I'm not constrained by the hours I work.

Supporting part-time working and other forms of flexible working is key to helping us as a business to retain great talent while supporting our employees' work-life balance.

Working part-time can be challenging, especially in a managerial role; however with the right discipline, rigour and flexibility it can work very well.

You'll need to be prepared to be flexible and, at the beginning, it can take some adjustment as you don't have the luxury of 'warming up' or 'winding down' at the start/end of a week. You really need to hit the ground running and maintain your pace throughout your working week to make sure you're effective.

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