What’s it like working with your mum?
Happy Mother’s Day 2020. As we celebrate the women who raised us, here we check in with some mother/child duos – who also just happen to be Barclaycard Payments colleagues…
Taya and Charlotte
Client Engagement Manager Charlotte and her daughter, Deputy Team Leader, Application Processing Advisor, Taya are both based in our Northampton office. We asked them what it is like working together, what they admire most about one another, and what Mother’s Day means to them:
So, first things first. Do you enjoy working together?
Taya: We do.
Charlotte: I love working in the same building as Taya, seeing her everyday– especially now that we don’t live together, she moved out just under a year ago. It’s nice because we see each other every day, we car-share and sometimes we have lunch together.”
Taya: Yes, I do like it. If I’m having a hectic day, I just pop and see my mum for five minutes and I feel all fresh again.
What’s the best thing about working in the same building?
Both: Car-share!
Charlotte: It’s great, it saves petrol.
Taya: And helps the environment!
Taya: We get two hours each day to talk about our day, what we did the evening before– it’s quality time together.
How would you describe your mum, Taya?
Taya: I would describe her as strong, independent and hard-working.
Charlotte: You answered so quickly!
Taya: Well, I know what you are!
What do you admire most about your mum?
Taya: I’ve always known my mum as a single parent, and she inspires me so much. It doesn’t matter what life throws at her, she just takes it in her stride.
What do you admire most about Taya?
Charlotte: There’s a few things. Definitely her work ethic. She’s very conscientious about things being done right and being completed on time. When I talk to people across the business about Taya and they realise she’s my daughter, they are full of praise.
What does Mother’s Day mean to you?
Taya: I think it’s quite important. When I was 8, my mum lost her mum. We don’t have a lot of family around and it’s important to us to make sure we do spend that time together - and it’s a day to remember the people we’ve lost as well.
Charlotte: We start Mother’s Day with a visit to the cemetery and then spend the day celebrating our relationship. It’s particularly important because I lost my mum.
How will you celebrate Mother’s Day this year?
Taya: It’s a surprise - she’s not allowed to know!
Selene and Tracy
Gateway Servicing Team Manager Selene and her mum, Customer Relations Officer Tracy are both based in Northampton. We asked them to tell us about their experience as colleagues – and as mother and daughter.
What’s the best thing about working in the same building?
Selene: It’s nice to have someone you are close to working at the same company. It’s really good that we can catch up. If we need to confide in each other, it’s nice having that trust relationship, to be able to reach out and get a second opinion on something.
Tracy: It’s great for networking too – between us we know so many people.
Do you eat lunch together?
Tracy: We do try to make an effort, but with each other’s workloads it varies.
Selene: In the summer months we love going for a quick walk around the lake in Northampton at lunchtime.
Tracy: It’s great to get outside and get some fresh air and some sunshine.
What was it like when you first started working together?
Selene: Mum gave me a bit of a heads-up about stakeholder management, taught me about who the different stakeholders were in different areas. I felt like a had a bit of an introduction to the business, who people were and what their different leadership styles were like.
Is there anything you don’t like about working for the same business?
Selene: Sometimes we find ourselves talking about work when we’re not at work – my sisters tell us off!
What inspires you about your mum, Selene?
Selene: She’s tenacious, motivated and strong. If she knows what she wants she’ll go and get it. In her work, if she’s looking for the solution to something, she’ll go above and beyond to get it. She’s very ‘by the book’ as well – she gives me great values to live by.
Tracy: That’s me. I started working at Barclays in 2006 in mailing services, it was on my birthday actually! I’ve been here 14 years now. Selene had recently had a baby and wanted to get back into the workplace. She started on a twilight shift in tech support.
How are you planning to celebrate Mother’s Day this year?
Tracy: We generally get together with the grandchildren, and have a nice meal. We love a Sunday roast!
Kyle and Leanne
Kyle is a Deputy Sales Team Leader and his mum, Head of Mid-Corporate Account Development Leanne, are both based in our Northampton office. We asked them about their experiences working closely together.
So who started here first?
Leanne: I started first – I’ve been at Barclays around 18 years, since Kyle was about four.
Kyle: Yes, I’ve been here, just coming up to five years now.
Kyle, what’s the best thing about working with your mum?
Kyle: I’d say the knowledge she has given me while working here. It’s been helpful having her around, helping me get to know stakeholders. My network has grown so much since starting work– a lot of that’s down to her.
Leanne: It makes me really proud that he’s been successful. I’ve been on his journey throughout the whole thing.
Kyle: I’m aiming to be as successful, or on par with my mum.
Is it ever hard working together?
Kyle: I get that question a lot. I don’t know if it’s something about mine and my mum’s relationship, but it’s been good – I’ve learned from her and taken a lot out of it. I’d say it’s been a success.
Leanne: He definitely was in my shadow for a while, but he’s shaken it off a bit now!
Kyle: Mainly because you’re such a big character though! When I first joined people were like, “Oh, you’re Leanne’s son – what’s it like having her as a mum?”
Leanne, what advice did you give to Kyle before you started working together?
Leanne: I gave him some advice around how to handle the interview process, it can be quite daunting, especially when you are 17 years old.
Kyle: I always knew that Barclays was a great place to work. I want to stay here and make a career of it, just like mum has.
What inspires you most about your mum, Kyle?
Kyle: It inspires me that she started her journey at Barclays from the ground up.
If you had to had to describe your mum in three words?
Leanne: Remember you still live at home!
Kyle: Driven, passionate and empathetic. They’re great words, right?
What inspires you about Kyle, Leanne?
Leanne: How early in his career he has come into the business, and how quickly he has been able to work his way up. He has just been successful in getting a promotion earlier this year and that’s really great news.
Definitely! What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
Kyle: It’s the day before payday, so you might just get a bag of sweets or something!
Thank you to all our lovely parent and child colleagues.