CELEBRATING CORPORATE MOMS The MASTERS Of Multitasking
TRACY-ANN SPENCE Chief Operating Officer, NCB Capital Markets Limited Child: Carson, 5 months
Responsible for the Jamaican operations of
NCB Capital Markets, with strategic oversight for investments, wealth management and alternatives, and fund management, Tracy-ann Spence says she really thought she knew all about multitasking until she became a MOM (master of multi-tasking) in November 2020.
“Juggling being a brand new mom and a busy professional during a pandemic has been challenging, to say the least. But they say nothing great ever happens in your comfort zone. I have no pre-pandemic reference point as it relates to my experience as a mommy, but as a workaholic, I have had to change the way I approach work to integrate mommy life and work life in these unprecedented times,” she shared.
She said at first, it was adjusting to the new concept of work from home, and not just adjusting for herself, but being able to lead her team through their own adjustments.
“I was navigating a first-time pregnancy in a pandemic, but I still had to give my best at work; that’s just me. Work has always gotten my best; sometimes, admittedly, at my own expense. But I had to now figure out how to give work as well as my baby the best of me. The planner in me thought I had it figured out until I had to actually juggle a demanding baby, plus the demanding job. Ha! There is no amount of preparation that could help master this puzzle.“
The role of mother, she shared, has been her most challenging yet rewarding role to date.
“I was completely flung out of my comfort zone. I was someone who was used to being at my desk/ office, intensely focused on work and going, going, going. That approach, of course, does not work when you are now fully responsible for a human being other than yourself who needs to be at the top of your priority list and constantly craves your attention. I had to develop ways to juggle and know when to switch off and on.
Regarding working from home, she said there were upsides and downsides.
“But I try to focus on the good in all things. The biggest plus for me is knowing that I get to see and spend time with Carson that I probably wouldn’t get to do if I went into the office every day. And while it seems as if the workload and number of meetings have increased ten-fold since the pandemic, being able to see my son smile at me during different points of the day makes my days so much better.”
Her motivation for giving her best both at home and at work, she says, is that she is self-driven and strives to succeed and leave her mark in everything she does.
“I am therefore naturally motivated to do my best at home and at work. At work, I have a team who depends on me to steer them in the right direction while supporting them on their journeys to achieving individual and collective success.
At the same time, I have a little one who is also depending on me — to protect him as best as I can and lead him in the right direction. While life is nowhere near perfect and I will continue meet hurdles along the way, my drive to ensure I don’t fail myself and those depending on me motivates me to give my best both at home and at work.”
And the number one attribute she wants her son to emulate?
“Be driven. You can achieve anything you want to once you put your mind to it and work hard.”
STEPHANIE ANGELICIA HAASE Junior Supply Chain Manager, Huawei Jamaica Child: Abigail Sejay, 15
As a supply chain manager, Stephanie Haase is required to participate in accounts strategy planning and implementing key measures of the supply business. She is also tasked with performing competitive analysis of the supply business, identifying and leading customers’ supply demand, and providing professional supply solutions, leading supply capability development, integrating supply resources, and presenting a relative competitive advantage in the customer interface.
AW: How have you had to change the way you carry out your roles as a mother and a professional this year?
SH: Due to COVID-19 I have been working from home and even though it means being around my child more, it also means I have to change the way I do things in order that I can carry out my work duties and ensure my child is taken care of. Normally, I’d get up go to work and basically put home on pause until I get back. Now I have to juggle working and ensuring she is doing her work and getting the things she needs, like food. I have had to be more deliberate in my approach and learn how to turn off the work mode and initiate mom mode.
AW: What is your motivation for giving your best both at home and at work?
SH: As a Christian I am accountable to God as to how I treat or manage the blessings He has given me, and because of this I do my best to ensure that I work hard and I am a good steward. I don’t always get it right and when I fail I try not to stay down, but push ahead and work harder. I am also motivated by the fact that my child is seeing all I do, whether good or bad, and it will affect the way she operates now and as an adult.
AW: What is your number one attribute that you want your daughter to emulate?
SH: I consider myself to be a humble, hardworking individual and would like my child to emulate these attributes. A lesson I will definitely teach my child is to love God and respect others — to put God first in whatever she is doing, and to believe in her abilities.
TASHANA BRISCOE People & Culture Manager, Digicel Child: Remero Brown Jr, 8
Tashana Briscoe leads learning, development, and employee experience at Digicel Jamaica.
AW: How have you had to change the way you carry out your roles as a mother and a professional this year?
TB: The year 2020 into 2021, I had to balance my roles like never before. I now realise that the only way to survive and be my best in all facets of my life is to ensure I can show up and be my best. This means resting, taking care of myself, nourishing my mind, body, and soul. So I have been reading a lot, especially on parenting and leadership.
In February, my workload increased and I had to make some adjustments. Now, to ensure my son is properly monitored whilst I am in back-to-back meetings and presenting, I hired additional help to support me during these times. But one thing for sure, I use my breaks to check in on how he is doing and remind him to do his best. Our weekends are filled with lots of fun! On Fridays it’s games night, Saturdays we Netflix and chill (with popcorn too) and on Sundays we worship together.
AW: What is your motivation for giving your best both at home and at work? TB: My motivation is adding value to everyone — to my son and to others.
AW: What is your number one attribute that you want your son to emulate?
TB: Lol [laugh out loud], sorry it has to be two: my relationship with God and my passion for service to others.