If the thought of woman parenting three early-primary and pre-school aged children makes you think or assume she can’t take on a leadership role ‘because of the kids’ – you’re on the wrong platform.
If the thought of a role in senior management at a big multinational professional services company provokes visions of late-night meetings, 70-hour weeks, and mid-life burnouts – you also need to think again.
Let us introduce you to Tanya Xiberras.
Tanya is a mother to three, AND a Client Account Leadership Senior Manager at Accenture, and she works, wait for it, just a three-day week.
Not only does this part-time arrangement mean she is set up for growth and success at work, but it ensures she is able to meet her parenting and personal goals too.
How did her part-time arrangement begin?
Tanya tells us that she joined Accenture in 2007 as a Consultant. She then progressed in a ‘traditional’ path, working full-time and achieving promotion to Senior Manager in 2011.
From this point, as she puts it, “my career path has been less ‘traditional’”.
“After I was promoted to Senior Manager, I worked the majority of my time as a leader on a part-time basis.”
Tanya also took advantage of Accenture’s generous parental leave program for each of her three children: taking four years off in total over three leave periods.
“Over this time, while I concentrated on my family, my career focus, my work approach, has been simple: ensuring that my role was meaningful.”
Tanya tells us, part-time arrangements like hers take effort and commitment from everyone to be successful.
“Transitioning from working full-time to part-time takes practice. The conversations around the move should be focused on what kind of support is needed from leaders, employers, and, in the case of Accenture, our clients for part time work arrangements.
“The conversation also needs to focus on the individual – what they are experiencing and how they are feeling.”
What are the ingredients for a successful part-time arrangement?
For Tanya, this has meant that clarity, on her work and career path, has been a key ingredient to ensure she is not losing sight of the big picture even as she deals with the day-to-day juggle of job and family.
Her usual schedule requires a balanced approach.
“I typically work three days a fortnight in the office, with the remainder of my time spent working remotely, including in client offices.”
At home, meanwhile, she is kept busy.
“I typically spend my two days away from the office walking my primary school-aged children to and from school, engaging with them and their afterschool activities, and spending the day with my pre-school-aged son.”
The second ingredient, Tanya says, is to set good boundaries.
“Understand what you want to focus on,” she advises.
“Be deliberate and purposeful with your time and look for opportunities that align with this agenda.
“Ultimately, it’s about taking the time to build your own awareness of what working part-time looks like for you. This takes time and practice.”
See how Accenture is building a space for workplace flexibility and inclusion throughout its operations.
And the final ingredient? A supportive employer
Tanya’s journey to part-time has been made all the easier by the inclusive and supportive environment that has been established at Accenture.
In fact, the groundwork was laid long before Tanya and she’s not the first to have a stellar career on part-time hours at Accenture.
“In the Change Manager position I held immediately before I commenced working part-time, I had two leaders – Managing Director level – who both worked part-time. One was on a four-day week, and the other worked a nine-day fortnight.”
This sets Accenture apart, she says.
“Speaking with people who have just started working part-time at other companies, or who are interested in considering a part-time work arrangement over the past year, it’s clear to me this sort of visible leadership and role modelling is not common.”
“I genuinely have had leaders who, through their actions, have focused on identifying opportunities for me that are engaging and interesting, putting me in places and situations where I have been able to have an impact and can develop my capabilities.
“In this context, nothing really changed when I commenced working part-time.”
As a result, she says, “It never struck me as odd to work part-time at Accenture, nor did I question my ability to have a part-time or flexible work arrangement”.
This sense of engaged, active leadership has helped Tanya construct the tools she needs to devise a career path that suits her, and her employer.
Advocating for all part-time employees
Tanya’s experience and success on her part-time journey have led to her becoming both an advocate and mentor for others considering the same path. She has a huge passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a great belief in giving everyone a chance.
To this end, she is working towards developing more flexible approaches to work and career.
“My ambition is to increase diversity in how we work.
“I want to build awareness of part-time work experiences so that people can see the opportunities that are available, and to encourage honest conversations with leaders and team members about their experiences working part-time.”
She believes there is a place for part-time options as a more serious and sustainable avenue for both employees and employers.
“There are people who view working part-time as a temporary state, something you do for a short period before returning to full-time work.
“I think this needs to be challenged so that organizations can provide more space for part-time possibilities to allow people to consider part-time work as a sustainable and long-term employment choice.”
Staying in the workforce while being present for her family is for Tanya definitely a long-term choice. Her experience at Accenture has given her a means of doing exactly that.
The days of women choosing between their career ambitions and the work-life balance they need to nurture their families are no longer part of the landscape. And Accenture and Tanya are leading the way in ensuring the way ahead is set up for the growth and success of all.
