Are companies missing out on talented mothers?
14 years ago I was in demand as a woman in tech. I ran a review site for consumer gadgets, and got involved in multiple tech roundtables to help shape how companies marketed to supported women. I was even recognised for my work, being named as a “Remarkable Woman” and winning awards. I worked on... The post Are companies missing out on talented mothers? appeared first on .
14 years ago I was in demand as a woman in tech. I ran a review site for consumer gadgets, and got involved in multiple tech roundtables to help shape how companies marketed to supported women. I was even recognised for my work, being named as a “Remarkable Woman” and winning awards. I worked on major campaigns with some of tech’s biggest names and featured in global adverts for companies like Nokia and Microsoft. I put my heart and soul into my work as a tech blogger and as a social media/ community manager. A year on, I got married and a year after that, I had a little boy. This is when things really changed. I returned to work and blogging after maternity, but childbirth had highlighted some serious health issues. This led to me having to leave work and pause my website, so I could focus on recovery. Me and my son – picture by Paul Clarke I spent 2 years, in and out of hospital, away from my young son and husband. It was heart breaking, but together we worked through it and, after a few years, I briefly returned to my tech reviewing. Getting back into the scene was difficult, but I’ve always worked hard for my achievements. Unfortunately, I ended up having to refocus on my family as my son started school and was struggling. He was my priority, my number one. Once again, blogging took a back seat. In 2016 I took on my husband’s son, who was undiagnosed, but had suspected autism. I became mum to not one, but two children, both challenged and challenging in their own way. It was a journey and a story for another time… It was hard. Fast forward to 2018. My son was thriving due to the attention and support I gave him, but was undergoing assessments that would later see him diagnosed with ADHD combined type. My stepson had also finally been diagnosed with Autism and impaired hearing. As a mum, I couldn’t have been prouder of my brave boys and of myself for staying fierce and never giving up on what sometimes felt like a thankless and disorganised process. In mid 2018, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and, thanks to my husband’s encouragement, I became a software tester: an area I never thought I could break into. I have no degree or qualifications, but I do have a great testing mindset and a talent for spotting things that are wrong, or ways to improve journeys, processes and systems. I love to think outside the box. I excelled in my new career, and it wasn’t long before I was making a name for myself. To this day, I’m dedicated to improving teams, processes and software. Over the past year, the confidence in my ability has increased and I’m dying to share my knowledge to help improve teams and company culture. Why am I telling you all of this, you may ask? Well, I’m now in my early 40’s and I’ve found myself in a vulnerable position. I’ve been made redundant twice in 5 years. When I was younger and childless, I was always in demand. These days, despite being wiser, more experienced and keen to bring positive change, I’m overlooked for younger, cheaper alternatives. Those without any “baggage”. My husband remained the main breadwinner during this time, which we are all grateful for. His support for us has never wavered. He’s been our rock, and his career has gone from strength to strength over the years. Mine however has been turbulent. Men are considered in their prime when in their 40’s, however women regularly put their careers on hold to bring up their family. They maintain and even grow their skills in this time, but lose their “shininess” for recruiters and companies. It’s not that women are no longer ambitious. If anything, they’re out there to show the world they are still relevant and more skilled than ever! Personally, I feel like I’m at my peak, work wise and I want to bring value and positive change to the workplace. I feel that I’m far more valuable to a company now, than I was 10 or 20 years ago. I’ve spoken to many women of my age and in my situation who feel the same. The mention of the school run can put companies off and it’s such a shame! They could be missing out on a great employee and the one person to really turn their culture and business around. Someone who is not just qualified and experienced for a role, but has gained valuable people skills through becoming a parent. <img decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4691" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-225x300.jpg 225w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-300x400.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-850x1133.jpg 850w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_5059-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> Me and my now 12 year old son. Companies, hiring managers and interviewers: please give mothers more of a chance. There’s so much that they can bring to a workplace that may be harder to tap into otherwise. We are still ambitious and we still want to be successful, but few people will give us a chance to shine. Be the change. The post Are companies missing out on talented mothers? appeared first on .
Let’s be honest, it’s been a very odd few weeks! Most parents are pulling their hair out trying to home school and do everything else they would normally do. I know that working from home and trying to teach your kids at the same time can be a super frustrating process, but one that I... The post Strange times but new beginnings appeared first on .
Let’s be honest, it’s been a very odd few weeks! Most parents are pulling their hair out trying to home school and do everything else they would normally do. I know that working from home and trying to teach your kids at the same time can be a super frustrating process, but one that I strangely really enjoyed. I was doing this until I was placed on furlough a few weeks back, which at the time was a very difficult and emotional time. Staying positive But it’s important to take the positives from these experiences and although I’m not working, it’s given me the opportunity to devote the time to my two boys, who really need it right now. Yeah, sure… I do miss my work colleagues and working. I’m a bit weird like that. I loved my work and communication was a huge part of my job and I really miss the interactions with everyone. But, in this time of uncertainty, I have decided to keep reaching for my goals and to keep myself busy, which leads me onto my next bit of news… <img decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-952" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee-850x567.jpg 850w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/thoughtchugcoffee.jpg 1988w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> New (old) Beginnings A lot of you know that I have been blogging since before it was cool. 2003, to be precise. It’s been a loooongggg time! Since having my son, it’s been very up and down and with the introduction of work and other challenges, my trusty blog has had to take a back seat. But, no more!!! I’ve taken this time at home as the perfect opportunity to put in the time and effort needed to breathe some life into my first baby and love. I’m working along side an amazing coach who has really helped to focus me and a couple of great friends, who know this area inside out. As well as home schooling my boys, I am spending my time re-learning the world of social media and blogging all over again. It’s been such a breath of fresh air and I can feel myself growing and that little bit closer to a goal I have had for a long time. One that I reached once, but want to again, on a bigger and better scale. What about Girls ‘n Gadgets? So, those of you who have followed me over the years will know that my ‘baby’ was my award-winning blog, Girls n Gadgets. I could never let my beloved blog die, so I will be bringing it to live, over here at SWANNY.ME. I am first and foremost a tech blogger, but as my life as changed, it feels only right to reflect that in my content. Since launching GnG back in 2009, I’ve got married, had a child, bought a home and changed careers. My passion for tech hasn’t diminished, if anything, it’s at an all time high. Having kids, tech is a huge part of education and play these days and it’s important to keep up to date and know what’s what! But in addition to my passion for tech, I will also be sharing stories of motherhood (my crazy life with Boo and Sam), living with ADHD, Autism/ ADHD in kids and various lifestyle favourites of mine! There is a little bit of something for everyone! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_20200307_110150-01-scaled.jpeg" alt="silly faces mother and son" class="wp-image-945" width="581" height="581" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_20200307_110150-01-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_20200307_110150-01-300x300.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px" /> Please follow me! So, my shameless plug. I would love it if you would follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I have so many great things to share with you over the coming weeks. Please drop me a message below, it would be so lovely to chat with you all! Please join me on this exciting journey! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-1024x348.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-350" width="318" height="108" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-1024x348.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-300x102.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-768x261.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-705x240.jpg 705w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature.jpg 1719w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px" /> The post Strange times but new beginnings appeared first on .
What is going on with our world?! I feel like I’m in a movie. So, today was day one with the kids at home. I was weirdly excited about this last week, but the weekend happened and I was already done! Monday morning was upon us… We did Joe Wick’s workout live on Youtube. Wow!... The post Isolation: Day 1 appeared first on .
What is going on with our world?! I feel like I’m in a movie. So, today was day one with the kids at home. I was weirdly excited about this last week, but the weekend happened and I was already done! Monday morning was upon us… We did Joe Wick’s workout live on Youtube. Wow! How unfit am I?! Apparently not as unfit as my 15 year old step son. Although, fair play to him, he completed it and is in a great frame of mind for tomorrow’s class. He’s keen to work on his fitness in this time and who am I to stop him? Tears and Tantrums! So, I started the boys off with their first subjects, RE for the eldest and Maths for the youngest. My youngest is quite advanced in his studies, but I’m keen to keep him working to the curriculum where I can. It took all of 10 minutes before he burst into tears. All because I made him watch the videos explaining how to do the Maths. I couldn’t believe it! All this time I have looked forward to the possibility of home schooling him and I failed within the first 15 minutes. Is 10am too early for gin?! I can totally understand why it was called ‘mothers ruin’ now. Shortly after this, my step son decided that he had had enough of his RE and ‘didn’t see the point in it anyway’. Such a tough one. He pushed back in every way possible. We had the moody “I’m not doing it”, the flailing arms and we had the incoherent mumblings. The morning was LONG, let me tell you!!! New Skills After his maths, The youngest attempted to log on to his Purple Maths. No such luck. Too many people in the UK doing the same thing. So, Daddy to the rescue! 45 minutes of coding in Python… BOOM! His favourite time of the day. I loved watching them both do this. They looked so happy and listening to Boo explaining what he was doing was SO rewarding. Socialising I tried since the end of last week to get the parents in our year group Facebook group involved in a daily zoom call at lunchtime for the kids to chat together. In fact, I had posted a few ideas of how they could stay in contact, but unfortunately I don’t think Facebook is checked as much these days, so it fell upon deaf ears. It’s all about WhatsApp groups these days. Unfortunately we don’t have one and there doesn’t seem to be much interest in one at the moment, which is a real shame. I launched the zoom call at 12.30 today and after sitting there for 25 minutes, Boo almost ended the meeting. Thankfully he didn’t and saw 2 of his good friends and it really lifted him. Tomorrow I will do the same, but will message people I know individually to join and see if that makes any difference. Overall Day one was definitely more of a 5/10. Many improvements could have been made. It would have been better if I had taken some time out of my work day to go through his work a bit more thoroughly. Tomorrow is a new day and things will be changing constantly! I’m on a new project at work, so I’m going through a lot of learning at the moment. From a work perspective, I’ve felt a lot happier than I have in a long time. I’m working with an awesome team and I’ve felt more connected to my colleagues than ever. Sounds, super strange and I can’t really explain it very well. I think the fact we have to all be on calls and interact more personably, has allowed me to put myself out there more. I’m in a brilliant team and I love how we plan time in our day to have a quick chat and check in on each other. It makes all the difference! So… That’s it for day one. I’ll be back tomorrow to update you on how tomorrow goes. PS. Does anyone else’s cats seem massively clingy or weird. I’m not sure mine know what is going on! Boo and Princess… This is a rare photo! She usually runs as fast as she can, but in this strange world we’re living in, she’s a social cat who will even let Boo pick her up. Weird times! The post Isolation: Day 1 appeared first on .
This admission might surprise you all! Despite my seemingly confident, outgoing and bubbly personality, I struggle daily with my confidence and self-esteem. This took a turn for the worst back in February when I lost my best friend to the big C… Cancer. Grief I have been on quite the journey since the death of... The post Finding Swanny… appeared first on .
This admission might surprise you all! Despite my seemingly confident, outgoing and bubbly personality, I struggle daily with my confidence and self-esteem. This took a turn for the worst back in February when I lost my best friend to the big C… Cancer. Grief I have been on quite the journey since the death of my best friend. Losing someone so close to me, who always loved me for exactly who I am, really changed my outlook on life. It put into perspective the friendships, or so-called friendships I had. It made me look at people as a whole, differently. I realised that life is short and that we should grab it with both hands. Really live our best lives. Acceptance I have always suffered from self-esteem issues really. Being someone who is high energy and very excitable, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. Those who ‘get me’ and invest time and effort into me get a very loyal and loving friend who would move mountains for them. Those who don’t… well, here’s my dilemma… I try to understand why they don’t ‘like’ me and have been known to try and change to be more accepted. Acceptance is something that I feel I am always craving. I don’t understand why this is such a thing for me. I feel the need to always ‘play up’ for people. I feel like, if I’m myself, then there’s no way someone will want to be friends with me. I have been working with a coach and a therapist to explore that this year and it’s been going great. I’ve made some positive mindset shifts and I’m getting there, but there’s still a lot of personal work there to do. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="756" height="756" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/starsearrings-1-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-747" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/starsearrings-1-1.jpg 756w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/starsearrings-1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/starsearrings-1-1-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px" /> Friendships Friendship is the one thing that really gets me down. I haven’t been anyone’s *best friend* since school. I thought I was at one point, but that ended so badly, it’s made me feel really anxious and scared to put myself ‘out there’ again in that way. I feel like a bit of a saddo saying I don’t have a best friend and that no one considers me as theirs. It’s not meant to sound as pathetic as it does, but it is what it is and through my coaching and therapy, I’m embracing ‘me’. I feel like I need to work on becoming friends with myself at the moment and allowing myself to accept who I am. Because of this, I have really put a lot of time, energy and money into helping shift my mindset. Working on this in the past few months has really helped me to re-focus on what and who is important though. I’m really deep diving into myself and understanding where these beliefs and values come from. Can they be changed? How can I find me and be happy with me? Work Returning to work was one of the best things I’ve done! It’s really helped my self esteem and given me a different type of confidence. It’s allowed me to focus on something other than just being ‘Mum’ and to just be ‘Leila’ again has been wonderful. It obviously comes with it’s own challenges, but they have been positive challenges and given me a different kind of self-belief. Having that part of your life that you can call your own is so important! I’ve made new friends, learned new skills and created a whole new me out of it. Yes! I sometimes feel like the grandma of the office as most people are mid 20’s, but that doesn’t really get to me as everyone is lovely. As above, I don’t tend to form the closest bonds with people easily, but I feel like I belong and that’s *so* important. Being Mum This is the best job of all and one I know I’m smashing. Being a mum is challenging, enjoyable and rewarding. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always a bed of roses. You have to take the rough with the smooth and roll with the punches sometimes. Being a good parent means difficult decisions, boundaries and tough love! Over the past year, I have learned a lot, especially when it comes to boundary setting. Kids will push… naturally. Let’s be honest, they’ve done this since birth. You always want to make your child smile and be happy, but this can’t be through giving them everything the want. I’m not going to lie, I do spoil my boys sometimes and I scold myself for it, but by introducing boundaries with them and sticking to them, life has been so much better. This is very much a work in progress though and is forever changing to keep up with the changing times. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/73190482_10212294274191393_5088842329368821760_o-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-744" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/73190482_10212294274191393_5088842329368821760_o-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/73190482_10212294274191393_5088842329368821760_o-300x300.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/73190482_10212294274191393_5088842329368821760_o-150x150.jpg 150w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/73190482_10212294274191393_5088842329368821760_o-768x768.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/73190482_10212294274191393_5088842329368821760_o.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Goal Setting Goal setting is so important to me for the new year! My ultimate aim is to move home. This is my one and only focus as it sets the foundation for all other projects I want to work on. It’s going to be hard as there’s a lot to do before we can even get to the point of putting our property on the market. Juggling work and the kids is enough, let alone the other extra-curricular stuff I get involved with as well. My aim is to try and document my journey and I’m going to try and keep on top of it here on Swanny.me. Any tips on moving house will be greatly received! For now, that’s my thoughts… I know it’s all achievable, it’s time to stop procrastinating and just do!!! The post Finding Swanny… appeared first on .
I lost one of my longest and best friends to cancer last week. It was a huge shock as she didn’t tell anyone other than close family… I’m heartbroken at the loss. She meant so much to me and it was just a couple of weeks ago she messaged me with a picture of her... The post Reflecting and Refocusing after Loss appeared first on .
I lost one of my longest and best friends to cancer last week. It was a huge shock as she didn’t tell anyone other than close family… I’m heartbroken at the loss. She meant so much to me and it was just a couple of weeks ago she messaged me with a picture of her granddaughter and we were talking about meeting up. She had told me she was ‘ill’ but I had no idea how ill. Shock We hadn’t seen each other for many years but, we kept in contact via Facebook messenger and Whatsapp. I guess I thought that if it was anything awful, she would tell me. With hindsight, this wasn’t her style. She wouldn’t have wanted me to worry. Especially as, despite being my best friend, she was also like a mother figure to me. She was forever looking out for me, right up until the end. Dealing with feelings I’ve found it really tough the past week or so to control my feelings. Some days I feel completely numb and unable to cry at all. These days are awful, as I feel like a terrible friend for being so emotionless. Other days I’m filled full of emotion and the slightest thing sets me off. We had so many amazing memories together. We were both a big part in each others weddings and we supported each other emotionally on many an occasion. Both of us were knon to each others family and since her passing, I realised how much I meant to her through her family. We regularly told each other we loved and missed each other. There was nothing but real love there and for this I will be eternally grateful. Reflection I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on my own life, since her passing. It really puts things in perspective when you lose someone so close. She was the youngest of seven children and also survived by her mother. Completely heartbreaking! I’m struggling at the moment and it’s important to heal properly. I’ve taken some time for myself, but not as much as I would like. Life is too short not to make the most of things, but I’m determined to make the most of my time on this earth. Refocusing I’ve done so much reflecting and I will continue to do so, but the main 5 things that have really stood out for me are: Get rid of the negative people and influences in your life. You’re worth more than that and they only bring you down. They will suck the joy from your world and leave you questioning yourself and your abilities. Be the best you! Make the most of today! Go out and see your friends, insist on it if you have to. You never know what life has in store. So, if you have an opportunity, grab it. Laugh, cry, hug and cherish every moment you have together. Slow down and take life in. The world we live in is so fast paced. Take time to enjoy the moment. Reflect on your day and time with your loved ones. Don’t try and cram everything in – learn to say no. Follow through on intentions. I can’t help but think that if I had followed up on our intentions to meet, I wouldn’t be filled with so much regret. Punching her postcode into my satnav on the day of her wake left me sad and angry. She was just 21 minutes away… 21!!! Always tell the ones you love how much they mean to you. I’m grateful that me and my friend were so open like this. She knew I loved her and cared for her and vice versa. I may not have had the chance to see her before she died, but we both knew how special we were to each other! Forever in my heart I love you, Laurel and I will miss you forever. You were such a wonderful friend and an example to everyone out there. You were kind, funny and smiled alway, even when you were sad. You were fierce and loved your family so much. You taught me so much in life and I’m proud to have called you my friend. Sleep tight my angel… Forever love… Your Little La La xx <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laurel-and-Alex-1024x768.jpg" alt="Laurel and Alex" class="wp-image-699" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laurel-and-Alex-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laurel-and-Alex-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laurel-and-Alex-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laurel-and-Alex.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> In memory of my lovely Laurel <3 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-1024x348.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-350" width="256" height="87" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-1024x348.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-300x102.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-768x261.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature-705x240.jpg 705w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rsz_1signature.jpg 1719w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" /> The post Reflecting and Refocusing after Loss appeared first on .
PSB M4U 8 The catchily named M4U 8’s are the newest noise-cancelling headphones from Canadian manufacturer PSB and follow the well-received M4U 1 and M4U 2 models. Unlike previous iterations, these are wireless, connecting to devices over standard Bluetooth or the new fangled aptX. The M4Us aren’t going win awards for visual appeal, but they... The post Wireless Headphones: M4U 8 appeared first on .
PSB M4U 8 The catchily named M4U 8’s are the newest noise-cancelling headphones from Canadian manufacturer PSB and follow the well-received M4U 1 and M4U 2 models. Unlike previous iterations, these are wireless, connecting to devices over standard Bluetooth or the new fangled aptX. The M4Us aren’t going win awards for visual appeal, but they do have a certain understated style, with headband and cups rendered in black matt plastic, while the sturdy hinges are finished in chrome. The luxuriously soft ear-cups are covered in black leatherette so that donning them feels like sinking into a mid-market Italian sofa. I’ve worn them for a couple of hours each day without any comfort issues, though I will note that they are tightly fitted. If you’ve a generously-sized skull you could struggle, but if you’re a runner you might appreciate the firm fit. They have a reassuringly expensive-feeling weight in the hand, and are solidly constructed. Attention to detail… A closer inspection reveals a thoughtful attention to detail. For example, the rechargeable AAA batteries give 15 hours of playtime, and are replaceable, so battery fatigue isn’t a problem. If you do run out of juice, the box contains an audio cable so that you can continue to listen in passive mode. Handily, both ear cups have an audio jack so that you can wire them on whichever side is most convenient. This thoughtfulness extends to the controls: three rocker switches on the right ear cup which control volume, mode, and track selection respectively. Having quick-access is particularly welcome in a wireless headphone since it means my phone can stay tucked away in my pocket while I skip to the next track or turn up the music. Pressing the track selection switch pauses the music or answers an incoming phone call, and there’s a microphone on the underside of the ear piece for hands-free gossip. Noise Cancellation The middle rocker switch controls the power and active noise cancellation. This works remarkably well, flick the switch into the ANC position, and the world around you is muted. There’s no hiss to speak of, just a strange sensation of pressure on the ear drum. A busy London street recedes into near silence making me doubly cautious crossing the road. When something is loud enough to puncture the bubble – a knackered motorbike roaring by – the effect is oddly jarring. I’m always genuinely surprised at the end of a train journey when I take off the cans and realise just how loud my surroundings have been. On the underground they fare equally well, with the clattering of the Northern line more noticeable in my feet than my ears. Pressing the volume control switch disables the noise cancellation and mutes the music so that you can hear the environment. Thoughtful, sensible, clever. Quality at no expense They’re no slouch in the sound quality stakes, either. As though to match their sensible exterior, the sound on the M4U 8’s is unfussy and well executed. The low end is punchy and weighty without being overdone and they’re capable of bags of detail, having great separation even on busy tracks. They can sound a little boomy at high volume, but the noise cancellation and deft fidelity mean you shouldn’t need to crank them up too high even in the noisiest environments. It’s tough to express how marvellous it is to listen to music quietly on the underground, carried along in a bubble of silence. I was initially worried that the tight fit and muffling effect would make them sound claustrophobic but, in practice, they impart a great sense of space. They’re all the more impressive when you remember that these are wireless headphones, streaming from a phone, capable of audiophile sound. Great Wireless Headphones When I last checked, we had four hundred and thirty seven pairs of headphones in our house, most hidden in a kitchen drawer, or stashed behind the sofa. I wasn’t thrilled by the appearance of number four hundred and thirty eight, but PSB have won me over with clever ergonomics and great portable performance. All in all these are an easy recommendation – great sound, neat design, and adequate noise cancellation in a portable, wireless package. The post Wireless Headphones: M4U 8 appeared first on .
The Misfit Mum – Beating the ‘Mum’ Anxiety
Tough Week The Misfit Mum: So the past week or so has been very busy. Emotionally it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster. Boo is having a ball at his new school, but this week had an altercation which has completely set off my anxiety. I’ve always had a bit of a complex when it... The post The Misfit Mum – Beating the ‘Mum’ Anxiety appeared first on .
Tough Week The Misfit Mum: So the past week or so has been very busy. Emotionally it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster. Boo is having a ball at his new school, but this week had an altercation which has completely set off my anxiety. I’ve always had a bit of a complex when it comes to school and school mums. Everyone seems so lovely at this new school, but like any new social situation it’s really hard work and there’s so much uncertainty. Being slightly ‘out there’ and excitable, I don’t tend to fit into the ‘normal’ mould. I get nervous and talk too much. I’m ‘weird’! I think I just come across as ‘too much’ and scare people off. Not their type of person. I’ve always struggled to fit in and make good friends. But I hope this time it’s different. I don’t want to be the ‘misfit mum’ anymore. The lie <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-666 size-medium" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Leila-Normal-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Leila-Normal-225x300.jpg 225w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Leila-Normal-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Leila-Normal.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />When Boo was born, I got excited about the nursery/ school years and looked forward to the close friendships, like you see on TV… Pathetic really, when I take a step back and look at it. They haven’t really happened as I expected. I don’t have that regular group of friends I meet with or anyone who speaks to me on a regular. As in previous years, I’m keen to get involved with the school and support them. I love getting involved with the boys schools and clubs, but I’m also aware of how this didn’t overly help before. I loved helping, it always gave me a real sense of reward. Seeing the kids little faces and knowing that by helping, it was making these events possible. Although, it didn’t make people want take time to get to know me… It played on and heightened my insecurities in a lot of cases. I was ‘that mum’ who who was always there. Always on hand to help. Always the one who knew every kids name and quirk. But never the mum anyone really wanted to get to know. I’ve got this… Although this sounds very ‘woah is me’, I have moved on and am so much stronger about my insecurities and anxiety. It lingers, but it rarely takes hold. I also know I’m not on my own with this feeling. I work full time now and so I’m not so ‘available’, but my want to help is still strong. I will do the things that make me feel good and make me a better person and I will be there for my boys… The Misfit Mum So I may not be ‘normal’, but I care and I will always give every friendship, every project and everything I do all I can. Being ME is the most important thing these days. The post The Misfit Mum – Beating the ‘Mum’ Anxiety appeared first on .
The ‘ick’ I’ve been running Girls ‘n Gadgets for over nine years now. I’ve always aimed to be a voice within women in tech and make tech fun and understandable. However, it never fails to amaze me how gender biased and narrow minded technology companies and their PR’s can be. Nine years ago, I guess... The post Women in Tech – Battling the Bias appeared first on .
The ‘ick’ I’ve been running Girls ‘n Gadgets for over nine years now. I’ve always aimed to be a voice within women in tech and make tech fun and understandable. However, it never fails to amaze me how gender biased and narrow minded technology companies and their PR’s can be. Nine years ago, I guess you could argue that it wasn’t a surprise but that things were ‘changing’. Almost a decade on, I don’t see a huge change and that has really upset me of late. I’ve been quiet on here over the past few years, due to children and health issues. But having made my return to the work place and getting my sanity and energy back, I feel it’s time to use this blog for what it was truly intended for from the beginning- technology for women, by women. The Vision It’s time to start really putting these companies to the test and to create a voice once more on ‘women in tech’ and tech aimed at women. Just because you make something pink, it doesn’t mean you’ve created a product aimed at women. We don’t necessarily need bright colours and silly features, just think about how is best to market it towards women without all of he novelty. It’s about time that these companies do more than just ‘making things pink’. Let’s see some adverts with inspirational women showing off a product. Let’s see PR companies inviting more women to their events. It’s so disheartening going to these events and being one of just a handful of women there. Additionally, PR’s/ Tech companies – it’s not about partnering with Mummy Bloggers all the time. They seem to be one of the only female partnerships I ever see these days. Please think outside of the box. No offence to my fellow mummy bloggers, this is in no way an attack on you guys! Just an observation of a 30 something tech head who would like to see a bit more diversity towards marketing towards a female audience. Living the Dream For those of you that don’t know, 6 months ago I made the big decision to return to work after a long and stressful five years away from the workplace. It’s a huge decision in itself, but I had to make it more difficult for myself, didn’t I?! For years, I had wanted to work in an engineering capacity, but I didn’t have a computer science degree, I couldn’t code and I had no experience. My husband, who is a software architect, suggested I look at testing. This wasn’t the first time testing had been mentioned to me. A few of the developers at my previous company had mentioned it also, so it was at the back of my mind. The big question was ‘how’ to do it. Long story short, I’m now a tester at a consultancy in London, working on mobile and web apps and I love it! I couldn’t be happier and I’m learning so much. It’s given me so much more confidence and I feel the want and the need to share my story on how I managed to break an unhealthy vicious cycle and follow my dream to truly become a ‘woman in tech’. Now what?! Despite this little blog being neglected, I still get a very healthy number of visitors daily. Having started work, full time, that has actually given me more time to work on reviews, talks and attend events in the London area. I want to become a voice within the tech and women in tech arenas. I want to inspire Mum’s, young girls and women in general to become more tech savvy and have the confidence to work towards a career in the technology field. New Direction – More Women in Tech So I have a bit of a new direction I’d like to explore on here. As well as my focus on mobile, audio and accessories, I would like to introduce some more personal pieces. I’d like to interview some inspirational women and cover tech events. I’m putting a lot of time, money and energy into this women in tech initiative and if you’re someone who would like to support me in one way or another, I would be very grateful. PR’s especially, I hope I haven’t put you off. I would like to help you reach an audience of more tech minded women and also reach those that may not be that tech savvy (yet!). So, if you have a product to pimp, please contact me on leila@girlsngadgets.com and we can discuss working together. The post Women in Tech – Battling the Bias appeared first on .
A couple of weeks ago I was invited celebrate a year of the Premier League Primary Stars programme. The event was so inspiring and until that evening, I wasn’t aware of how much went on behind the scenes. I had seen a few tweets about the programme when it first launched in March 2017, but... The post Premier League, Primary Stars appeared first on .
A couple of weeks ago I was invited celebrate a year of the Premier League Primary Stars programme. The event was so inspiring and until that evening, I wasn’t aware of how much went on behind the scenes. I had seen a few tweets about the programme when it first launched in March 2017, but was gobsmacked at how many schools are taking part! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-630 size-large" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_175122-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_175122-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_175122-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_175122-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> The Premier League Trophy Primary Stars The programme has already got over 100 football clubs involved, engaging in over 15,000 primary schools in England and Wales and is growing at a fast pace. The programme takes the glitz and glamour of the Premier League stars into schools to help inspire and motivate the children. Aimed towards key stages 1 and 2, the teacher resources are completely free to download from their website for PE, PSHE, English and Maths. They even offer in school support by sending professionals and footballers to help train the teachers to keep the legacy going year after year! Kits The evening was hosted by Ben Shires of CBBC fame, where he shared the incredible achievements of the program and some moving videos that really tugged at the heart strings. Watching children who struggled with their learning, until the programme was introduced, and to see their passion to succeed and get better was so emotional. It made me think of my two boys, who both very different, have had their struggles at school with reading and writing. GETHYN’S STORY – SWANSEA FC from Rhyss Hall on Vimeo. Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore spoke about where he saw the programme going and aims to reach the remaining 5000 schools who haven’t yet signed up. I’m pretty sure Alex’s school is one of those and I will certainly be sharing the Premier League love with them! Writing Stars The evening had delight after delight. My favourite being when they announced the winners of the Writing Stars Campaign, backed by the National Literacy Trust. The competition, to write a poem about resilience, received over 25,000 entries from primary school children aged between 6 and 11. The winning entries were heartwarming and emotional. ‘Monkey Bars’, written by 6 year old Amelie which was about how she overcame the challenge of the monkey bars. Beautifully written and so mature in language for someone so young! The other winner was by Sadie who wrote an emotional poem about her mothers battle with cancer and celebrating her mothers bravery. So beautiful, so emotional, I couldn’t help but cry. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-629 size-large" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_191018-e1525888905851-1024x673.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="673" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_191018-e1525888905851-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_191018-e1525888905851-300x197.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_20180419_191018-e1525888905851-768x505.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Cressida Cowell and Lauren Childs presents Amelie and Sadie their awards. The competition inspired a book called “Try, Try, Try again” and contained poems from the entries and also some famous faces can be found in there too! Cresida Cowell (How to train your dragon) and Lauren Childs (Charlie & Lola) attended the event to discuss the programme and they read out some of the wonderful poems included the book. Sadie and Amelia’s poems can be found at here, along with the other winners who have been included in the book. My story Going to school comes with mixed emotions for primary school kids. Some *really* love it, some hate it, but then there are the kids who like it, but struggle and feel left out. I have two children who are very different when it comes to school, which I will go into shortly. At a bare minimum, you expect your child to be reading and writing. With schools today stretched beyond their means, it can be hard to provide the right level of support to all children and as a result, this can cause them to lose interest or be left behind. I have one of each, so I have seen this from both sides of the spectrum. My stepson, who is my eldest (13), is an intelligent boy who has a freakishly quick mathematical mind. He *loves* to read, but struggles terribly with spelling and handwriting, due to his dyspraxia. Lack of resources and in some cases, teachers meant that he didn’t always get the help and support he needed from his primary school. Special needs were, at times, overlooked or dismissed. As a result he became disillusioned with the schooling system and he found it hard to trust teachers. He fell behind at school and this caused other issues to arise that were more difficult to address and deal with. Heart breaking for his mum, dad and I, it was hard to know what to do to change this. Even a totally consistent, loving and supportive family couldn’t ‘fix’ this. It was broken – and to him, beyond repair. The school was poorly funded and was located in a rural part of Scotland. Certainly not high on the list of the boroughs priorities. The Little Fierce One On the other hand, I have my 6 year old son, who as a toddler was super advanced. Talking in fluent sentences at the age of two and being able to write and spell basic three letter words before he even started school, he didn’t have the struggles my stepson had. Yet, he too has faced problems with reading and writing at school, but for very different reasons. Due to being *too* advanced, he is rarely read with. There is no one to one reading and only reads within a group maybe twice a month. Due to the ‘ease’ of school, I feel this has led to focus problems for him and he has lost interest in a number of key areas including reading and writing. This, to me, is heartbreaking as his reading level is exceptional. He reads Harry Potter, Tom Gates and Secret Seven books etc, but since told that he won’t become a ‘free reader’ this year at school because “they don’t do that in year 2 anymore”, he’s left goalless and demotivated. Well done Premier League! Initiatives like the Premier Stars programme would have worked wonders for my eldest. It’s sad that it is too late for him now, however, I hope my youngest can benefit from something like this. I think it’s wonderful the Premier League are using their profile to help children learn the absolute basics in education and they’re doing it in a way that makes learning fun and exciting. I had a wonderful night and I really hope to follow this up again next year and see how many more schools have signed up and the longer term affects on the existing schools. The post Premier League, Primary Stars appeared first on .
Around two months ago, almost exactly to the day, I found myself head in hands wondering what to do with my life. As someone who worked their entire life until having my son, the past few years have been incredible, but have left me wondering where the ‘real’ me went. Whilst you know, as a... The post The Road to TestBash Brighton appeared first on .
Around two months ago, almost exactly to the day, I found myself head in hands wondering what to do with my life. As someone who worked their entire life until having my son, the past few years have been incredible, but have left me wondering where the ‘real’ me went. Whilst you know, as a ‘mum to be’, that your life is about to change massively, I don’t think anyone can prepare you for exactly how much! The Idea I was a community manager for a software company when I left to look after my son and I loved my job. Whilst social media is something that I’m good at and would ‘fit’, I didn’t feel it was the challenge I was after. Going back to work is so much more than the money for me. I want to engage and work with a passionate team on a cool product and most of all, I want to be challenged and learn. I’d thought about this for weeks, months even. I just didn’t feel that social media was the way forward for me anymore. Over the years a number of people had mentioned software testing. But it wasn’t until my husband mentioned it this one evening, whilst my head was in my hands, that I sat up and listened. The Decision <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-615" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MOT-Logo-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MOT-Logo-300x300.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MOT-Logo-150x150.jpg 150w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MOT-Logo.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />My husband is a software architect in London. He’s very experienced in what he does and has a great understanding of testing. We sat and we chatted about it for ages and he contacted his lead QA at work, who also had a very detailed conversation with me. It sounded like the perfect job for me and so I was keen to get cracking. She introduced me to Rosie at Ministry of Testing and we chatted further and I discovered there was the possibility of applying for a Minisrty of Testing Scholarship that would enable me to attend the popular TestBash in Brighton in 2 weeks time. I didn’t want to jump in and apply for the scholarship until I had done a bit more research. So, in the mean time, I had posted in a few start-up groups on Facebook about possibly interning or if anyone was looking for a junior to take on and train up. I had a few people contact me, including some ex colleagues, but one person in particular has been constant with the advice and support and has become a good friend, Shey Crompton. Shey is a mountain of knowledge when it comes to testing and the testing community. He suggested a meetup in Brighton, two weeks down the line which was a Software Testing Clinic meetup aptly named ‘What is Testing?’. It couldn’t have been a more perfect topic and excellent timing. Software Testing Clinic The two weeks passed quickly and I arranged to meet up with the lovely Rosie before the event. I was so excited, but nervous as I just didn’t know what to expect. I met Rosie in Wagamama where she was sat with two of her gorgeous children. We had a good chat about why I wanted to go into software testing and she told me more about the Ministry of Testing and how it could support me with my search. After food, we headed over to the meetup, where there was a room full of people. As the evening went on, it was obvious that there were people starting out in the industry and others who had clearly been doing this for many years. It was a great mix. There was such a buzz and passion for the job from all and it was soon very clear to me that this was something I wanted to do. It not only felt like something I wanted to do, it felt like something that I could be good at. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-617 size-large" src="http://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/rsz_img_20180219_210407-e1523124637120-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/rsz_img_20180219_210407-e1523124637120-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/rsz_img_20180219_210407-e1523124637120-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanny.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/rsz_img_20180219_210407-e1523124637120-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> The evening was presented by Mark Winteringham and the ever energetic, Emma Keaveny. I had heard about Emma before the event as she was the first person to benefit from the Minsitry of Testing Scholarship. I was really keen to meet her and she certainly didn’t disappoint. Emma’s positivity and energy was exactly what I needed that evening. She shared her story with me and there were so many things that I could relate to. That evening I also met Dan Billing who was the mentor of our group that evening. I learned a lot from Dan that evening. He too, like Shey, has become a great support to me in my quest to become a software tester. TestBash: The Application I got home at around 11pm that evening and I was buzzing… It was the happiest I had been in ages because, finally, my direction was crystal clear to me. Software testing sounded perfect and the community that goes with it was incredible. My poor husband, I couldn’t shut up about the night I’d had and what I’d learned. It was a no brainer, I had to apply for this scholarship. I spent the next hour writing my application letter and went to bed. My head was full from everything that had happened that evening. The next day, I was constantly checking my phone. Even though I knew realistically it would take time for my application to be reviewed. As I climbed into bed at 11.20pm that evening, my phone pinged. I didn’t think anything more of it. When I checked it was an email from Richard, Boss Boss at Ministry of Testing. My heart did a funny flutter and I took a deep breath and opened the email. There it was! I had been offered the scholarship for all 4 days. Despite my sleeping husband, I jumped up and down and woke him up! “I got it! I got it!” I shouted. Over the moon, I called my Dad and told him too. My journey was beginning and I couldn’t wait! Next: The TestBash Experience – coming soon! The post The Road to TestBash Brighton appeared first on .