Give to gain: supporting women as whole people

Yes, we have working mums navigating school runs, sports days and sleepless nights. But we also have women caring for older family members. Women supporting partners. Women managing health conditions. Women who don’t have children - by choice or otherwise - but whose lives are still full, complex and important.

Supporting mothers matters - but supporting women as whole people matters even more. The common thread isn’t motherhood. It’s trust. It’s flexibility. It’s understanding that life doesn’t sit neatly outside of working hours.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme - Give to Gain - really resonates with me. Because when we give time, flexibility, empathy or trust, we’re not losing something. We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive.

And when women thrive, everyone benefits.

For me, that support started early on. The fear of asking for flexibility was ingrained in me during my early career. I’d actually failed probation once because I left work to pick up my sick son from school.

When I joined Zoonou back in November 2019, just a month in my childminder came down with pneumonia. At the time, we were all office-based, my family lived 300 miles away, and I just really needed to be at home.

I braced myself for what I expected to be an awkward conversation. But Nick, our MD, was so supportive that I almost didn’t know how to respond. That moment has stuck with me ever since.

And it’s not just my experience.

Chloe is parenting out loud and proud

My motherhood journey has, like most, been a roller coaster. My little one is now three, and already since returning from maternity leave our needs have changed many times.

Flexible working has played a huge part in supporting not just my ability to perform, but my wellbeing. That’s meant adjusting to part-time hours, shifting my working day when my partner is away for extended periods, and slightly later starts on 9am nursery drop-off days - especially as childcare costs have increased.

Whilst Zoonou’s parent-friendly benefits have been invaluable, it’s the culture within our community that has given me the confidence to ask for what my family and I need. “Parenting out loud” is genuinely embedded here. It is a safe space to talk about our children, share experiences and acknowledge that work and family life are not separate worlds.

That allows me to deliver for our clients and team to the highest standard, while keeping my stress levels manageable so I can be a present, engaged parent outside of work. I don’t always get it right as a parent, but I am able to model to my daughter what healthy, sustainable balance can look like. Something I hope she carries with her as she grows.

Beth on bringing her whole self to work

I’ve never worked somewhere I felt comfortable telling a manager I’d had a panic attack. Or that I was worried sick because one of the cats was ill. Or that menopausal brain fog had made me forget what we’d literally just been talking about.

Before Zoonou, suppressing the ‘non-work’ parts of myself had become second nature. No matter what was happening at home, you kept it separate  - even if it affected your demeanour, your concentration, your ability to perform. You just carried on.

What’s different here is knowing that if something goes a little sideways – whether that’s me personally, my parents, my husband, or yes, even the cats – it’s OK to say so. It’s OK to talk about it. And more importantly, it’s OK to expect support.

In the past, that might have been laughed at, frowned upon, or dismissed with a flat ‘no’. Here, it’s met with empathy, not judgement. That’s bigger than I can really put into words.

Steph is turning challenges into opportunities - and then some

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, I didn’t think my career was over - but I knew it might, ironically, be an uphill struggle.

Zoonou remains the only workplace where I’ve mentioned my diagnosis in my cover letter. I knew what they stood for and was comfortable utilising my MS as an asset rather than a hindrance.

During my interview, I said I wanted to start a community group for women and non-binary people in the tech world. The excitement of my interviewers was palpable.

With financial and spiritual backing, Zoonou has helped us found Women in Tech Sussex, offered office space for events and supported the group getting off the ground. No credit was expected on their part - but I definitely want to give it!

Katie on why time, trust, and flexibility go hand-in-hand

For me, the support I received from Zoonou on my ‘working-mum journey’ started well before I even had my daughter.

I had a challenging time with pregnancy loss and couldn’t have felt more cared for by my colleagues. With flexibility to take off time to recover, and the ability to take a two-week holiday shortly after to reset, I was given everything I needed and was fully supported in my return-to-work.

This was echoed when I came back after having my daughter. The understanding from management and the team, and ability to work flexibly around childcare, sickness and general family needs, has allowed me to thrive - both as a mum and at work. When I first returned, I was supported through a phased return, starting four days a week and building to full-time this January.

I feel that my needs are truly heard and that I’m trusted to deliver the best in my work, while also being able to care for my family.

What give to gain means to me

What strikes me most about these stories isn’t grand gestures. It’s everyday generosity. Leaders who trust their teams, flexibility without guilt, and conversations that happen without judgement.

When I think about my own experience, I realise how much that shaped how I show up at work today. Support here isn’t conditional. It isn’t reserved for one life stage, and it doesn’t depend on whether you’re a mum, a carer, managing a health condition, or just having a bad week.

It’s simply about recognising that we’re whole people.

And when we give each other trust, empathy and flexibility, the benefits ripple out. People feel valued, supported, and able to focus on delivering their best work. Teams become stronger, more creative, and more committed.

For me, that’s what give to gain really looks like - and it’s a culture I’m proud to be part of every day.

About Zoonou

Zoonou is a UK-based software testing company. We’re a B Corp and 100% employee owned. We put people and purpose at the heart of everything we do - curious, creative, and collaborative. Want to join us? Check out our careers page.