Mothers who build

Haya Odeh, Co-founder and Head of Design at Replit, shares her experiences and reflections on balancing motherhood with a career in tech, challenging societal assumptions that women's ambitions cease with marriage or motherhood. Despite facing questions about her role and purpose, Odeh emphasizes her intrinsic need to build and create, which was only intensified by motherhood. She recounts her unique challenges as the only mother at Replit during her early years, navigating pregnancy and company growth without existing support structures, which informed her approach to developing family-friendly workplace policies based on real-life experiences rather than theoretical frameworks. Odeh highlights the evolving landscape for women in tech, noting how advancements in AI and technology have lowered barriers to entry, enabling women globally to innovate and build businesses even while managing family responsibilities. She underscores the respect for both career-oriented mothers and those who choose to focus on family, advocating for a reevaluation of the value of unpaid labor. Addressing aspiring entrepreneurs, Odeh encourages women to take advantage of the current environment, where the credential, geography, and time gaps are narrowing, to pursue their ambitions.