Mauritius stands tall as a testament to economic progress, cultural development and social advancement, with women making up around 40% of the workforce.
Refreshingly, the financial services sector is reinforcing this trend, with over 55% of women at the forefront — driving leadership, innovation and transformation. We look to industry stalwarts such as leading management company Intercontinental Trust Ltd (ITL) to understand how Mauritius is standing out as a beacon of progress in this key economic pillar. As Mauritius gears up to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, 25 May, we look at how working mothers at ITL are successfully balancing their family responsibilities and workplace duties.
In a series of interviews with Kate Kwok Choon, Business Development Manager; Diya Fullee, Senior Manager – Fund & Company Administration Services; and Beatrice Lan, General Manager, Private Office, at ITL, we understand how these intrepid ladies are working hard and succeeding in style when it comes to walking the tightrope between personal fulfilment and professional success.
Flexible work arrangements: Win-win for management, employees
What is the one key factor at ITL that sets them up for success, and how does the culture at ITL play a crucial role in perpetuating such success stories? Across all working mothers at ITL, a key thread emerges in the form of the flexible work arrangements offered at the company.
These arrangements, however, are not simply about convenience – they are part of a broader organisational philosophy that empowers employees to continue growing in their roles without compromising their family commitments. Career progression and personal growth remain firmly on track for mothers at ITL, many of whom have moved into more senior or leadership roles post-maternity.
“In the financial and offshore sector, life is dynamic and we embrace lots of challenges and opportunities every single day,” notes Diya. With her son in pre-primary school, she adds that the flexible work arrangements have been a significant source of support for her in this dynamic work environment.
“I would say ITL’s supportive approach has helped me manage both my professional responsibilities and caregiving duties during challenging times. This helped me remain productive professionally while fulfilling my responsibilities at home. This balance ensured that I didn’t have to choose between my career and my child. This is something that speaks volumes to ITL’s commitment to supporting working mothers and supporting us as individuals,” she emphasises.
For her part, Kate, mother of two, adds that ITL allows mothers to work from home in case school is closed for any reason, for instance, due to heavy rain. Recently back from maternity leave, she feels the support extended by management in the form of flexible work arrangements has been a key criteria giving her peace of mind while at the workplace.
“During the months of January and February in particular, unexpected school closure can be challenging, especially during bad weather, with radio warnings issued at 4am in the morning, thus making it difficult to plan for childcare in advance. Thanks to the support from my team and understanding managers, I’ve been able to handle these types of unexpected situations without stress, and still stay on top of my work.”
Diya adds that flexible working also means that one can replace one’s working hours at their own convenience. In addition, ITL offers flexible hours in the morning and/or afternoon, for instance, if one wants to drop or pick up their child to/from school. She explains that staff are also encouraged to sign up for self-care through ITL’s focus on its wellness programmes. “We get sponsored if we need to go to a safe space and relax, for instance, some sessions at the gym, Pilates classes, order subsidised lunch from work if you do not get time for a meal prep, etc. Besides, ITL organises Family Fun Day where, once a year, your family is invited to form part of work events,” she elaborates.
A day in the life of a working mum at ITL
It’s 6:00 am and Kate is already awake. With two young children at home, the morning begins with preparing breakfast, school lunches and navigating the usual rush of uniforms, school bags and gentle nudges to get ready on time. By 8:30am, she’s at her desk—whether at home or in the office—ready for team calls and client meetings. “There’s a rhythm to the day, a balancing act,” she says, “but there’s also the comfort of knowing I have the trust of my manager and the flexibility to manage both roles effectively.”
Finally, Beatrice explains that there is a sense of mutual respect between management and employees, as she highlights the autonomy and flexibility that comes with remote work arrangements.
“For instance, if your kid is sick, you can continue to work and look after your child. This has had a lot of impact. One time my son was sick, I had to stay with him at the clinic and ITL has been very supportive. But what I do in addition is to bring along my laptop so that we can work around if there is anything urgent that I need to do,” she elaborates. She notes that, with two kids at home – a daughter who is 8 and a son who is 2 years old – she especially values the trust and understanding that help her balance professional commitments and family life when needed.
Strong support systems inside and outside the organisation
Another common factor across these successful working mothers is a concerted effort to cultivate strong support systems both inside and outside the organisation.
In Beatrice’s case, she explains how her team proved to be an invaluable source of support when she returned from maternity leave and was finding her feet again after a difficult first pregnancy. “When I was pregnant the first time, I had to have complete bed rest. I could not work at all. I came back to work after more than 5 months. It was quite challenging because I was already manager of a team of around 15, and was unsure how I would cope with all the projects that had unfolded in my absence. At a broader level, I was unsure how I would be able to balance my professional and personal responsibilities as a mother. At ITL, I got that support – both from management and my team as well. My team had been keeping me abreast of everything while I was away. They also allowed me the time to settle back into my role.”
For Diya as well, the support and advice of her fellow working mothers at ITL was a huge motivation for overcoming a pressing professional challenge – her first business travel opportunity after having a child. “When I was offered the opportunity of a business travel two years back, I was with a toddler. It was a tempting professional opportunity, but, being a toddler, my child really demanded full attention from me at that time. At the same time, I believed that accepting the trip would open doors and be a very enriching work experience. Sometimes your mind is in turmoil and mine kept querying whether I should accept it or turn down the opportunity, just because I have a child. I spoke to working mothers at ITL who had been on trips previously and not just one but all of them really encouraged me to go for it and their experience sharing really boosted my spirit,” she avers.
Finally, Kate explains that her team and management have both been key pillars for her within the organisation. “My team is my strongest support system within the organisation. Everyone in the team tries to help the other, be it my co-manager or team members themselves. When one is facing issues with childcare, one can count on the team to step into the breach. Moreover, the management is quite understanding. When there is an issue, they remain very supportive. They are approachable and we can easily turn to them without any fear of reprimand and can always find a solution together with them. When you approach a manager with your request, you feel like you are being heard and can find a solution that works for all. At ITL, management is flexible, understanding and supportive,” she elaborates.
Outside of work too, the importance of strong support systems cannot be underscored enough. Diya, who notes that she firmly believes in the classic proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, explains that her husband, parents, brother, and sister-in-law have been the rock solid foundation that her career is built on. ”Outside work, my husband is the person who has helped me most, including his parents. When he is not here, I step in, and when I am not there, he steps up. As a working mother, I was very worried that I would miss certain chapters of my child’s life. But my mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law are there – they are always present and taking pictures or capturing beautiful moments that I would otherwise miss because I am at work. At ITL, you do get to stay and work remotely at home. Here, even if I request for once or twice a week to work at home, I will be granted the flexibility which may not be possible with every other company. Moreover, once or twice a week, I get to pick my child up from school. Every other day, someone from the family would pick him up. But I love to see his face light up when I do the school pick up! Such assistance and flexibility have been invaluable at ITL.”
Diya also expresses gratitude to teachers for taking care of her child outside of the family support system. “The teachers are with my child every day, and I get the reassurance that they are looking after him. They are the ones closer to him, teaching him the values and principles of life after home. And when you get to hear how well your child is doing while you were away at work but you did the best that you could, it really is very emotional. So it’s the whole ecosystem that we speak to here, and every little help from every person to balance both worlds counts towards a better support system for working mothers.”
For Kate, her partner is a strong pillar of support who tides her over difficult times at work, allowing her to accept projects that require her to work hard past the usual working hours with complete peace of mind. “Whenever I have projects with tight deadlines that require me to work hard for days at a stretch, my partner serves as a key support system. Going beyond singular instances, his consistent support with childcare has really helped me progress at the workplace. Having him as my support system meant I didn’t have to compromise on work, so when work was more demanding, I always had his support with the kids. When I was working till late on projects with tight deadlines, having the support of my partner to be able to plough on post the usual working hours meant the world to me.”
Finally, for Beatrice, a combination of family support and paid childcare has worked wonders as a strong pillar outside of the workplace. “We have a chance in Mauritius to have our parents and extended family living close to us. I am fortunate to have that opportunity as I have my father and my in-laws living nearby and they have been very supportive indeed. Also, I have been able to get childcare services from someone who is well known to me and lives in the neighbourhood, making it easy for me to leave my kids early in the morning and pick them up after working hours,” she elaborates.
Words of advice for other working mothers
Across all mothers cultivating a successful career at ITL, the common thread that ties them is their strong sense of reliance on the ITL community.
Beatrice urges other working mothers to be open in their communications and ask for help from the vibrant ITL community as and when they need support. ”Never hesitate to ask for support. Communicate openly. If you decide to stay on your own and hesitate to ask for help, you will lose out on opportunities. We have a great community at ITL – so lean on the ITL community. There are plenty of people here to help you and who want to see you grow. Most importantly for all mothers to be – believe that being a mother makes you stronger, not less capable.”
For her part, Kate cautions that burnouts are increasingly common due to the heavy mental load that women carry. Hence, she advises that working mothers must build a strong support system. “At ITL, the mindset and culture is one of open understanding. The managers are open to finding a solution with you. ITL is marked by the human touch and human mindset. Of course, you have to deliver but if you have an issue, you can count on your team mates or management to support you. My advice to working mothers – turn to your team mates when you need to find a solution!”
Finally, Diya encourages working mothers to be vocal and transparent about their needs, motivating them to build a strong network as they tread the tough tightrope between professional success and motherhood. “Go for it! It is absolutely possible to do justice to both work and motherhood. Just be transparent and vocal about your needs. Don’t hesitate to ask for support. People will understand. Build a strong network. Being a working mother is not a limitation, it’s a strength. We can set an example and show our children how we balance hard work and independence in life,” she explains.
Working mothers at ITL: Stronger together
As we conclude our interview, Diya sums it up beautifully when she harks to the inclusive and performance-driven culture as the reason for her success, noting that it gave her the space to grow professionally while fulfilling her responsibilities as a mother.
“My need to be a working mum is about being financially independent. I always carried a strong sense of purpose about me. I come from a family background where I have seen my family – my mother, father and siblings – working hard. Now I wish to set the same example for my child. Indeed, at ITL, I never felt that just because I am a mother, I was given less responsibilities and opportunities. On the contrary, after I became a mother, the same opportunities kept flowing to me. I always believed that having a family and a career should not be mutually exclusive, and at ITL, that has proved to be true. I would advise other working mums not to let go of their dreams,” she concludes.
Indeed, for all the mothers interviewed, it is clear that the support at ITL have not only helped them cope – it has helped them thrive, acquire new skills through internal and external learning opportunities, and take on major projects – all while raising young children.
