Osemhen’s Note: I don’t remember how and when we first got in touch with Hilda. I do remember that one week before our very first Icon Brunch, we were sold out and she asked if she could still get a ticket. Luckily, a few days later, someone cancelled and she was able to attend our brunch with Olatowun Candide-Johnson. During introductions at the brunch, she casually mentioned that she was the CEO of Jobberman. How cool is that?! A young working mom who’s a CEO is a big deal. I knew we had to interview her. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as we did. 🙂
Hi! I’m Hilda Kabushenga Kragha, born and raised in Uganda, but I have lived in Lagos since 2015. I moved to Nigeria to work at Mckinsey & Company and met my husband less than 6 months after I moved here. We have a son who changed both my life and my career path.
Sounds like the beginning of an epic tale! Tell us 😃
When I returned to work after maternity leave, I realized that I didn’t want the travel and intensity so I took a break, resolved not to go back to work until my son was at least a year old. While on break, Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM) reached out to me about leading Jobberman where I started as CEO one week after my son turned 13 months.
When I left McKinsey, I made a promise not to take on a role that was not in a clear area of passion for me. I have always been passionate about organizational behavior and human capital management so Jobberman is literally my sweet spot.
Sweet. How’s life been as a working mom?
Even while I was on break, I still did some independent consulting projects; those were flexible and I mostly worked from home. My biggest worry as a working mom is missing out on the little things. Fortunately, that has not happened yet, but I pray that I make it to every school play, end of year concert and all those other things.
So if you won the lottery, would you stay home?
Not even if I had a million dollars. I won’t lie, even a weekend with no nanny drives me up the wall. I love my son but intellectual stimulation is important to me and he cannot provide that yet. Additionally, I like to believe that by living a balanced life with all the elements it takes for me to be happy (great career, great marriage, vibrant social life and good mental health), I am role modelling the same balance for my children which is important because adulting is hard.
Preach! What was your first day back at work at McKinsey after giving birth like?
I was excited, I loved my job and I was dying to get back until I realized the long hours were never going to go away. My breast milk dried up and I essentially became a shadow of my former self (around 8 weeks after getting back to work).
Whoa! Deep. Glad it all worked out. So what do you do for childcare? What’s the juggle like as a working mom?
I have a very reliable nanny, so my child stays at home. My husband and I decided not to start him in school until he could at least communicate. On the home front, I push for the same level of efficiency I have at work. Everything runs like a project. It’s not always successful, but I treat my staff as professionals and give them the empowerment and incentives I give my staff at work. So far so good.
That’s very convenient. How does your typical day go?
I wake up around 5 am and go for a quick run, then I get ready, head out around 5.45 and get to work by 6.30. I read/write, do admin until 9am when work place wahala starts. Then its client meetings, internal meetings, problem solving with my team… basically Jobberman owns me between 9am and 5pm.
I typically leave the office by 3.30pm and get home by 4.30. I then take my son for a walk around our estate until around 5.30/6 depending on his energy levels and mine. When we get home, I feed him his dinner, run his bath, play for a while and put him to bed around 7.30/8pm. After he is asleep, I will have dinner with the hubby and watch a show or something, quickly check through my calendar for the next day and sleep by 9.30/10pm.
Sounds like you’ve got work-life balance figured out.
Hmmm.. more like work life efficiency. I guard my time like a hawk. I have a very full week every week, my weekends are sacred. Every Friday evening, I try to do something just for me (spa, mani pedi, salon trip or go out with friends). Saturday is for errands, and Sunday is for rest. It does me no good to be up and down all weekend and then be exhausted on Monday.
As long as Hubby and I have enough time, Baby and I have enough time, my core friendships are well nourished and I personally am in good physical and mental shape, I am winning.
So working mom guilt…
I don’t feel it anymore. I did a lot at my old job, but now I spend at least 4 hours with my kid every day. Sometimes, he wakes up super early and will cry when I head out at 5 am but I know I will be home before bedtime and we will catch up. I think I have also gained the confidence to say to myself that I am a good mum, I am trying my best and so far its going well. So whenever I see that negativity start to creep in, I hype myself up with affirmations like “Girl, you are trying!” Lol. My husband also affirms me often which helps.
What’s one thing your mom never told you about parenting?
Even though you love your kid, you will not always like him/her and that is okay. It is fine to run away from your child for a while if that’s what it takes to recharge.
Hear, hear! Would you say your company is family-friendly?
I would love to say yes. I have made it clear to the young moms in our company that I have their backs. Somebody on our finance team just got back from maternity leave and my very first conversation with her was, go and tell HR that you will leave at 3.30 for the next 6 months. It helps that I am the boss; by making the place friendly for myself as a parent, I am solving the challenges my staff go through.
This is why we need more working moms in leadership! You set the pace…
I lead with myself as a working mom. Everybody who interacts with me professionally knows I have a kid and that he is my number 1 priority. I have walked out of workshops which were running over because it was time for immunisation. I know there is a tendency for women in the work place to “mute” their mom side while at work because “Nobody wants to know about your baby”. I decided to not care about that status quo. If you want to work with me, you will know about my baby.
That’s such a stress-free attitude to have. What else would you tell a young woman just starting out in her career?
Don’t do anything half-heartedly. It’s better to leave it alone than be mediocre at it. Don’t spend more than one year with a boss who doesn’t push you, give you opportunities to learn and grow and who doesn’t mentor you. The foundational years of your career are important; do not waste them on people who will not invest in your growth.
That is profound. On to more light-hearted stuff 🙂 What’s your favorite thing in your wardrobe?
A dress from 2011 that still looks banging when I wear it.
What (apart from your field) are you obsessed with?
Writing and graphic design.
And what are you most terrible at?
For reals, parallel parking. I remember my 18-year-old sister trying to teach 24-year-old me how to do it well … still a disaster!
Editor’s Note: If you aren’t yet, you should follow Hilda’s adventures as a working mom on Instagram: @modernafricanmother. You can read more of our interviews with other working moms here: The Balance. And if you’re in Lagos in January, you should come hang out with us in real life at our quarterly Icon brunch.
