“Microsoft is very understanding of the challenges its employees face”: Sahar Saqeb-Ahmadi on how flexibility enables her to balance work and her family’s special needs

When Sahar Saqeb-Ahmadi was approached by Microsoft to join the company as a Technical Specialist in the Business Applications team, she was incredibly excited. Business Applications is a fast-growing, rapidly evolving part of Microsoft’s business, and Sahar saw a fantastic opportunity to grow.

But she had to get one thing clear before accepting the role: her job would need to fit around caring for her daughter.

“My daughter has some developmental challenges, which means she needs a fair bit of support,” says Sahar, who wanted to spend one full day a week with her daughter, as well as the time to take her to various appointments.

“When I interviewed for the job, I made sure the hiring manager at the time was aware of my situation, and that I could only accept the job if I had the flexibility to work around my daughter’s needs.”

Fast forward two years and Sahar is a key part of Microsoft’s Enterprise Public Sector team. Working full time with NSW government clients, her job is to design solutions that will help them solve the challenges facing their organisations and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

It’s a role Sahar loves – all the more because it gives her the flexibility and autonomy to be there for her daughter.

“A lot of my day-to-day workload is working with our internal account teams, strategising and planning,” says Sahar, whose role sees her focusing on business applications like Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. “Or I might have virtual customer-facing meetings – workshopping solutions or presenting to key government stakeholders and Microsoft partners. It can be quite varied but I make it fit around my daughter.

“So, for example, I don’t take any meetings before nine when I have to drop her off at preschool or at my parents’ house for care. And I try not to do any meetings after three on days when I have to pick her up from preschool. On the days she has therapy, that takes two hours out on one day and an hour out on another day. But again, it’s just about blocking the time out, letting people know what’s going on and working around it.”

On Thursdays, when her daughter is at home all day, Sahar fits emails and calls around the pair’s other activities.

“I try not to do anything customer facing when she’s with me,” she says. “But if I do have a call on a day that she’s with me, I’ll just excuse myself and let people know. I don’t try to hide it.”

For Sahar, having the autonomy to do her job in a way that works for her is critical to her ability to balance a successful career with being her daughter’s primary carer. She credits Microsoft’s family-friendly policies and unique culture for enabling this.

“The culture at Microsoft is like no other I’ve come across,” Sahar says. “The notion of trust is embedded throughout the organisation. The company trusts you to do your job, regardless of whether that’s over four days or five. Performance is based on outcomes, not the time it takes to do something or where you might be based.”

Sahar also credits her manager, who joined the company just two weeks before her and whose support has been unconditional.

As well as flexible work schedules, Microsoft also helps its team members to support the people that matter most to them with a variety of programs. These include leave for new parents and family caregiver leave, adoption assistance, parenting classes and family support programs. The company also offers subsidised and discounted childcare and back-up care for children, adults and elders.

Sahar is particularly grateful for the freedom to take time out of her workday to support her daughter’s therapy during the critical early-childhood years.

“It’s been really great,” she says. “I have lots of female friends working in technology and most employers don’t offer the flexibility that Microsoft does. They’re either working part time or they have to take an annual leave day if they need time off to attend an appointment.”

Having seen how challenging things can be for women working in technology, Sahar is passionate about supporting young women to establish successful and fulfilling careers in the sector.

Despite her busy schedule, she volunteers with the Australian Business and Community Network to mentor young women considering a career in technology. She’s also involved in running regular virtual events for Microsoft’s Biz Apps for Women group.

“It’s not something I have to do,” she says. “But I enjoy it. And I think it’s really important to support young women who are interested in tech to take that next step.”

Meanwhile, Sahar has some advice for women who might be wondering how to broach the subject of changing their current working arrangement with a boss.

“Be honest and upfront,” she says. “Don’t sugar-coat the problem, and if you need help, ask for it. Because if you don't speak up, your employer isn’t going to know what you’re going through. They’re going to assume that you’ve got it all under control.

“And don’t be so hard on yourself. Every working mum goes through this in some shape or form.”