Mothers By The Bay | A Special Mother’s Day Interview

04 May 2021

People@ByTheBay

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Belinda Teo with her three-year-old boy, Bertrand

 

In honour of Mother’s Day, we speak to 4 working mothers (and grandmother!) in the By The Bay community. These super moms balance high preforming roles in some of the world’s most recognised brand names. Hear their stories of their journey managing the myriad of roles, their challenges and joys and what keeps them going.

Happy Mother’s Day to Belinda Teo! A proud mother of a three-year-old boy, Belinda, Senior Manager, Assurance of EY shared that her son taught her the value that questioning gave as well as some of the joys of being a mother.

And a Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers in EY!

 

Do share with us some details of your role at EY.

I have been with EY for over 10 years and am currently an Assurance Senior Manager, providing audit services to multinational corporations and public companies operating across large geographical areas. I specialize in the audit of companies in the healthcare sector.

 

What does the typical work day in a week look like for you?

I am a very early bird. So on a typical day, I would wake up in the wee hours, get my email inbox cleared before dropping my son off at my mother’s house and then I’ll make my way to the office.

I would then then ease into work with my breakfast and a cup of hot tea to start the morning. These days, due to the pandemic, client meetings or internal discussions are mostly replaced with virtual meetings or conference calls.

It is important for me to take a breather from work during lunch and hence I always make it a point to head out with either my colleagues or friends for a lunch appointment.

In the evening, I’ll make time to have dinner with my son and put him to bed. Spending some quiet moments with my son in bed is one of the favourite part of my day.

 

Has there been something that your child taught you that you have applied to in life or at work?

My son turned three years old two months ago. If I had to choose one word to describe kids at this age, it would be “curiosity”. He has taught me the value that questions bring. Through him, I have also discovered that asking better questions truly does spark better ideas and bring about positive changes for organisations.

 

What do you think is key to being successful at home and at work?

Time management and a supportive spouse and family. I am conscious about prioritizing what is most important each day in order to have time with my son for our “bedtime routine”.

Weekends are for family activities and I would only use pocket of time such as my son’s naptimes to catch up on work where necessary.

Of course, these will all not be possible without the support of my mother, who takes over the caregiving duties when I’m at work, as well as my spouse, who constantly encourages me to pursue my career goals in tandem with our family goals.

 

What is the best part about being a mother?

This is something so intangible and indescribable with words. When I first gave birth to my son, I experienced what it meant to love another person more than my own life. Watching him reach his various milestones, being that one person that he draws the most comfort from – are some of the things that I wouldn’t trade for anything else in the world.

 

What is one advice that has helped you in your journey as a parent?

I can be a control freak / perfectionist when it comes to managing my own life. I have learnt from experience as well as advice given to me that bringing up a child brings with it so many uncontrollable factors that I’ve had to live with. The advice I have received is to celebrate the small successes in our parenting journey and not to fret over what is often beyond our control.

 

What advice would you give to first time mothers-to-be who are preparing to embark on the journey of motherhood?

There is no such thing as a perfect parenting method. There will be mistakes made along the way, always remember that you are the best mother that your child could ever have.

 

Describe what an ideal day off looks like to you.

Going on a getaway with my family, and doing activities that we enjoy together.

 

As a break from home, are there any routines or simple pleasures that you have enjoyed when back in the office at By The Bay?

Grabbing a satisfying breakfast from either Ultra Bake bakery or The Well, occasionally accompanied by a cup of hot soy milk from Jollibean.