Dee Smith
1. What’s your career background?
I moved to the big smoke with dreams of being the next Kate Addie and spent the next five years making stories about sea worthy cars and Princess Diana. I then helped set up a TV production and distribution company before heading off to Discovery to work as an executive producer on documentaries. It was there I discovered making films about babies and parenting and I've been hooked ever since
In 2008 I set up Futureproof Productions with the lovely Cara to have the freedom to make tv content for the internet - and apart from getting up the duff almost immediately, its been an amazing experience to combine my greatest loves - parenting, tv, the internet and working with great friends
2. What job and how many days do you do for iMama?
I'm a Creative Director iMama and I basically do a bit of everything from coming up with the original concept to cleaning our loos! The joys of small businesses.... My biggest tasks have been working out what content we would like, laying it out, casting and filming it. Given I'd never actually picked up a camera before iMama you can see I've been learning on the job but hopefully I'm getting better... I'm also responsible along with Cara for hiring and managing the whole team including the marketing and commercial sides and those have been steep learning curves too! The idea was that I'd work three days a week - but unfortunately that turned into five days a week and most weekends and evenings but when we launch in Feb I hope to work 10-4, 4 days a week so I can spend all of the rest of the time with Lilyboo.
3. Why do you work for iMama?
Because its impossible to get a truly flexible job in the media that in the long term lets you work school hours. I couldn't find a job that would let me do this so we set up iMama so everyone who works with us can work whenever they like.
4. What’s the best bit about working for iMama?
The people - without a shadow of a doubt. I get a lump in my throat thinking about the how much the team and the people we have interviewed have freely given to this project. They are all amazing. And I suppose the other thing is the hope that we are creating a resource that will help parents everywhere no matter how big or small their concern.
5. What's the worst bit of working for iMama?
The learning curves, the constant unpredictability of what can go wrong at any time and in the past few months - the hours have been a killer.
6. What sort of childcare do you have?
Lily goes to a fantastic state run nursery five days per week just round the corner. Because I don't have to commute it means I can pick her up five mins after I've finished work which is brilliant.
7. What do you think are the biggest challenges to having a job and a family?
Same as for anyone -finding a flexible job in the first place is a nightmare and then getting the balance right. Trying not to beat yourself up when balls get dropped is a daily challenge. But at the end of the day - I do think its worth it!
8. How do you balance work and family? What's the ideal?
My hubby and I have gone around and around on this one - but we've now agreed working 10-4 (and then 9-3) four days a week, with a two weeks break at christmas, two weeks at easter and a month in the summer on holiday - would be perfect!
