Thanks to good childcare, I was able to do what I love.

Mara Harvey is the CEO of a Swiss private bank, a mother of two children and the author of a children’s book series focused on financial education for young family members – a subject dear to the economist’s heart. Family and job have always equally fulfilled her. Hence, giving up on either was never an option for her. Without childcare services, however, this would have never been possible for her as a single mother.

Mara is a woman who approaches challenges with a lot of energy and a broad smile. She knows how to inspire people for her topics and actively tackles the things she wants to change. This led to the creation of her book series ‘smart way to start’. Written in rhyme, the books enable children to approach important questions about money in an age-appropriate way. Marty, the main character of the books, is a girl. This was very important to Mara: “In my career at international banks, I saw every day that women are hardly involved when it comes to investing money. It has mostly been purely a men’s topic. Girls and women are disadvantaged in all things financial. It starts with pocket money. Data shows that girls receive less on average than boys. That is unfair,” she says, explaining her reasons for choosing a female protagonist. By the age of seven, a person’s mindset about money is already shaped. “I researched which female role models there are for girls when it comes to money. There were simply none. They were all boys. I have changed that with the book series,” she says. Much of her own experience as a mother flowed into the creation of the books. The rhyming form of the stories was chosen not only because they stay in the memory for a lifetime, but also because they are easy to read. “Parents can read them easily and relax with their children, even after a demanding workday,” she laughs.

The importance of childcare

Mara’s children went to childcare early. Her son was in full-time care from the age of four months, and her daughter from six months. A great relief for the financial expert, who returned to her job full time immediately: “I find childcare very important. I believe that children are offered much more there than if they just sit at home alone with their parents. There are wonderful educators there for them, trained to support these little people in their development, they have contact with other children, can play, be creative, read, experience new things.” When she was looking for a childcare for her son, the options were limited. Thus, she remembers the first 10 years as a single working mother as a particularly challenging time. “There was no good childcare available, the opening hours of the childcare centers were not compatible with my working hours. I had to organize my son’s care like a patchwork quilt. My family did not live in the area and I was very happy to have a network of very good friends who could step in at the worst-case scenario. A nanny and an au pair girl also helped me a lot. Without childcare, it would not have been possible for me to do what I love in my profession.”

The other side of the coin

In the first years after the birth of her children, Mara saw her job as downtime for herself. “It’s a great fortune that I can do professionally what fulfills me. So, I could see working hours as time for myself. Then my whole focus at home was on my children.” Nevertheless, she often felt guilty. “Of course, there were always children’s appointments that I couldn’t attend. That’s the other side of the coin. If you ask me if I regret anything, it is not always having been there. At the time when my son was small, you couldn’t just ask your boss if you could leave at four o’clock to be at your child’s performance. You were then politely asked to take a day off. I’m very glad that has changed now. There is much greater acceptance on the corporate side for parents.” Balancing a full-time job and her family was not always easy. Her worst moment was when Mara once forgot to pick up her child from childcare. “I arrived at the childcare an hour late. It was a very demanding time; I was commuting a lot between Frankfurt and Zurich. Since I spent so much time in Zurich, I brought my children with me. On that day, I was so engrossed in a project when it suddenly hit me like a blow: my daughter is still at the childcare! I immediately set off on my way. But I really felt terrible that day.”

Dare to do something

Mara finds it important to encourage other women to take control of their own lives. She raised both children alone. She and her sister also grew up with their mother, who supported the family with a part-time job. She was a role model for Mara, as she demonstrated that it was possible to raise children and work at the same time. “Ironically, she later asked me whether I didn’t want to stay at home with my children first,” Mara smiles. Today, she is a passionate advocate for greater financial self-determination for women. In her book ‘Women and Risk’, she deals with the question of what women can do to shape their own financial future. “Women often see money primarily as a source of security, not as an opportunity to shape the future. Therefore, they also tend to not invest in the capital market.” She sees this as a challenge. Especially since people are living longer and accordingly need to provide for old age. “I tell all women: dare to take your financial future into your own hands. Don’t leave it to other people.” A message that also appears in her children’s books: know your worth and stand up for it. “When I wrote the books, my 12-year-old daughter was my first test reader. At some point, she asked: ‘Mom, I don’t understand this at all. Why should girls earn less than boys?’ A more than legitimate question. But you need a skill set to tackle these injustices. I want to give these to children with my books,” she says.

“I find childcare very important. I am convinced that children are offered much more there than if they just sit at home alone with their parents.”