Welcome to the latest article in our "Away From the Keyboard" series, which features interviews with people at MongoDB, discussing what they do, how they prioritize time away from their work, and their advice for others looking to create a more holistic approach to coding.
Rafa Liou, Senior Partner Marketing Manager at MongoDB, was gracious enough to tell us why he's not ashamed to advocate strongly for a healthy work-life balance and how his past career in the wild world of advertising helped him first recognize the need to do so
Q: What do you do at MongoDB?
RAFA: I'm a Marketing Manager focused on MongoDB's AI partner ecosystem. I help promote our partnerships with companies such as Anthropic, Cohere, LangChain, Together AI, and many others. I work to drive mutual awareness, credibility, and product adoption in the gen AI space via marketing programs. Basically telling the world why we're better together. It's a cool job where I'm able to wear many hats and interact with lots of different teams internally and externally.
Q: What does work-life balance look like for you?
RAFA: Work-life balance is really important to me. It's actually one of the things I value the most in a job. I know some people advise against this but anytime I'm interviewing with a company I ask about it because it definitely impacts my mental health, how I spend my time outside of work, and my ability to do the things I love. I'm very fortunate to work for a company that understands that, and trusts me to do my job and, at the same time, be able to step out for a walk, a workout, not miss a dinner reservation with my husband, or whatever it is. It makes a lot of difference in both my productivity and happiness.
After I log off, you can find me taking a HIIT class, exploring the restaurant scene in LA, or biking at the beach. It's so good to be able to do all of that stress-free!
Q: How do you ensure you set boundaries between work and personal life?
RAFA: I usually joke that if you do everything you're tasked with at the pace you'd like things to get done, you will never stop working. It is really important to prioritize them based on value, urgency, and feasibility. By assessing your pipeline more critically, you will be able to distill what needs to be done right now and also be at peace with the things that will be handled down the road, making it easier to disconnect when you're done for the day. It's also important to set expectations and boundaries with your manager and teams so you can fully enjoy life after work without worrying about that Slack message when you're at the movies.
Q: Has work/life balance always been a priority for you, or did you develop it later in your career?
RAFA: Before tech, I worked in advertising, which is a very fast-paced industry with the craziest deadlines. For some time in my career, working relentlessly was not only required, but it was also rewarded by agency culture. When you're young, nights in the office brainstorming over pizza with friends may sound fun. But it starts to wear you out pretty quickly, especially when you don't have the time, energy, or even the mental state to enjoy your personal life after long hours. As I matured and climbed a few steps in my career, I felt the urge and empowerment to set some boundaries to protect myself. Now, it's a non-negotiable factor for me.
Q: What benefits has this balance given you in your career?
RAFA: By constantly exercising prioritization, I've become a more efficient professional. When you focus on what really matters, you are also able to execute at higher quality, without distractions or the feeling of getting overwhelmed. Of course, with prioritization comes a lot of trade-offs and discussions with stakeholders on what should be prioritized today versus tomorrow. So, I think I've also gotten better at negotiation and conflict resolution (things I've always struggled with). Last but not least: having consistent downtime to unwind makes me more creative and energized to come up with new ideas and take on new projects.
Q: What advice would you give to someone seeking to find a better balance?
RAFA: First and foremost: don't be ashamed of wanting a better work-life balance. I often find people living and breathing work just because they don't want to be seen as lazy or uncommitted. Once you understand that a better work-life balance will actually make you a better professional-more intentional, efficient, and even strategic (as you will spend energy to solve what creates more value in a timely manner)-it will be easier to have this mindset, communicate it to others, and live by it.
Something more practical would be to start a list of all the things you have to do, acknowledge you can't finish them all by the end of the day (or week, or month), and ask yourself: Do they all carry the same importance? How can I prioritize them? What would happen if I work on X now instead of Y? I would experiment with this approach and check how you feel and how it impacts your day-to-day life. You might be surprised by the result. Making time for personal life events, hobbies, and meet-ups with family and friends will also help you have something to look forward to after closing your laptop.
This is all easier said than done but I guarantee that once this becomes part of your core values and you find the balance that works for you, it is totally worth it!
Thank you to Rafa Liou for sharing his insights! And thanks to all of you for reading.
For past articles in this series, check out our interviews with:
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Roughly 20% of the US population is neurodiverse, which means that you likely work with a colleague who learns and navigates the workplace (and the world) differently than you do. Which is a good thing! Studies have shown that hiring neurodiverse individuals benefits workplaces , with Deloitte noting that organizations "can gain a competitive edge from increased diversity in skills, ways of thinking, and approaches to problem-solving." Config at MongoDB -which Cian and I are the global leaders of-recognizes the prevalence, importance, and power of neurodiversity in the workplace. Config's mission is to educate both our members and the wider employee population at MongoDB about neurodiversity in the workplace, and through education to empower them to embrace-and champion-neurodiversity. Since it was founded in April 2023, Config's membership has grown by over 150%, and it now has members in New York, Dublin, Paris, Gurugram, and Sydney. In fact, more than 200 people who span a range of MongoDB teams-from Engineering and Product, to the People team, to Marketing-take part in Config. We like to say that no one succeeds until all of us succeed. And that no one belongs until all of us belong. As managers, culture leaders, and as people, it's our responsibility to do whatever we can to make that true. Invisible differences like neurodiversity are hard to spot, but they enrich our work and our lives. Config.MDB plays an important role in helping us achieve this ambition. Making an impact on the MongoDB community Over the last year and a half, Config has held over fifteen events globally-with almost 1,000 employees in attendance. Config has held educational events for both the group's members and the wider MongoDB audience on neurodiversity-related topics like autism awareness and ADHD awareness, along with events tailored to allies and members who identify as neurodivergent or who are part of a neurodivergent family. Config has also held training sessions for MongoDB people managers that provide them knowledge and tools to better manage neurodiverse team members. Ger Hartnett, an Engineering Lead at MongoDB said the training "gave me a much better understanding and appreciation for neurodiversity. This course was truly eye-opening for me. I learned practical ways to be more inclusive and supportive, both at work and in everyday life." The group also holds quarterly virtual meetings to share the latest updates, personal experiences, and practical tips for members, focusing on career development, benefit entitlements, and events happening within MongoDB. Outside of events and training sessions, Config has had a broader business impact on the company, with some Config leads partnering with the employee inclusion and recruiting teams to put together an interview accommodation program. This program supports candidates who are neurodiverse or have a disability by allowing them to apply for special requests to make their interview experience more inclusive and enjoyable. Making a difference for individual members Config's focus on educational and training events has had a dramatic and direct impact on members. The group is a safe space for neurodiverse or disabled people to share their experiences and seek advice on various issues. Cian is one of Config's founding members, and had this to say about his personal experience: I was diagnosed with dyslexia in college and wanted to start a group like Config after speaking with other employees who were neurodiverse. We agreed that there was a need for a group like this at MongoDB. After the group was formed, I attended several events that focused on ADHD and saw a lot of similarities between traits and experiences of those with ADHD and myself. After attending these events, struggles that I had and that I thought were personality traits could be a sign of ADHD, I turned to some of our members for guidance on how to seek a diagnosis. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with ADHD by a medical professional. I have noticed an improvement in my quality of life, and thanks to Config, I have a lot of valuable tips and resources to help me in my day-to-day. Had it not been for Config and these events I would still be none the wiser. Config has also made an impact on employees who are parents of neurodivergent children, like Sarah Lin , a senior information/content architect and Config member: I joined Config to be part of the change I want to see in the world-to help make the inclusive and supportive workplace I'd want my autistic daughter to experience. I certainly hope I'm contributing because membership has benefitted me personally. I've learned more about different types of neurodivergence and ways to support my colleagues. From our employee resource group events, I've learned more about autism and the lives of autistic adults so that I can be a better support for my daughter as we look toward her adulthood. The best part has been conversations with other parents and seeing myself reflected in their struggles, persistence, and achievements. Looking ahead As Config continues to expand its footprint within MongoDB, the group plans to introduce advanced educational programming to raise awareness for neurodiversity in the workplace. It also plans to hold workshops to foster professional development and executive functioning. Config also hopes to grow its global membership to provide community outreach at scale for nonprofit organizations that specifically service neurodiverse individuals. Ultimately, Config's aim is to create the best environment for teams at MongoDB. Our view of success is not only the "what" but also the "how." Being sustainable, encouraging growth through learning, and accomplishing goals as a team are all meaningful to us. And we believe strongly in the power of allyship; we want MongoDB to be a place where amazing people feel supported and are given the opportunity to do their best. After all, many of us are already close to neurodivergent individuals. One of Config's Executive Sponsors, Mick Graham, has a daughter who is neurodivergent-which he says gives him extra inspiration to support Config now and in the future. Overall, being part of Config has raised our understanding of how neurodivergent people navigate the world. And the group-and the inspirations and experiences members have shared-contribute to making MongoDB a place that great people want to be. Interested in learning more about employee resource groups at MongoDB? Join our talent community to receive the latest MongoDB culture highlights.
