Today we are celebrating the annual Girls in ICT Day that promotes equality, inclusion and diversity in the technology field and aims at encouraging young women and girls towards education and careers in tech.
We asked Kaito’s women to share their stories from little girls to IT professionals and career advice they would give to their younger selves. Through the stories you can tell there is no single route towards technology careers, but what often combines the stories is having someone who supports and encourages you, such as scientist grandmother or computer enthusiast father.
Therefore, the following advice from our Senior Data Scientist Nicola is especially important:
“Whenever you have an opportunity to nourish the nerdy or creative pursuits of a young person, do so. They are the ones who will develop the technologies and media you will enjoy in your old age. Encourage that geeky girl to pursue what she loves, because she may grow to be the inventor of a technology that makes the world a better place. Technology isn't a boy thing. It's an anyone-who-likes-it thing.”
Nikky, Senior Data Scientist
What was your dream job as a child?
Marine Biologist - My godmother was a Biologist, and I really wanted to work with whales. I'm better with computers than Biology, but I am a certified PADI scuba diver!
How did you end up working in the IT field?
I was hooked on computers since the day we got our first at home - a Macintosh Classic - when I was in the first grade of school. I was talented at maths and was always fascinated by science. I also loved public speaking and enjoyed telling a good story with art, music, and words.
So, it was a natural progression that I would first study the arts to learn how to fuel creativity and meaningful storytelling and then pursue Engineering and Computer Science to apply my fertile imagination in technology.
What are you especially good at in your job?
I am good at visualising problems, determining a creative solution to them, and then ensuring they align with the ever-developing scope of best industry practice - without quashing what made the solution good in the first place! I’m also good at explaining complex concepts with my audience in mind.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
Get a good mentor or four, and always check your maths and logic at least three times.
Fernanda, BI Consultant
What was your dream job as a child?
I wanted to sell flowers in a graveyard for a living. I know it sounds grim but back then we lived in Mexico, where the local graveyards are super colorful and filled with the most beautiful flower arrangements. As a 5 year old I was very impressed by that.
How did you end up working in the IT field?
I got interested in computers through video games as a child and I even ended up building my own version of a game. I also wanted to start a blog for my two pet turtles, but all the available visual templates were very dull. Therefore, I ended up learning html (back when there was no css) to create my own colorful turtle-themed visuals.
Growing up I started getting more interested in business and to be honest, some common stereotypes of the IT field were pushing me away from it. I ended up studying in a program that combines business and IT. Little by little I went further away from business and more towards learning hard IT skills. I also quickly realized that all my assumptions of the IT field were totally wrong.
I must say the perks and benefits of working in IT have positively surprised me. For example, the flexible working conditions enable you to combine work with any kind of life you want to have, and you can maintain a sense of freedom and balance.
What are you proud of at work?
My ability to help teams to go from idea to a tangible solution.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
Have patience, you don't have to have it all figured out right away. Another advice is that don't let any stereotypes and assumptions intimidate you too much and keep you from pursuing your interests.
Elina, Senior Data Engineer
What was your dream job as a child?
Engineer of some field of expertise.
How did you end up working in the IT field?
I got especially interested in IT and data due to my studies in information management at Tampere University of Technology.
What are you especially good at in your job?
I am good at finding patterns from the big picture even if it seems there aren't any patterns, which is really helpful in my work.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
Hear your own voice through the opinions of others and follow that. Sometimes in life there are many kinds of obstacles. The important thing is to go forward with your current chosen path. Life is now.
Heidi, BI Consultant
What was your dream job as a child?
Pony Book Author.
How did you end up working in the IT field?
I was interested in mathematics and natural sciences, so my father who worked in IT recommended the field. The low unemployment rate and lucrative salary also motivated me.
What are you especially good at in your job?
I am good at problem-solving and going the extra mile to solve a difficult case.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
You are good enough and everything is going to work out just fine!
Kristiina, BI Consultant
What was your dream job as a child?
I wanted to become an actress.
How did you end up working in the IT field?
I have always had an interest in computers and IT, so I got a degree in Business Information Technology. Later on, I applied to Digital Excellence Academy where I learnt a lot about content creation, digital marketing and data analytics. I got a job with Kaito through the program and have a dove deeper into the IT field and ended up liking it very much!
What are you proud of at work?
I feel proud when I can help people. For example, when I see that my client is satisfied with my solution and finds it useful in their everyday work.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
Don't worry if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up! Be brave and don't fear to try something new - everything is possible, so don’t limit yourself
22.04.2024
