Es gibt sie, die Frauen in Tech und Innovation. Nur sind sie oftmals nicht so sichtbar. Dagegen wollen wir etwas unternehmen: In regelmässigen Abständen stellen wir euch eine interessante Frau aus unserem Netzwerk vor.
Dieses mal stellen wir euch Cristina Deocon vor. Die gebürtige Spanierin und frisch gebackene Mutter ist kürzlich in die Schweiz gezogen und lebt nun mit ihrer Familie am Murtensee. Ein Insidertipp an alle Firmen und Headhunter: Cristina hat eine absolute Spitzen-Ausbildung und ist auf Jobsuche! Im Interview erzählt sie uns, wie sie die Schweiz erlebt, worauf sie sich am meisten freut und was für Hürden Sie auch zu meistern hat.
Wir haben das Interview mit Cristina in Englisch geführt.
Dear Cristina, tell us about you. Who are you and where are you from?
Cristina: I grew up in Madrid and love this city. After my master studies in Mathematical Engineering and an Erasmus exchange in Finland, I held different professional positions in the field of applied mathematics, programming and data science. In this context, I had the opportunity to collaborate in many interesting projects, concerning for example the energy sector. In April 2021 my daughter was born and I moved to Switzerland where my partner lives. Beside my job search, I currently attend the CAS in Applied Data Science at the University of Bern… and look forward to my first skiing season in the Alps!
Wow, you have experienced a lot, what a powerful woman! What valuable advice did you get from your parents?
Cristina: I would say: curiosity, loyalty… and the capacity to face every day life with a smile!
Valuable advice indeed. How and when did you get interested in Innovation and Tech? What fascinates you about it?
Cristina: Since I studied mathematics, it was kind of natural to take an interest in this sector. Above all, I like the fact that data science projects help to improve every day life and to resolve very concrete problems, for instance in logistics.
Yeah, that’s very impressive! What would you say drives you at work?
Cristina: Above all the creative side of data science, each project is unique, requires its specific approaches and gives me new insights.
True! What aspects of your life are you most proud of?
Cristina: After my first job in the tech industry I decided to change direction and to work as a math teacher. Even though I loved the social dimension of teaching and the exchange with my students, I soon felt the need to get out of this routine again and to acquire new knowledge. It was quite hard to get back to the IT industry but I have never regretted my choice.
Definitely something to be proud of! And what would you say was your biggest challenge at work and how did you overcome it?
Cristina: In one of my first science projects, I got the task to develop a forest growth mass prediction. Our client was the Spanish Electrical Net (REE). As there were no previous technological solutions available for this kind of analysis, I had to elaborate our predictive model from scratch and through all its development stages by myself. It was extremely interesting to conceptualize the project and to implement it and I feel still proud of the result.
Wow, a big challenge indeed! What advice would you give young women in tech and innovation?
Cristina: Belief in yourself and pursue your career without any complexes. Women in IT can make the difference.
Now for the next part, we would like to know, what first comes to mind with the following terms.
Diversity
Cristina: A puzzle without missing pieces
Cristina: Technology with responsability
Cristina: They are pionieers, such as Ada Lovelace
Cristina: Useful as long as they follow your instructions
Internet of Things
Cristina: Let there be light!
Job-Sharing
Cristina: A win-win situation.
Health Roboters
Cristina: They should learn to smile.
Online or Face to Face?
Artificial Intelligence or Human Brain?
Digital or Analogous?
Ballot Box or e-Voting?
Cocktail or Beer?
Career, Family or Both?
That was it! Thank you so much Cristina for this inspiring interview. You really are a role model for women in tech and innovation. We wish you all the best for your (tech) future here in Switzerland.