#FemmeTech Interview | Andrada Surdescu, Software developer

How did you first become interested in IT, and what motivated you to pursue a career in this field??

I started enjoying programming ever since high school. Afterwards, I studied a different domain at the University, but HN offered me an opportunity to return to programming and develop a career in this direction.

What are some of the challenges that women may face in the IT industry?

Women in IT may face a variety of challenges, most noteworthy perhaps being underrepresentation and underappreciation. Many others may stem from these two. Since it's viewed as a somewhat masculine industry, women will often find themselves as the minority gender. This may reduce their self-confidence and make them believe that they don't fit the domain.

Have you noticed any specific strengths or perspectives that women bring to the table in IT roles??

There are plenty skills that are required or good to have in IT and, coincidentally, many of them are what women are better equipped with in comparison to men. A highly necessary attribute in a programmer is attention to details and that is what women are good at. Code quality, requirement coverage, and thorough testing are possible only for meticulous people. Problem solving is also a common bridge between IT desired competencies and women qualities for the obvious reason of the high density of obstacles that keep emerging in the industry. There are yet more strengths that women bring into equation with high impact, going from communication skills and teamwork for better collaboration between colleagues and with people outside the team, to organizational skill, multitasking, and adaptability.

Do you have any advice for a young woman eager to start an IT career?

I would advice women starting their IT career to focus on giving their best, striving to improve themselves, and raising their team and project to new heights. They do not need to compete with male counterparts - it's not a competition and their value will be recognized by non-biased individuals. As in the case of many other industries, IT keeps growing its female community and, concurrently, it is flourishing due to what women add to the mix.

By recognizing and valuing the unique skills women bring tech industry, including problem-solving, communication, and creative analytical thinking, we empower teams and pave the way for collective success.

Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion!