Despite the talent among girls and women, numerous systemic barriers still prevent their participation in STEM and ICT fields. In the European Union, women make up only one third of STEM graduates (covering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and 19% of ICT professionals (information and communication technologies).
On the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day, we asked our prominent IT experts what advice they would give to girls deciding in which direction to start their careers.
Ivana Radišić, Business Analytics and BI Expert, shared how she decided to make a career shift and, coming from a scientific field, found her path in IT, while Master Solution Architect Sanela Kelava Dautović described how she transitioned from various areas of economics into IT.
Although both emphasized that working in IT was not their first choice, Ivana noted that the biggest lesson she learned throughout her career was not to be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone, while Sanela added that it’s also important to know how to set boundaries and, when you’re tired, simply take a vacation.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do, what did your educational and career path look like, and how long have you been at Comping?
Ivana: I work as a data engineer in the Business Analytics & BI team, where I design and develop data storage platforms, including data lake and warehouse systems. I completed a PhD in mathematics at the Faculty of Science – Department of Mathematics in Zagreb. I worked for many years as an assistant at the Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb. After completing my doctorate, I decided to make a career shift and took a job as a BI/DWH engineer at Croatia osiguranje d.d. That experience was my first encounter with DWH systems and encouraged me to further explore and refine my skills in that field. This desire led me to Comping, where I have been working for a year and a half.
Sanela: This year, on March 18th, I will celebrate five years at Comping. I work in the Business Processes & Data Management department with a focus on banking operations. I completed primary and secondary school (mathematics gymnasium) in Bugojno, the town of my childhood. I graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Zagreb, the city of my children’s childhood. Before Comping, I worked in two banks in accounting and finance, primarily focusing on regulatory reporting to the Croatian National Bank. As you can see, the only continuity in my professional development is discontinuity. 🙂
What motivated you to choose a career in IT? Did you always know you wanted to work in this field?
Ivana: I didn’t always know I wanted to work in IT. My first career choice was research, but it didn’t fully meet my expectations. Since I remained someone who enjoys exploring and acquiring new skills, I chose IT because it is a highly dynamic field that offers continuous learning, new challenges, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Sanela: I believe that a series of coincidences and perhaps a love for numbers and their interpretation led me to where I am today. In my defense, I can only add that I somehow believe that no coincidence is accidental, though it’s not impossible that in this system, I am the error.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned throughout your career?
Ivana: The most important lesson I’ve learned is that we shouldn’t be afraid to step out of our comfort zone because it often involves facing new situations and challenges. Through these challenges, we have the opportunity to develop new skills and improve our abilities. If we stay within our comfort zone, we risk stagnation. Actively seeking out new challenges and opportunities keeps us motivated and ready for personal and professional advancement.
Sanela: When you’re tired, take a vacation. (laughs)
“Invest in women: Accelerate progress” is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day. What do you think are good ways to encourage girls to enter IT?
Ivana: Generally, I’m against counting the number of women in a particular industry. I believe everyone should freely choose a profession based on their own interests and opportunities for a quality life, and we shouldn’t burden ourselves with numbers.
Sanela: From a macro perspective, various campaigns can always be developed to promote certain goals, including this one. From a micro perspective, encouragement starts from and within the family.
Finally, what advice would you give to young girls just starting their journey in STEM?
Ivana: I would advise anyone starting their STEM journey to find a balance between doing work they love and the practical aspects of a career. It’s okay to shift your focus if your current career path doesn’t align with your personal interests and goals. A STEM background provides a strong foundation that can be applied in various contexts; what matters is being open to acquiring new skills and adapting to developing industries.
Sanela: Be hardworking. Fair to yourself and to others. And fight. Every day. Little by little. And lastly, as a sign of appreciation and gratitude to the people from long ago who made sure this day would always be remembered—and to those today who love this day—I invite everyone to listen to Tom Waits’ song Frank’s Theme from the book Jokey Full of Bourbon.
