Three questions to Henrike Paetz, Communication Director SAP Research about Gender and Technology on the occasion of her Master Thesis 'Femal Factor in Software Design'

1. Are you optimistic in regard to the role gender will play in technolog design in 20 years from now?

I am indeed optimistic. Given the current demographic development and the incremental shift in mindset towards more gender-sensitivity in many companies and organisations plus the increasing power of female networks we will see more women influencing technology design over time.

2. What advice would you give girls graduating from high-school if they want to make a career in the ICT sector?

Personally, I think understanding how life feels in the industry, finding a great mentor and role model early on and becoming visible is an important stepping stone for a career in ICT. One option could be to join a company as a working student and actively seek for female mentors or to make use of cybermentoring offerings. Many companies also have programs for superior students (like e.g. “Fast Track” in SAP) that aim at supporting and keeping in touch with promising candidates until they finished their degrees in order to offer them potential career opportunities afterwards.

3. What would you like to do ten years from now?

That’s a difficult one! - Ideally, I will have gained much more knowledge and wisdom by then which I will be able to productively share with whomever I will be working with for the sake of some little improvement in the way we collaborate and produce results

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