My first encounter with technology was during my school days. I had a few guys in my circle of friends who were very interested in tech. After school, they developed their own websites and programs and took apart old PCs. Even though I had no interest in programming or tinkering with PCs, I spent a lot of time with them and let them explain to me what they were doing and why.
“Developers often find it difficult to convey complex topics in simple terms.”
Even during my studies, I had a lot to do with tech topics – even though I chose a humanities degree myself. My boyfriend at the time received a scholarship from Siemens and studied computer science. I often attended meetings with other scholarship holders and participated in their discussions about topics from their studies. Although I had little practical ecuador phone number data experience in the tech field myself, I always found it easy to follow their discussions and to explain complex topics in simple terms – something that, in my experience, was often not easy for computer scientists. This led to me being involved in the occasional computer science-related term paper alongside my actual studies, for example one that involved programming an app. I was usually responsible for writing down the methodology and results of the work and putting them into sentences that everyone could understand.
I continued my interest in technology—especially website and app programming—even after I started my career. Although I worked as an online editor, I regularly attended events where programmers met and discussed technical topics with colleagues. I also attended a few programming courses myself. However, programming itself was never my passion. I was more interested in why (or why not) and how something works; but I never wanted to actually implement it.
A day in Magdalena's life
My daily work is varied and somewhat unpredictable. In addition to typical management tasks, I also serve as a contact person for our clients with questions or problems, such as when they're planning a relaunch, have queries about our recommended actions, or are unable to explain or resolve messages from Google Search Console. Even today, I still have various contacts on the client side, such as developers, CTOs, marketing managers, and managing directors, which I find very exciting.
In addition to clients, I also work closely with my employees. I meet regularly with them to discuss client work results, optimize internal processes, and discuss industry innovations or search engine algorithm updates. Occasionally, I even conduct technical analyses of websites myself.
Obstacles encountered
To say that obstacles were deliberately placed in my path would certainly be an understatement. Thanks to the support of my parents, friends, and colleagues, I never felt like my path into the tech industry was being denied or made difficult. My move to Berlin was certainly also important for my development in the industry. There are endless opportunities here to connect with other people and participate in tech industry events – often even free of charge.
“Thanks to the support of my parents, friends, and colleagues, I never felt like my path into the tech industry was denied or made difficult.”
Looking back, it wasn't always easy for me, especially as a young professional. I often had the feeling that as a woman in the industry, you had to work harder and more to earn the respect and recognition of your male colleagues and clients. This certainly can't be generalized, but especially at the beginning of my career as a consultant, I often had the feeling of being ridiculed and underestimated. This may have been partly due to my age, as in my mid-20s I was often confronted with much older contacts on the client side. This made me feel compelled to present myself in a particularly professional and tough manner in order to be taken seriously. Some of my male colleagues didn't always appreciate my professionalism and hard work, and for a while I had to put up with comments like "nerd" and "suck-up." Fortunately, this was only a short phase, after which I was able to work very productively with my male colleagues too.
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