My goal was to travel the world, discover new countries and cultures, and meet other people. Back then I thought, being a flight attendant is the job I need for that. Later I discovered my passion for design and the Internet. I learned to design user interfaces for websites when I was 20 years old. After that, I didn’t want to do anything else anymore.

I only realized “late” that stereotypes can have an influence on professional careers. As a leader, I have always led diverse teams and never had problems attracting and retaining female talent. I was often asked by peers how I manage to attract so many women, in the male-dominated IT industry. This is how I became aware of the unconscious bias and its effects.

When I became a mother, the confrontation with traditional role models was enormous. Recently, I took on a new role as CEO, and it was mainly the men around me who were concerned about my work-life balance.

Stay true to yourself and follow your values. Having a diverse, solid network is essential for your career. I therefore recommend investing time in it. Search for inspiring role models, get in touch and build a strong relationship with them.