Early years and where you came from?
When I was 6,7 years old, someone asked me “what do you wanna be when you grow?” and my answer was “I’m want to be a computer engineer.” When the day to apply to university came, I was sure that my previous answer was correct and computer science was the correct decision. Thus, I applied to Computer Engineering and Telematics at the University of Aveiro. During five years and a lot of nights thinking that maybe my answer was wrong, I finished my Master’s Degree and started as a researcher in the Telecommunications Institute in Aveiro. During one year, I was able to work in the research field in machine learning and data science. However, the industry was always my passion so I applied to Altice Labs where a have worked as a Big Data Engineer for 6 months. In January I started a new adventure and started working as a remote Software Engineer and it has been showing to be a great experience. I was able to create new routines and understand that a team can work even if they are miles away, one thing that was difficult for a scout like me!
How were you introduced to the world of the Portuguese tech industry?
Social networks.
Walk me through your work and what you are doing now in the tech industry.
I started as a researcher in June of 2018 in the Telecommunications Institute in Aveiro. During one year, I was able to work in the research field in machine learning and data science. However, the industry was always my passion so I applied to Altice Labs where a have worked as a Big Data Engineer until December 2019. In January I started a new adventure and started working as a remote Software Engineer and it has been showing to be a great experience.
What part of what you do, you love the most?
Being able to use technologies to help other people and helping industries to grow and improve.
How do you think that your background and knowledge impact the way you approach your work in the Portuguese tech industry?
I think that most people look to tech women as the girls that spend all of the time on the computer and I hope someday people understand that we are normal girls but with a different passion. Also, I think that is important to show that women are as capable as the man are to be in the computer science world.
What advice do you have for young women that want to get into tech and don’t know where to start?
Follow your passion and don’t let anyone say you can’t do it, because you can if you want to.
Walk me through a day in your life as a Portuguese women in tech.
As a remote worker, I have a different schedule since I don’t have to get out of the home to go to the office. Thus, I start my day with the normal breakfast, dress up because I think it is important to care for us even if we will be working at home, and then I start my work. Usually, I have a meeting with my colleague that lives in Brasil, and we decide what will be the work for the day. After, I work as I was in a normal office, always in touch with my colleague to keep the ideas growing.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My mother always says “When we want something and we work for it, we will get it”.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Slack, Mail, Jira, Google Drive
Any links that you want to share? In what are you working on…
Yes! https://www.reclaim-project.eu/project/
👉Find Ana on LinkedIn
