Early years and where you came from?
Born in 1979, the year “Alien” came out, I spent all my life in Porto. I’ve always been keen on learning different things, so I decided to study Marketing at ISCAP, which gave me a lot of baggage from Law to Accounting, not forgetting Marketing. Then I went on to study Quality Engineering at FEUP and then returned to Marketing at FEP and got my Master’s degree. Every work experience that I’ve had has taught me to be better at my job and better as a human being.
How were you introduced to the world of the Portuguese tech industry?
I’ve been working in the Portuguese tech industry for the past 10 years. In the previous company that I worked in, they developed solutions to be used in Space, so I got acquainted with Innovation at a fast pace and very rigorous working methods. More recently I’ve been part of the Startup scene in Porto and got to know great people from different backgrounds, all with a great ability to share knowledge.
Walk me through your work and what you are doing now in the tech industry.
My work is making everything run smoothly at the company. Operations consist of many different things and I like it a lot because it allows me to learn and grow every single day. If no one complains, then I’m doing my job right. Although my background is non-technical, I make the liaison between internal and external stakeholders, make sure we comply with legal requirements, keep track of the budget, disseminate information and communicate with the team, define and execute procedures, implement the company’s strategy and annoy everyone in order to always deliver within deadline.
What part of what you do, you love the most?
I absolutely love being challenged and learning something new every day. I also love helping others and being part of the solution.
How do you think that your background and knowledge impact the way you approach your work in the Portuguese tech industry?
My eclectic background gave me the tools to face any challenge. I’m an extrovert person and I learn a lot by speaking with people, so I’m not afraid to ask for help. And if I can help others, then it’s the cherry on the cake.
What advice do you have for young women that want to get into tech and don’t know where to start?
Believe in yourself, you are better than you think. Don’t be afraid to speak with others, gain knowledge, network and participate in events dedicated to tech. Get yourself out there.
Walk me through a day in your life as a Portuguese women in tech.
I wake up at 7 am, do my morning chores and get my son ready for school, then we leave around 8 am to avoid traffic. I walk my son to school, 5min and I’m taking my morning coffee, checking my emails and Trello to plan my day. I always try to deliver something, so I tag my tasks according to criticality. My daily meeting happens around 9:30 and then I listen to music and focus. I try to take lunch from home half of the week, and the other half I mingle with my colleagues at a nearby restaurant. In my work, I speak with a lot of different people, so I always try and go to a quiet place to keep focus. I finish my day by picking up my son from school and going to the gym. When I arrive home I enjoy making dinner/lunch for the next day while making an overview of the day.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Believe in yourself and never forget how hard you worked to get where you are today.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Excel, I really love this tool and everything makes sense in a worksheet. Also, Trello and Google calendar are my favorites. I’m a very organized person and I’m always trying to improve my planning skills.
👉Find Isabel on LinkedIn
