Early years and where you came from?
After working for an eco-tourism startup in Los Angeles in 2014, I moved to Berlin and first became a woman in tech in a mobility startup. 2017, I moved to beautiful Lisbon.
How were you introduced to the world of the Portuguese tech industry?
A Portuguese friend, who I met in Berlin, took me to a meet-up in Lisbon and shared many of her insights with me.
Walk me through your work and what you are doing now in the tech industry.
I am the Communications Manager for Jungle, an AI startup based in Lisbon. I basically take care of explaining what Jungle does to an external audience which manifests itself in many different ways such as maintaining the website, social media posts and finding media opportunities…
What I love about working in the tech industry, in general, are the truly ground-breaking and life-changing solutions we work on. I get to learn something every day and being a part of this is so much fun.
What part of what you do, you love the most?
The part that I love most is learning from my colleagues and listening to their perspectives, challenges and solutions. I love listening to a good story and challenging my own knowledge and assumptions!
How do you think that your background and knowledge impact the way you approach your work in the Portuguese tech industry?
Firstly, I think, that I was and am incredibly fortunate to work with amazing women. The things I’ve learned from these experiences and encounters are priceless and I am all about sharing this with other women in the community.
Secondly, I want to get more male allies to promote gender equity in the workplace and make organizational diversity efforts more successful. My experience shows, that we can only change the workplace for the better when everyone is involved!
Thirdly, taking care of myself. Lisbon is a great city and I love it here. After working long hours in Berlin, I want to make sure to find a more healthy balance between work and life.
What advice do you have for young women that want to get into tech and don’t know where to start?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I remember my first encounters developers and I often felt stupid asking questions. In hindsight, no one ever judged me for asking these questions and the opportunity it gave me to broaden my horizon was incredible.
Walk me through a day in your life as a Portuguese women in tech.
Normally, I start my day chatting with the lovely people at work and having a coffee. I especially love the days, when I have a networking brunch with my female colleagues scheduled. Other things I do: catch up on emails, work on words and find a way of telling Jungle’s story.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Try mindfulness.
(It really helped me to be more confident and to battle my anxieties.)
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
What’s App! Living abroad and away from family, it is a must — especially as I am an aunt now :)
