Early years and where you came from?
I grew up in a close family, and I was always very encouraged to study and pursue my interests, and I have always given it my all in this pursuit. In 2008, I finished my degree in Communication, but I continued to study and improve myself. I did a postgraduate degree in 2009, and I’m completing my Master’s degree in Marketing at the University of Porto.
How were you introduced to the world of the Portuguese tech industry?
I started in the tech industry through my job at JP Sá Couto, a Portuguese company, with 30 years of experience, present in 70 countries and which operates in the Information and Communication Technologies area (ICT). With this experience, I had the opportunity to know the edtech sector. I learned how applying digital technology in this environment can lead to different solutions, that can be either hardware, software and/or services that can deliver a new form of learning
Walk me through your work and what you are doing now in the tech industry.
I believe that technology is the key to optimizing the classroom environment. Working in ICT solutions, and being able to partner with politicians, corporations or colleges, allows me to focus on developing better training solutions for both students and educators alike. With that goal in mind, I aim to create solutions that are practical and effective to use in a classroom setting.
What part of what you do, you love the most?
The Edtech market is a very particular, demanding and challenging market. Technology has transformed the way we live, learn and teach, and schools have seen the very big digital transformation last decade. In my day-to-day life, almost no two days are the same, with every day presenting new challenges to overcome. That is why that today, more than ever, I truly believe that technology can transform the world, and technology in education is the key.
How do you think that your background and knowledge impact the way you approach your work in the Portuguese tech industry?
I think my background was very important because it gave the skills necessary to plan and clearly communicate the aims and needs of a project. This is very important in the technology industry because it is a complex market, that is constantly growing and changing. I believe that communication strategies can have a significant impact on the efficiency of a project implementation, that can only lead to success and greater client or user satisfaction.
What advice do you have for young women that want to get into tech and don’t know where to start?
The world evolves rapidly and I think that we need to prepare future generations for the new job market and opportunities. We need to do a better job in helping them develop the necessary skills that will be crucial for them to thrive in this new reality and achieve long-term success. It is very important to be receptive to change and to be willing to evolve — be flexible and adaptable.
Emotional intelligence is especially important for women in tech. I would advise to read up on the field as much as possible and to seek guidance from teachers or people in senior positions, and not to be afraid to ask for advice or help.
Walk me through a day in your life as a Portuguese women in tech.
My day starts with planning. I don’t start any activity without first confirming and setting my priorities, so then I can be focused on the most important tasks. I am very organized because I think it is important to know how to evaluate and make decisions. Time is short and business is very demanding. During the day, I follow some of the digital channels; make contacts and share
my ideas with the teams I am working with and I try to deepen the relationship with I have with my partners, peers and clients.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Opportunities depend on my effort and dedication. Transformation begins with me but we can teach others to change too.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
I use a lot of tools, but most of the times I use cloud services with synchronization in my smartphone (like as Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive and Microsoft Teams), E-goi for Customer Relationship Management, Swonkie for social media management, Google Services for analysis and management (like as Website Analytics) and Slack for projects management with a lot of contacts.
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