What kind of work did you dream to do at high school? Were you thinking back then, that you would work in IT?
Since I was a teenager I knew that I wanted to work with a computer but I did not know how. However, when I was 18 years old and I had to enroll in the university, I did not doubt it. I was sure about to study an engineering career.
How did you get into the world of technologies? Did you study IT or did life bring you there?
I studied and graduated in systems engineering and psychology. Two quite different professions. It was quite easy for me to start working in IT because companies have many resource needs and universities are full of them. So, companies are very attentive to students who want to start working.
In my particular case, the first formal job was obtained when I went to a free seminar, that was dictated at the university, and the speaker said that in his company they had open positions. I applied and a few days after I had the interviews and I started working.
Did your family and friends support your decision to join the tech world?
Yes, what my family’s concern was about that I study something that made me happy.
Please tell us a little more about your work. (something cool for girls and young women considering working in IT). Why do you love it?
My job has many branches. It’s good for not to get bored. Sometimes I lead teams, do consultancies, give courses, organize testing events, give talks in congresses, participate in communities, manage contacts with interested companies, among other things. Exactly what I love about my job is this diversity and, of course, everything is related to testing, which is what I love doing.
What does your company do?
We provide software testing and quality services, give training and organize an annual conference that is free for attendees.
What do you like about working in IT?
Working in IT is fantastic. While there is a lot of work, the atmosphere is relaxed, schedules are flexible, companies give you many more benefits than traditional companies. Besides, tech companies provide opportunities to improve yours skills, to attend to trainings and to update yourself.
But to be able to enjoy these benefits, you have to love your job. Because if you have all these benefits and you do not like your day-to-day tasks you will not enjoy them.
What are the advantages from your point of view?
In the long term, the advantage is that we are always going to have a job because there are always going to be new technological advances and, for that, engineers will be needed.
In the short term, the advantages may be related to all the benefits that companies provide. Companies are very concerned about recruiting and retaining their talents and we must take advantage of that.
What is the ratio of men vs women at your team? Would you change it?
In IT in general, there are many more men than women. However, in testing in particular, the proportion is quite similar. Even in some testing teams there tend to be more women than men. This is because, in general, men are dedicated to the most technical IT issues and women to the softest.
Each time, there are more and more women in IT. I do not celebrate it but I do not reject it. For me the important thing is that each one can perform in the professional field that they prefer. If more and more women like this, they will be welcome. Otherwise, I would not force them simply to equalize the amounts.
Have you ever experienced any prejudice towards you?
Yes I had some prejudices but they were not related to gender but to age. Many times people saw me young to teach or lead teams.
Would you want more women in IT? Why?
Woman and man are different. Each one have a different perspective and that is valuable in any team. Whether technology, fashion or cooking.
If you ask me what I prefer? I prefer heterogeneous teams, but not only in terms of gender, but also in terms of age, skills, training …
In short, I do not have the position of „I want more women in IT“ or „I do not want more women in IT“, what I want is that those women who want to insert themselves in IT, can do it without their gender being an impediment.
Nadia Soledad Cavalleri vystupovala na konferencii Testing United vo Viedni, ktorú organizuje firma KRONE consulting services.