International Women’s Day 2023
Promoting diversity and inclusion is not a tick-box exercise at Worldsensing. The company takes the promotion of a diverse workforce seriously as a way to enhance problem-solving and to better address the diversity of cultures in which it operates. Gender-wise, around one-fifth of employees in the company, are women and the business is committed to increasing female participation at all levels. To help achieve this, Worldsensing espouses flexible working practices that support the 45% of staff who are working parents.
The company has also established a diversity team. And in 2021 it pledged to improve staff diversity, and equal opportunities by signing a European Union Diversity Charter with the Spanish nonprofit Fundación Diversidad. Along with these initiatives, the company has also developed its "Plan de Igualdad 2022-2026" with actions focused to reduce the gap between women and men and to be more equitable. To see what impact these and other measures are having at Worldsensing on International Women’s Day 2023, here are some perspectives from three women employees. Carmen Espino López is a Spanish Front-end Developer and Customer Engineer who joined Worldsensing in 2019. Margarida Lopes is a Portuguese People Specialist who joined the company in 2022. And Katherine Molina Casañas of Venezuela is an IT Service Desk Technician who has been with Worldsensing since 2020. These are their views on working in engineering and what they get from a career with Worldsensing.
What made you choose to work in the field you work in now?
Carmen Espino: Curiosity. I wasn't very clear about what I wanted to do and as far as I remember I was always curious to know how things work. So I moved towards technology and web development. I am also passionate about helping people, so now in Worldsensing, I can put both aspects together.
Margarida Lopes: Since ever, I consider myself a people-oriented person. And so, after having some experience in organizations while I was studying, I had the opportunity to truly understand my passion: human resources. I love helping people, taking care of their doubts and concerns, and advising them on the best solution. At the same time, managing people is so complex and always different that everything you are dealing with is a different challenge, so day after day you come out of your comfort zone
Kath Molina: When I was a little kid and when I used my first computer I loved how everything made sense to me from the moment I turn on the computer. I was spending hours and hours digging through the operating system and messing up stuff on my way and later searching how to fix them (and actually managing to do so).
What has been your best experience in a field you work in now?
Carmen Espino: It's very rewarding when I talk to my clients and I see when they understand how we helped them. And on a personal level, I have found it very exciting to learn so much about a sector that I didn't even know existed 4 years ago. It's amazing. I learn something new every day!
Margarida Lopes: I cannot just say "the best experience", since I consider myself very lucky with my work experience so far. I love to do the recruitment of employees and develop them internally, making sure they are having a career progression.
Kath Molina: Having the opportunity to do something that sparks passion and interest in me. I remember the first time I was recognized for my work and it felt great.
Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman?
Carmen Espino: Unfortunately, yes. There are people who do not trust your knowledge and question you or prefer to talk to a man, just only because you are a woman. I wish I could make them understand that I am an equally valid person, but sometimes it is impossible, so you just have to move on.
Margarida Lopes: Luckily, until now, I never faced any barriers in my career due to being a woman.
Kath Molina: At the beginning of my career I faced more barriers than I can count for actually being a woman in my field. My work and I have been diminished in the past just for my gender, I had to work extra hard and prove that I deserved to be where I was but none of my other coworkers had to struggle like this. Thankfully, I've had a great experience at Worldsensing so far. No one has ever questioned my knowledge or my capabilities just for my gender and it feels great.
Do you think there is a stereotype of Women in the engineering/technology industry?
Carmen Espino: I think the stereotype is that there are no women; it is more like a woman is a mythological animal in this sector. In general, the stereotype of women in engineering is similar to the stereotype of the person in this sector as an antisocial person, who doesn't leave the house… When in fact the basis of any good job is teamwork so it does not matter if you are a man or a woman.
Margarida Lopes: I would not call it a stereotype, but, in fact, there are not a lot of women in the engineering/technology sector.
Kath Molina: As a girl who went to engineering school and works in IT I can testify that YES but actually you can find nice people and workplaces throughout your journey. Thankfully, I feel that society is changing and women are being more welcomed in tech fields nowadays.
What is the best professional advice you've ever received and what is the message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
Carmen Espino: Attitude is almost more important than knowledge because "anyone" can learn something but only a few people can bring something good to the job and to the team.
Margarida Lopes: Being honest. My manager keeps saying it daily to me. If you are transparent with everyone, in a proper way, you don't need to worry about anything. My advice is for them to be brave! Trust themselves and put themselves first in their own lives. Insecurities will always be there, but the way to avoid and overcome it will turn you into a better human day after day. Don't be scared to simply be yourself!
Kath Molina: Pursue your passions and what makes you happy. Also, I believe that kindness is necessary to achieve success in a professional environment.
If you could have dinner with 1 inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would she be and why?
Carmen Espino: I would like to talk to the first woman developer, Ada Lovelace and to find out what was her experience being known as the first computer programmer and what she had to deal with in order to move forward. I think it would be very interesting and inspiring to be able to see the differences between XIX century and nowadays and discuss what we still have to change to achieve true equality.
Margarida Lopes: If I have that opportunity, I would choose Greta Thunberg. The reason why is that she is a brave young lady, that doesn't feel shy to express her opinions. I would love to meet her face to face for her to pass me that braveness and be a boost of motivation for my future.
Kath Molina: Hands down to Marie Curie. Her entire biography is amazing. She won two Nobel prizes, however, people don't talk enough about how she was excluded from the first prize just for being a woman until her husband/co-worker (who won the prize with her) denied the prize unless she was recognized. That's how hard it was for her in her field!
