Woman in Tech Interview: Anna

September 13, 2020

Anna, you first started your career as an officer in the German Bundeswehr and now you are studying eGovernance and Public Sector Innovation. How did this all come up?

It’s actually quite an unusual story. I was an officer in the Bundeswehr for almost 15 years. I started in 2005, and after my basic training and officer training I studied political science at the University of the Armed Forces in Hamburg for my bachelor’s and master’s degree. Because of my good qualifications, I started working as a research assistant, while being a soldier. After 14 years I was faced with the decision to extend my service in the Bundeswehr. It brought up the question: Do I want to continue doing this for the rest of my life or is it time for a reorientation?

By chance I landed in some classes at the Google Future Lab. Freshly inspired, I found my current university program E- Governance & Public Sector Innovation. A pioneer program at KU Leuven (Belgium), WWU Münster and TalTech University in Estonia, composed of Business Informatics and Administrative Sciences with a focus on digitization. At the same time I received some exciting job offers in the field of political science. So I was wavering between the safe way, in a discipline I know, and something completely new. I chose the latter. I applied and have been back at university since September 2019. I have very international fellow students. All of them with professional experience in administration, law or political science. I also like the fact that we change our location four times within two years and study somewhere else. And so I get more experience professionally and personally. In my master’s semester I am already planning to start work. What I will do is already fixed, the contract is as good as signed.

How do you like your studies so far?

I have learned a lot about myself, especially through constantly moving to other countries. The intercultural exchange in different cities and with my fellow students from 28 countries has enriched me enormously. But of course, I also learned a lot in the field of digitalization and computer science. I already have the feeling that I am able to talk about digitization.

During your studies you have already been in several countries. Is there a country that sets a benchmark in digital administration?

Definitely Estonia. But the situation in Germany is different. Estonia is a small country with 1.3 million inhabitants. Here, projects can be developed and implemented faster than in Germany (with over 80 million inhabitants and a federal system). I feel a fantastic spirit of discovery and innovation here. A totally inspiring vibe. Tallinn is the right place to study “Public Sector Innovation”. Add to the open-mindedness and helpfulness. I think here I could call the authorities and ministries and actually get answers to my questions. The mindset of sharing information and knowledge here is different from what I have known so far. Even Belgium surprised me with its digital service in the administration - despite federalism. Artificial intelligence and proactive services are already widely used.

What was the response of your personal environment to your career change?

Very diverse. What I actually heard was: “You were always bad at math in school and now you decided to study something related to computer science. Are you able to manage that” or “You have such a good degree in political science, isn’t that enough for you?” Also the start of a new course of studies instead of family planning was a topic of conversation. The expectations of my family, a secure career path with offsprings in the next few years and my wish for further education diverged here. My family has become quite comfortable with the fact that I am successful in my studies, happy, have a secure job in prospect and am not drowning in the IT world. There was also positive and negative feedback from my friends. My path was not the one that was expected. But I am glad that I have gone the way I did. Occasionally I even hear from women, especially from my old environment of the Bundeswehr, that they would have liked to make such a courageous change (earlier). Maybe I can be a role model for others this way.

What was your motivation to go to the Bundeswehr at all?

Before, I already considered it as very exciting. I was sporty and also liked to spend a lot of time outside. Also the chance to study without having to make a big financial investment motivated me.The connection between studying and being outside and having people around me was great. Of course the job in the Bundeswehr is also very secure. For me it was also simply nothing foreign, since my father was also a soldier. I was fascinated by this world - with all its challenges.

Apropos - how are you financing your current studies?

I’m really grateful because I’m in a very comfortable situation so far. The career advancement service of the Bundeswehr makes a lot possible. That’s a great privilege.

What is it like being a woman in the Bundeswehr? What is the proportion of women in your studies now?

I actually come from the early days of women in the Bundeswehr. It was only a few years before I joined the Bundeswehr that it was even possible for women to go into all areas of the Bundeswehr. When I joined, the percentage of women in the army was about 1%, at least among the officers. In the beginning there was not even a suitable uniform for me. Everything was simply very male dominated and hierarchically structured.

I have long considered whether I would like to continue to work as a soldier in the Bundeswehr. Of course, a lot has changed in the meantime and many things have improved significantly. But the diversity was also one of the reasons why I personally decided against it. I simply missed female role models. I have never met another woman with a higher rank who has worked as a role model for me. I lacked someone I can look up to, someone who is happy with her job and shares my values of work, family and life. As a woman you don’t have the same internal network as a man. The formats that existed often did not suit me. Of course, you can also be active yourself, for example, our equal opportunities officer has organized joint breakfast rounds. In retrospect, I could have invested more in a mutually reinforcing women’s network.

In my degree program, however, the proportion of women among my fellow students is about 50%. This is different with the lecturers. In Tallinn, I now have a completely male team of lecturers - all young men. In contrast to the semester in Münster, where it was almost entirely older, male lecturers. In Belgium I have two women teaching computer science.

After your career change, have you met more women whose career you can identify with?

Yes, I met many interesting women in my studies. They have shown the same courage for professional reorientation as I did. A fellow student of mine is mastering her studies alongside her actual job at the Italian Ministry of Digitization. She does it out of pure interest and with great joy and helpfulness. Another one moved from Canada to Europe for our studies despite her family, without knowing a single person here. This courageous determination inspires me.

It all sounds very exciting and varied

Yes, it is. It is also sometimes stressful - especially the moving. I had to leave my comfort zone and left my great apartment and my fiancé in Hamburg for the moment. Now I’ve moved three times, I’m in a long-distance relationship, I go out to eat in the cafeteria again and I struggle with uniformalia. But in my mid-30s I have become more relaxed in many things than 10 years ago.

And you?

If you want to motivate others with your story as well contact us moin@moinworld.de!