Women in Data: Interview with winner Marina

The data industry needs you! More than 120 women applied to this call for the "Women in Data" scholarship. 50 of them received one of the coveted scholarship spots for the Data Analyst advanced training at StackFuel. And unfortunately, it's true: the data industry is still predominantly male. Just one-sixth of data experts are female, with a negative impact on business, development and research. The Corona Crisis has been particularly detrimental to women's career advancement. This is exactly where the StackFuel and Telefónica scholarship should have a positive impact and qualify women for data professions and make them fit for the future with data skills.

Marina is one of 50 winners. She applied for the scholarship out of a difficult life situation and wanted to reshape her professional life. The Corona Year 2020 changed her life abruptly, but Marina took courage from this experience to reorient herself professionally. In an interview, she tells us why the Maranthon run helped her in the scholarship, how she discovered her enthusiasm for data, and why she feels that companies in particular have a responsibility to promote women in the data field.

Hi Marina, congratulations on winning a fellowship spot as one of our Women in Data 2021. What can you tell us about yourself?

Yes, with pleasure. I originally come from St. Petersburg in Russia. I have been living in Munich for seven years. I have worked as a project manager for the last four years, but I am currently looking for work.

How has your career progressed so far and what brought you here?

After school, I started a Bachelor's degree in Saint Petersburg in Romance Studies with a special focus on Spanish language and literature. Immediately after graduation, I worked in my first job as a sales and project manager at a destination management company. On a business trip I met my husband and decided to move to Germany to join him. I then worked as a key account manager until I had my first child. I wanted to use the time at home with my baby and started a master's degree and shortly before graduation baby number two was born. So I wrote my diploma with two children in my arms and had my second degree in my pocket in November 2019.

So your master's degree came just before the Corona pandemic. What changes did the year 2020 bring for your life?

It wasn't foreseeable after I graduated, but the year 2020 turned my life upside down at that time. Suddenly I was all alone, without a husband and with two children in the middle of a pandemic. I couldn't leave for Russia to fly to my parents or visit my friends, whom I hadn't seen for a year and a half. The job market had also changed a lot during that time. I had numerous job interviews and noticed that women, especially mothers, are still strongly disadvantaged when looking for a job. That's why I'm still looking for a new job at the moment, but I'm not letting it get me down. I see it as experience and therefore always look for new ways to learn something.

The "Women in Data" scholarship came just at the right time. How did you hear about the scholarship and what convinced you to apply?

Absolutely. I found that continuing my education in Data Analytics would be a perfect entry point into the IT and data industry for me. So I was looking for a continuing education provider and found StackFuel. At the time, I hadn't made a commitment, but then one day I saw an ad on Instagram for the Women in Data scholarship. So I thought, 'Yes, I'm a woman and I want to be a Women in Data.' I'm very happy it worked out and I'm in. It will be a new challenge to broaden my knowledge horizon and I hope that I can apply this knowledge professionally after the scholarship.

Where did your interest in working with data come from?

Data is everywhere. It's nothing more than a collection of facts. I like it very much when I read magazines to look for graphics, because I want to interpret them myself and get an idea. I'm also always interested in where the data comes from, if it's relevant, and how it was collected. I guess I've always had this fascination with data.

Do you still have fears of contact with data, programming or mathematics?

I am afraid of mathematics, but also of data, statistics. But I think that's a good thing. Last year I was also afraid I wouldn't make it ten kilometers. Recently I ran a half marathon and I want to run another marathon this fall. I think everything you tackle, you take one step at a time. It's about just starting, doing it despite the fear and sticking with it. Then the fear goes away by itself.

Do you have any advice for other women who are just hesitating and not confident about a data career?

I can only set the best example myself. I'm still incredibly scared of the IT and data industry, and I have no idea what's in store for me in the fellowship and beyond. But I am curious and remain open to these changes. I'm sure that any woman who stands alone in this field is actually not alone, because there are many more coming after her. She is making the way for these women who will follow her.

What steps do you think we need to take in society and business to promote equality?

It's totally understandable that it's not easy for women to choose male-dominated courses of study or training such as engineering or computer science. When you know you're sitting in the lecture hall as one of five other women in a circle of 100 men. As a result, many women choose more female-dominated or mixed majors like psychology, teaching, or foreign languages. This gender gap is already emerging at the university. But I also believe that the big companies in Germany have the power and resources to promote women and provide them with further training within the company. I would like to see more support programs in the future to pick up women where they are in their careers and train them there. That will take time; I realize that. But I believe that large corporations can certainly afford such measures, women without a technical degree, but who are motivated, to offer internal training. That way, we would also have more female talent who are potential leaders later on. This is how we promote women in business and society.

Your entry as Data Analyst:in

We strongly believe that all women should have the same opportunities to pursue a career as a Data Analyst. Whether you think you're at a disadvantage or not, whether you're already working in a data-related environment or starting your career as a career changer - with us, you'll get the chance to hone your data skills and shape your career path.

At this time, no new edition of the scholarship has been announced, but on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Xing you'll be the first to know about new events, scholarships and other great promotions and content.