"Don't think too much"

Anna Herting works as a consultant in IT, but more specifically she takes assignments in architecture and development linked to Business Intelligence and Analytics and Data / Information Architecture.

- Right now I'm with a client where I have the role of data and information architect and together with a number of other architects form the enterprise architect function. I also support their Data & Analytics team more specifically, as I was previously the architect for that BI solution. Internally at Agero, I am part of our solution council, which supports our overall commitments in delivery and also supports with technology and process issues in sales. I am also involved in our recruitment process and interview candidates in BI/Data/Analytics, says Anna Herting.

How did you end up in the tech industry?

- Where to start? The short answer is that "It happened". I have always liked scientific subjects and figuring out problems, and I chose on breadth and what seemed fun and challenging. In terms of education, that meant Engineering Physics with a focus on materials physics, but I also took extra courses in programming. When I graduated, there were a lot more things to do in the IT industry than with semiconductors and I met my first employer when I walked around with a fresh KTH diploma at a labor market day. Then I stayed because it was fun.

What's good about working for Agero?

- Oh, there is much that is good. Basically, it's about a solidly sound view of human nature. Probably the best thing is that I have had many chances to try new things. There is a strong belief in letting us all grow within the profession, but also that we should grow outside the job and as people. This, together with careful recruitment, also means that I have very competent, but humble and pleasant colleagues. I've had various roles both with clients and internally, which has given me breadth and confidence in myself.

- Agero is also a company that takes life balance seriously, and was a good employer during the years with young children. An employer where gender equality is a matter of course. I believe that the obviousness of gender equality contributes to a strength and ability to deal with less equal environments at customers, when I have ever ended up in one. There has never been any reason to take offense then, because I have brought with me "from home" that gender equality is self-evident. Agero has also made wise decisions in its environmental work, for example.

How do you generally feel about working in the tech industry?

- I can only comment on the IT consultant job and what I have seen of the work in IT departments. In general, I think it's a fun industry, with a lot going on and opportunities to constantly develop and find new things to do and try. In general, I also think there are a lot of nice people. I also like to help others in their work, to make others' everyday lives better. In an IT department, there are an incredible number of opportunities to very tangibly facilitate the work of the others in the company and make a company more efficient and more competitive. I like the combination I get from working with technology, tricky problems and people.

Do you have any advice or tips for young people thinking about entering the tech industry?

- Maybe not to think so much. It's a fun industry, but also a pretty broad industry, so it might be worth thinking about which part of the tech industry seems fun. For example, go to an IT/Civ.ing. program that seems fun and make sure to get to know a lot of people and try different things in addition to the studies. The contacts and experiences around are worth at least as much as the courses.

- I think some (girls) worry that they won't know enough about technology or that it will be boring. Technology moves fast, so no matter what, you have to learn the new stuff all the time. If someone has a head start, you catch up if you keep up. Wanting to learn new things is probably the only real overarching requirement in the industry. The hard part? Well, although it may exist, it's not so bad I think. The IT industry in any case is full of fathers with small children who VAB and leave at daycare and is relatively far ahead in gender equality. If you encounter exceptions, you have to deal with them. But mostly I think there is no reason to hesitate. If it seems interesting, go for it!

What do you think the industry could do better to attract young people - and women in particular?

- I think it's important to find ways to describe jobs in the industry in an honest and understandable way to children no later than middle school. After that, it is probably partly too late. It's not always easy to explain to children what I do. It's so abstract, but I think we need to find ways to say "if you think this is fun, then you would like to be a civil engineer/systems scientist" or something else related to the industry, or maybe first get them to go to high school for science or technology... We would need to catch kids who like to invent, be curious and figure things out at that age and encourage it.

- Showing children early on the role models that exist is of course a good idea. I'm not sure that all role models for girls need to be women, but a role model should be cool, but at the same time someone you think "if he/she can do it, so can I".

- The entire labor market in Sweden is gender-segregated, which means that a number of people of both sexes have probably missed opportunities to have professions they could have thrived in if they had only thought of choosing outside the norm.