Tech Leaper is Tech Girl of the Year

Congratulations on Tech Girl of the Year, what does such an award mean?

The purpose of the Tech Girl of the Year award is precisely to highlight young female role models and inspire more young girls to a career in the tech and IT industry. The winner of Tech Girl of the Year will be an ambassador for Microsoft and a role model for tech-interested young adults throughout the country. Being recognized as Tech Girl of the Year by Microsoft is a great honor and a confirmation that my commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has made a difference. I am passionate about showing the versatility of tech and I applied for Tech Girl of the Year to emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research in the tech industry. I see this not only as an award, but also a mission that I now have the opportunity to drive initiatives that can make a difference together with Microsoft.

The next step for me is to continue working to promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, both through my nonprofit work and by being an ambassador for Microsoft. I want to continue to be a role model and source of inspiration for young people, especially girls, who are interested in science and technology. I look forward to using my newfound platform as Tech Girl of the Year to highlight important issues and drive change in the industry.

What made you interested in technology and engineering in the first place?

I remember that as a child I was very interested in learning how everything works, whether it was a computer, the human body or how molecules can be used as fuel. I had an interest in a variety of subjects and had a hard time deciding on just one area. Gradually, I became interested in interdisciplinary research and finding connections between different fields to solve societal problems from several different perspectives. I usually imitate the engineering profession as a toolbox of skills that you carry with you through life. When a problem arises, you take out the toolbox and try to solve the problem according to the skills you have packed with you through your education and experience. I never got enough of learning 'a little about everything' and then chose an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of scientific areas which has made my toolbox very diverse. With acquired expertise from several scientific fields, I strive to solve problems whose solutions lie beyond the scope of a single discipline or research area.

You are a Tekniksprånget alumnus, tell us about your internship?

I did Tekniksprånget between 2017 and 2018 at SSAB in Oxelösund. I remember receiving a letter in the mail the same year I was due to graduate and becoming interested in trying out the profession as an engineer before I decided to continue my studies. From having zero knowledge of the engineering profession, I immediately got a much better grasp of what an engineer can do.

At SSAB, I got to experience a lot, everything from university visits to conducting wear tests on steel and being in the industrial laboratory. A lot was related to materials science and chemistry, and I got exposure to pretty much the entire company from both an industrial and academic perspective. We had an initiative called "disturb an engineer", which meant that me and my Tekniksprånget colleague got to travel around the area and meet people with different educational backgrounds and simply hear more about their career choices and what they work with on a daily basis.

Did you come to any insights about your future profession during the internship?

Talking to people who actually worked as engineers gave you a better picture of the practical applications of the training. I had an interest in a variety of topics and had a hard time deciding on just one technical area. One of our mentors at SSAB said that an engineer is always an engineer regardless of specialization. As an engineer, you can work with so many different things in the same area, even if you have different cutting-edge skills. It made me less worried that I would choose the "wrong" direction and instead focus on what I was really interested in. The important thing is to dare to take the step and try, the rest will be solved later.

In the motivation, they write "a true inspiration for young girls", is it important for you to be a role model?

Yes, of course! For me, it's important to break the stereotypical image of who works in tech. I have red hair, piercings and tattoos and many people are surprised when they hear what I study and am interested in. Few people think I look like a traditional engineering student interested in technology and science. I myself lacked role models in tech when I was growing up and I want to show that it is possible to work with tech despite different backgrounds, both privately and professionally. I want to be a role model for those, who, like me, come from a small town and have parents without a university background, but also those who have chosen a more different path in tech. I also want to be able to represent civil society, which I have been involved in for several years and know has good conditions to contribute to an increased interest in technology among children and young people.

How could we get more girls to be interested in and, above all, want to work with technology?

I believe it is important to develop an interest already in primary school and to expose children and young people as early as possible, especially by demonstrating the diversity of technology. Now, many people do not come into contact with technical education until late in life, which means that many never get the opportunity to develop a long-term interest in tech. Being curious about research and technology should be just as encouraged as engaging in music or sports in your spare time. At present, there are limited opportunities to devote oneself to science, mathematics and technology as a hobby, outside of the school's assessment templates. There is also an uneven distribution in different geographical areas, where the interest in tech is greater in the big cities compared to the small town regions, which usually have less opportunities to meet young people's interest in technology. I also think that far too few female role models are highlighted. There must be more women in leadership positions who can inspire more people to dare to take their place and follow suit.

I am passionate about showing the versatility of tech and I applied for Tech Girl of the Year to emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research in the tech industry, especially since there is a lot of prejudice and ignorance about what technology entails. Technology is everywhere and even if your interest is not specifically in developing software, you can find other aspects of technology that are at least as important. The award is thus also a reminder that there is a great need to highlight different perspectives and backgrounds in the tech industry that can interest and attract a wider audience, and I feel humbled by the opportunity to continue to push this issue forward.