Helena Marie Meyer, a software developer at the tech company Toitware in Aarhus, encourages women to apply for computer science studies because when she first glimpsed the many creative opportunities, a whole new world opened up.
Helena's choice to study computer science was actually a bit of a coincidence because she started out studying mathematics as her main subject. Then one could choose between physics and computer science as a minor subject, and she chose computer science. It resembled mathematics a lot, and Helena ended up switching to computer science as her main subject.
"I found computer science more enjoyable, more exciting. I was 21 years old. A whole new world opened up, and I was very enthusiastic," Helena says, continuing, "I like the 'aha' moment you get when you're working with mathematics, and actually, it happens more often when you're working with computer science. Within computer science, what you do is very concrete, and it's actually a very creative field. You come up with both the ideas and the solutions for how to execute them. The IT field evolves rapidly, so you have to constantly stay updated, and that's great for me because I love learning new things all the time."
Helena Marie Meyer graduated with a master's degree in computer science from Aarhus University in 2005 and has never had trouble finding work. She would like to see more women studying Computer Science.
How often have you been called a nerd?
Unfortunately, not so many times. The times I've been called a nerd, it's been a compliment. In my circle of friends, we know that we're nerds. It's cool to be a nerd. A bit like you can be a music nerd, a technology nerd, a sports nerd.
What have you gained personally from your studies?
I've learned that you should never give up and always try to find a solution. You shouldn't be afraid of anything new. You just have to dive into it, even if you don't know anything about it. It's very educational, and it's not dangerous.
What is the biggest challenge in your field?
Understanding the users' needs. You think you know what the users want, and then you go back and make some software and give it to the users. Then they say: that's not really what I wanted.
Why is it important for more women to enter the tech fields?
Actually, the products become better. Studies show that if there is diversity between genders in the teams developing software, it becomes a better product. There are different types of people. It produces a better product than if it were a group of completely identical people developing a product.
The university wants to attract more women to study computer science. Do you have any good advice?
Yes, if you have even the slightest interest in technology, you should go for it, it's really fun. You shouldn't be afraid of failing. There need to be some campaigns: It's cool to study computer science. It's not very high on young people's lists. They think it's boring or stereotypical. It's very creative, you can really accomplish something.
What can women contribute to the field?
As long as it's not fifty-fifty, there is a need to get more women involved. It's realistic to get the quota up to 25 percent. In the concept development phase, there also need to be many women present because women can help develop products that reach a broader audience than if it's solely men developing a product. There's a large market for IT products that haven't even been developed yet, as it's the women who will be able to steer and come up with ideas - for women.
