One of the most worrying aspects in the field of science careers is that the number of women is still considerably lower in STEM-type degrees (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths). For this reason, the Telefónica Foundation, through the Inspiring Girls Foundation, has held a meeting for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in which it has brought 11 women to speak with 80 girls and young people about their experiences as women and professionals in the Artificial Intelligence and ICT sectors.
“When I started working I had the face of a girl, and I have always moved in an environment with many men. Working with a lot of men , having a girlish face and being young is a bit of a difficult combination ”. This is the experience narrated by Irene Bernal, Director of Innovation at Telefónica, in her meeting at one of the networking tables of the meeting. The objective: that the girls have role models in which to see themselves reflected and decide to choose technological and scientific careers that make them happy.
What does it depend on whether women and men achieve their career goals, whatever they may be? Lucky? “When you want to achieve something, you set yourself a goal and, above all, you like something, things end up happening,” says Irene Bernal. “As for luck, sometimes I have been at the right time and place, but you had to be there, and you had to be working.
For Marta Olivares García, Managing Director of Accenture , the message is similar: “You have to decide, helped by all the technology and information you have, for something that you like and make you happy. You will achieve everything you want to achieve if you do something that you like and if you work for it ”.
For her part, Almudena Moreno, Director of Alliances for Innovation at Telefónica Open Future , explained to the girls what a startup is , (those companies that are born on a technological basis) and tells of her professional experience studying a master’s degree in Paris and joining in one of these companies.
The event was attended by Valeria Corralés, 10, who wants to be an engineer because “technology is very fun. I love programming and welding robots ” , he tells Muy Interesante. Valeria has been chosen as’ Inspiring Girl ‘by the Foundation of the same name, an institution aimed at increasing girls’ professional ambition and self-esteem.
