Photographer: Carly Wollaert ©
Make-up artist: Sharmila Vooren
TECHIONISTA
“If you can not see them, you can not be them’. It’s a quote we firmly believe in. It is important to show more role models in IT and technology to show women (and girls), ánd their male loved ones, friends, and colleagues that they too can opt for a career in IT and tech. We hope that this won’t be necessary anymore in the future, but now it is still one of the means of equalizing the gender balance.”
Vivianne Bendermacher & Tamira Van Roeyen
Founder & Managing Director of Techionista
About
Vivianne – “I once founded Techionista as a hobby project in addition to my then job as editor-in-chief of the popular science magazine KIJK. In the early days, Techionista was a website where I could write content about my passion for (digital) technology. In the years that followed, I discovered that with this passion as a woman, I was quite an exception. IT and technology are still dominated by men. I thought that was a pity. Not only because the world of IT and technology is insanely fun and creative, and I would love to see more women ignited by that enthusiasm. But also because women with IT skills have more opportunities in the labor market.
This is urgently needed because women are still overrepresented in areas that will become more scarce or even disappear completely due to emerging technology in the coming years. And last but not least: the current tech world is improving with more women on board. Diversity leads to quality. I like to work hard for that. As a founder of Techionista, but also on stages as a keynote speaker and as a tech journalist at the desk at, for example, RTL Boulevard.”
What or Who inspired you to pursue your chosen career?
Vivianne – “Actually: it wasn’t someone who inspired me to pursue this career, or rather this mission. It was the lack of role models, the inequity and non-diversity in the field of IT as a result that made me do it.”