Belgrade, November 22, 2024 – Event “Her Journey, Her Story: Women Shaping Tech” was held today in Belgrade as part of the “Open Data for Open Societies” project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office for IT and eGovernment, with support from the United Kingdom.
The event brought together 55 female participants involved in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in various capacities—from technology students to entrepreneurs, scientists, and others interested in creating a fairer and more equitable tech world. The main goal of this event was to highlight the challenges women face in technological and scientific fields and to foster a safe and supportive environment for their career development in STEM disciplines.
The participants were first addressed by Stephanie Schillinglaw, Programme Director at the British Embassy in Belgrade. “It is crucial for women to shape technology with their talents, ideas, and perspectives. I am certain this will benefit everyone, not just us in this room but all of Serbia and the Western Balkans,” emphasised Schillinglaw. Following her, Dragana Bećić, Assistant Director for Digitalisation Standards at the Office for IT and eGovernment, said, “The tech industry shapes our future, and it is essential that women, who make up half of society, are fully represented in creating that future.” Lastly, Jelena Ružičić, Portfolio Manager at UNDP, addressed the participants: “Communities like this, supported by initiatives from organisations such as UNDP and its partners, exist to amplify your voices, support your ambitions, and celebrate your successes.”
After the opening speeches, three interviews were conducted with globally recognized experts, moderated by three local IT sector experts. The participants had the opportunity to hear about their career journeys and the challenges they faced along the way.
The first conversation, featuring Karen de Sousa Pesse, Senior Executive at Salesforce, and was led by Jelena Bratić, Cybersecurity Consultant at Microsoft. De Susa Pesi highlighted the importance of comprehensive, intersectional, and unbiased research that captures the full spectrum of women’s experiences: “Only through such efforts can we hope to dismantle societal biases that continue to limit opportunities and perpetuate disparities, and move towards a more just and inclusive society.”
The second conversation was between Katherine Munro, Data Scientist and Conversational AI Engineer at Swisscom, and Blanka Šupe, Founder and Director of Haos Community Space. Their discussion focused on how data science and artificial intelligence can contribute to a more inclusive society and technological advancement. Finally, Brinnae Bent, Executive in Residence Duke University, spoke alongside Marija Beslać, Director of Communications and Partnerships at the Nordeus Foundation. Their discussion touched on key career development topics in technology and challenges such as balancing personal life and career advancement, particularly for women who are mothers. They emphasised the importance of curiosity, creativity, and persistence for young women pursuing careers in STEM fields.
Participants shared their impressions and thoughts through the Mentimeter app, fostering live interaction and enabling everyone to ask questions and share experiences related to their careers and ambitions.
Advancing the position of girls and women in STEM disciplines is a focus of various UNDP teams in Serbia. This event was jointly organised by the Portfolio for Digital Development and Innovation, Gender Equality team, Communications team, and the UNDP Accelerator Labs. If you haven’t already, visit the Accelerator Labs website to explore research on the position of women in STEM disciplines.
