5 portraits of inspiring women within Constructor group
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we want to shed light on inspiring women who make significant contributions every day to science, education, and technology within Constructor. We share here five career insights to inspire young generations of women in science.
Öznur Bell
COO, Managing Director at Constructor University & Executive Board Member at Constructor
1. What were the reasons why you chose a career in education?
My parents were my primary motivation to choose a career in education management. They spent years in the same field with various administrative roles in the public and private sectors. Their overall approach to education was always very innovative and customized by prioritizing accessibility in any situation. These are now the roots of my core values while shaping the future of education in Constructor Group.
2. As you were building your career, any challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
Like life itself, professional life has its many ups and downs, and it's all about how you perceive them in the first place. If you see a challenge as a steppingstone for a better state in the future, the problem is half solved. The worst I could see is being responsible for hundreds in a financially declining company: the best here would be creating highly profitable businesses from scratch. No need to mention human capital is the key to overcoming any obstacle that may occur on the way.
3. Did you have a mentor or someone who inspired you to pursue this career path?
I usually get inspired by facts or by someone inspired by facts. Even though my parents played a vital role in my path, I cannot mention any individual here as a mentor. We have well-known facts to get inspired altogether, that we need better education for all to solve current and upcoming global issues!
4. How do you see the role of women in the science, education, and tech areas?
Gender inequalities in managerial roles are still a case for all these three areas, even in today's modern societies. However, we've been delighted to see more women's involvement on the decision-making level in different businesses within the last couple of years. I see women as true changemakers, and science & tech-based education is the best instrument to disseminate change and break down prejudices.
Kseniia Alekseitseva
Machine Learning Engineer at Rolos by Constructor
1. Why did you choose a career in science?
I chose science (data science, to be exact) as I love combining technical skills and problem-solving. I'm amazed by the power of modern machine learning methods to drive impactful decisions and create change in our world.
2. Any challenges you faced, and how you overcame them?
Staying current in the constantly evolving field of data science is tough. But I invest in my growth by taking courses, reading research papers, and connecting with industry peers. Proactivity in my learning helps me continue to make a positive impact in my field. Although I haven’t experienced gender bias personally, I know it's still a reality for many. I'm grateful to work for a company that values diversity and encourages continuous learning, allowing me to have a supportive network and surround myself with people who believe in me and my abilities, regardless of my gender.
3. Do you have a role model or someone who inspired you to pursue this career path?
I don't have one role model; I find motivation in the people around me, friends and colleagues who have found success in various spheres of life or my husband, who also works in data science and continuously pushes me to grow and develop my skills in the field.
4. Your thoughts on the future of women in science:
I hope that men and women in science will be equal in their opportunities and recognition. The growing representation of women in education and science is a positive trend, I’m excited to see what new contributions and innovations they will bring to the field. I also hope that biases and sexist attitudes will be overcome, allowing individuals to pursue their passions and balance their personal and professional lives as they see fit.
5. Any career advice you want to share?
Prioritize learning and personal growth, especially in a rapidly changing field like science. Surround yourself with a supportive network of people who believe in you and your abilities - colleagues, mentors, or peers. They can help you navigate the ups and downs of your career. And finally, don't be afraid to take risks and pursue exciting opportunities. You never know what unique experiences and growth await you.
Ekaterina Butyugina
Program Manager of the Data Science Bootcamp at Learning
1. What were the reasons why you chose a career in science/edu/tech?
The passion for science that drives my career has its roots in my childhood. Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by discovery and the thrill of uncovering something new. I was constantly taking things apart and conducting experiments, and my parents never stopped me from doing it even if they were not very happy about it.
I had my joy and freedom of investigating and researching the real world, made my small experiments and always involved other kids in it. I liked school, but I never sat down and learned a specific subject, everything was natural. Then when the time came to choose a university, I was in panic as I liked so many things. The decision to study mathematics at the university in my hometown was quite random. I spent most of the time preparing for the final exams on mathematics and felt myself well versed in this topic. Obviously, I was wrong as there were much better students than me, but I never regretted my choice.
My time at university was challenging, but it was also where I learned the value of hard work and discipline. I realized that to truly understand a topic, I needed to put in the effort and read books, not just rely on my natural curiosity. This drive to understand the practical applications of mathematics led me to pursue a master's degree and a PhD.
In summary, my journey as a scientist was driven by my natural curiosity and a desire for discovery, shaped by a series of events in my life. As a Data Science program manager at Constructor Learning I have plenty of it in my everyday life.
2. As you were building your career, any challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
The idea of a career in science sounded like paradise. I had a naive perception, shaped by movies and motivation videos, where everyone followed their passions and made incredible inventions with ease.
However, my optimistic view was soon shattered when I realized the truth. The field of science is filled with struggle, competition, and uncertainty. Researchers often spend years on a project without any guarantee of success. I struggled to come to terms with this reality, but eventually, I learned that modern science is not the work of a single genius, but rather the result of a team effort that takes time, hard work, and perseverance.
The first step to overcome it was to realize and accept it. The next step was to answer the question - are you ok with it? And that is in general a good practice to ask yourself this question if you are going to commit to something. Taking responsibility for my decision to pursue no matter what the most important step was.
The journey as a scientist was not without its challenges. Deadlines for papers and failing to win grants for my research often left me feeling overwhelmed and alone in my project. To make matters worse, I didn't always have the support I needed from my advisor. It was like navigating a boat through a stormy night.
However, these challenges helped me to develop key skills that have proved to be invaluable. I learned to manage my time effectively to meet deadlines, and my setbacks in competitions only fuelled my determination to improve my projects and sharpen my pitching skills. I realized that if I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the world, I needed to ensure that my ideas were clearly communicated and understood. Over time, I discovered that almost every challenge and setback was an opportunity for growth and skill-building.
3. Did you have a mentor or someone who inspired you to pursue this career path?
During my masters there was a time when I wasn’t sure about continuing the science path of finding a “normal” job. Nobody in my family took this path before and I assumed that you cannot live on a scientist’s salary. Which is partially true, and you will need some support in the first years. But a family friend was a scientist, a wonderful woman teaching a challenging topic about Mathematical Modeling and Computational Methods. She was over 65 years old, but her eyes were sparkling when she talked about her job. I don’t remember what she told me but seeing her so happy at this age working and enjoying her research and teaching the students inspired me the most. It was an irrational feeling and not logical reasoning that convinced me.
4. Your thoughts on how you see the role of women in the science, education, and tech areas?
I think the STEM field in general is a great place to be. During my career I worked mostly with women, and I think it is amazing how we can handle so many things. Women have been and continue to be at the forefront of many ground-breaking discoveries, just look at Ada Lovelace, Marie Curie, Sofia Kovalevskaya, or one of the recent examples - Lisa Su or Katie Bouman! But historically it was very challenging for women to join the STEM field due to many reasons, including gender-based discrimination and biases.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of increasing the representation of women in STEM. These efforts have helped to increase the number of girls pursuing their tech careers and have led to a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture in STEM. And I think it is a great and healthy decision for driving innovation, solving complex problems, and shaping the future.
In addition to working in traditional STEM fields, many women are also starting their own businesses and becoming entrepreneurs in the tech industry. This has created new opportunities for women to have a major impact on the world, and to shape the future of technology.
5. Any career advice you want to share?
Taking a career path, you are basically choosing a lifestyle. And I really like what Yvonne Bettkober, a General Manager Switzerland, and Austria at Amazon Web Services, said about it: “Build a career life that is yours”. Think of what you like the most, as you are going to spend most of your time on it. If you like what you are doing, then you have an initial inspiration and drive. With time this drive will turn into professionalism, but sometimes into burnout. Try to avoid it and give yourself time to recover and get support if needed. The failures every now and then are most likely inevitable. Don’t take them personally, just continue going, step by step, even slowly, adapting new methods or looking at a problem from a different perspective. An imposter syndrome, which mostly affects women, might come in the way. Think of it as an annoying mosquito which is just somewhere near, but it doesn’t stop you from your activities. If you just ignore it and continue going, then eventually it will fade away as your knowledge and, consequently, confidence will grow and at some point, overgrow this. And don’t forget to have fun!
Eszter Arato
Eszter Arato, Compliance Manager at Alemira by Constructor
1. What were the reasons why you chose a career in science/edu/tech?
It is the coincidence between the (now historical) time I spent my childhood in and the spirit my elementary school instilled into us, children. My early years saw the last decade of communism in Hungary. Surprisingly, my school was led with a relatively liberal approach, unjustified by the then-common political conception. Most of our teachers were well-respected personalities, with a good reason for that. I loved going to school. I felt safe there and taught myself to find refined ways for self-expression. Education and science never fail to lead me back to that safe place where I was a child taken good care of. It is this sense of safety that explains my choice of career. Science and technology do not leave the ground for manipulation. It is a world offering transparent and equal opportunities for all who wish to join.
2. As you were building your career, any challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
Quite a few! One common trait of dealing with them was probably finding the strength to just consider a new opportunity. Then to convince myself that it could be doable. And then to keep sticking to it. I am often told that I never seem to want to settle down. That is true. I find that the world around us is so full of very interesting things. It is sad having to acknowledge I would not have enough time to be involved in all of them. The more I live, the more I realise time is my most precious asset. I want to be a good steward of my time. This notion is what gives me strength whenever I am faced with something difficult or not promising. I also want my children to be proud of me. That is another powerful motivation.
3. Did you have a mentor or someone who inspired you to pursue this career path?
Growing up, I was surrounded by educated people who taught me the value of knowledge in the face of autocracies. These people created their own world that was independent of political power and relied solely on science. I admired their self-possession and how they only needed good music, sunshine, and books to create great ideas. Although I'm a bit more needy and would add cheese and wine to that list, I still aspire to create a similar environment. I also must mention a couple of amazing colleagues and managers that trusted and supported me throughout my years at work. Some have even recommended me for promotions anonymously. I am immensely grateful for that. In fact, I started doing the same. Whenever I can, I try to pay it forward by doing good for others without seeking recognition. Just to give back to the big pool of blessings from where I was also given.
4. Your thoughts on how you see the role of women in the science, education, and tech areas?
Intelligence does not depend on gender. Any company that discriminates based on gender is limiting their pool of candidates and potentially missing out on the best person for the job. That leads to a bias in distribution, limiting the employment of the best people. Discrimination against women in hiring or promotion processes is unfair and ultimately harms the organization by excluding qualified individuals. But science, education and technology are aiming to provide equal and fair opportunities for all genders. I can’t name a moment where I felt less because I am a woman.
5. Any career advice you want to share?
It might sound overrated, but I am convinced that first you should understand your own self as much as possible. You change over time and that is fine. Be vigilant and get the signs. Be your own best friend. Choose your career based on explorations you make during this self-discovery journey. If you do not enjoy what you do, keep searching till you do. Surround yourself with people you like. Be grateful for being part of the community. Easier said than done, I know. All of us live with constraints. Still, I think nothing should have priority over staying true to yourself.
Katya Fisher
Executive Vice Chairman at Constructor group
1. Why did you choose a career in science?
I have a very entrepreneurial spirit and drive. Being a lawyer gives me a strong foundation and discipline, but being surrounded by people passionate about learning and building (constructing, if you will) new technologies and businesses fuels my creativity.
2. Any challenges you faced, and how you overcame them?
During the first decade of my legal career, I worked for myself and built a law practice. Every day presented a new challenge, and in the beginning, it was terrifying. But it gave me unshakable confidence - I know now I can always rely on myself no matter what.
3.Do you have a role model or someone who inspired you to pursue this career path?
I never really had a mentor or someone to emulate. Earlier in my career, I certainly wished for one. I often think about that and try to be one to my team. That being said, I have been fortunate to have a lot of supportive people throughout my life who believed in me and gave me inspiration.
4. Your thoughts on the future of women in science:
There are a lot of brilliant women in science, tech, and education, and I hope they will encourage more women into these fields. Machine intelligence and other technologies will change the future of the work landscape, and ladies need to be prepared for that.
5. Any career advice you want to share?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or embarrass yourself. In the words of Carl Jung, “The fool is the precursor to the savior.”
About Constructor
Constructor is a global organization dedicated to addressing the main challenges of the world through science, education, and technology. Headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Constructor is comprised of education offers from K-12 to academic programs and courses for executives, research capacities as well as commercial technology spin-offs, consulting services, and smart capital. The Constructor ecosystem focuses on five fundamental technology trends: general intelligence, quantum technology, intelligent materials, hybrid reality, and life engineering.