With this article, I am starting our interview series on the topic of Women in Tech. I work as a project and marketing manager in the IT industry and have quickly noticed that women are still not represented equally or even to the same extent as their male counterparts.
In light of this, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak with many women in tech, and specifically in the domain industry, as part of this interview series. The goal is to present a variety of women and their experiences, and thus bring the topic more into the public eye.
I look forward to sharing my conversations with impressive women with you in the coming months and hope that I can bring you a little closer to the topic of Women in Tech and maybe even inspire you a little.
In this article, I’m talking to Daiva. She’s been working in the domain industry for a long time and has been part of the huge network of great people that we, the entire INWX team, can count as our friends for almost as long. Her first memory of INWX:
“At some ICANN conference, two nice guys told me about their company. 😊”
Daiva Tamulioniene is Head of System Administration at the Cyber Defense Department in the National Cyber Security Center, which is part of the Ministry of National Security in Lithuania.
Daiva, how would you describe yourself?
I am a „Woman in Tech“. All my life I have been a woman in tech. Professionally, I am a programmer and I have spent my whole career in a tech environment. Currently, I am the head of the Cyber Security team. We are responsible for ensuring that systems connected to the Internet are protected from digital attacks, theft, unauthorized access, etc.
What does a day at work look like for you?
Currently, I am the Head of the System Administration team at the Nacional Cyber Security Center. I am managing the Cyber Security specialists, identifying team goals, evaluating team progress and ensuring their work and output aligns to the organizational priorities and operational plan.
There is no time for a break. Every day we are faced with new vulnerabilities to patch, breaches to avoid and ransomware attacks to prevent.
I am also involved in the integration of cyber security awareness programs for clients. We are handling security and risk management, asset security, network security, software development, etc.
How long have you been working in tech?
Practically, my entire life after university – 34 years. I spent 33 years in the domain business. I was a manager of the TLD .LT from the beginning Lithuania started to use a .LT domain, then I “dived” into cybersecurity.
How did you decide to take a job in the tech industry? Was it something you always wanted to do?
The answer – yes. All my life, starting at school, at university, I always had a passion for technical things. So, naturally, I got into the tech industry. It’s no secret that IT and tech is a challenging field to work in, but once you get a grasp on what you are doing, you will thrive not only in your work life, but in your personal life too. Many people don’t realize that IT has a stimulating and exciting culture that isn’t just based around work.
What do you like most about your job in the tech industry?
IT is a goal oriented and fast-paced field, which requires you to stay on the front foot of technical advancements. Therefore, a career in tech will always motivate you to reach and achieve the highest standards.
Given the constantly evolving nature of technology, you have an unlimited potential for learning. From cloud computing to AI and machine learning, a career in tech provides the opportunity to work on diverse projects and learn new skills.
What is your greatest accomplishment so far?
I think my greatest accomplishment was to start and maintain the .lt top level domain from the beginning until its very successful existence now.
Do you think the tech industry is dominated by men?
Yes, sure. Despite different conversations about the lack of diversity in tech, women are disproportionally missing out in IT/tech jobs.
Do you nonetheless think that women have the same opportunities in the tech industry as men?
No.
“Don’t let stereotypes hold you back from pursuing your dreams.”
Daiva Tamulioniene
What is it like to be a woman in tech?
Being a woman in technology means being surrounded by amazing technology and crazy smart and ambitious people all the time. Being a technical woman means being able to join in on the fun and building things for people as a path toward making their lives better.
Despite everything, do you feel you can be yourself?
Yes.
What are the challenges of being a woman in the tech industry?
A gender stereotype is a generalized view on the roles performed by women or man. A gender stereotype is harmful when it limits women’s and men’s capacity to develop their personal abilities, pursue their professional careers. Despite that situation is changing to a better situation as a gender, women are still underrepresented, underpaid, and often discriminated against in the tech industry, especially in developing countries. We can check the student numbers and diversity in the Universities and compare the social science and tech specialties. The result will show the clear picture.
Diversity is critical to IT performance. Diverse teams perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged members.
How do you deal with such situations?
I am always trying to involve more women in a team where I am a lead.
“Diversity is essential to the success of the technology industry […]”
Daiva Tamulioniene
How has the tech industry changed for women since you started?
The history of women in technology is complex. Yet, despite their many contributions in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, the lack of female representation in technology still remains significant. But, overall, we have many stories about women whose amazing skills, innovative thinking and tenacity helped to shape our modern world.
How can men, and those in privileged positions, become better allies to their marginalized co-workers?
Show genuine curiosity and compassion about the lives and work of your team members and colleagues. Build relationships with them so you can better collaborate together and advocate for each other.
What do you think is the best thing about being a woman in tech?
Seeing other women thrive, excel and live their dreams doing meaningful work that they love should help serve as encouragement to others and further the fight for equality and equity.
IT is a highly flexible and modern industry, where things such as flexible hours, remote work and home office are not rare. The challenges of the tech career are interesting.
What advice do you still follow today?
Don’t assume that you know everything – never close the door to learning.
What are you most afraid of?
Hmm…to lose control over the most important thing we have – Life.
What message would you like to give to women or girls who are interested in technology?
Don’t give up and do not be afraid! Never stop learning. Technology is a field that is constantly evolving and offers plenty of opportunities for growth, innovation and creativity. Don’t let stereotypes hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Diversity is essential to the success of the technology industry, and your unique perspectives and experience can bring valuable contribution to the field.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed our first interview! Do you have any questions or comments? Then feel free to contact me directly at marketing@inwx.de. I look forward to your feedback! And if you are also a woman in tech and interested in participating in our interview series, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn for a first preliminary conversation.
Did you like this article? Then I would be happy if you support me by sharing this article. You can learn more about the topic of women in tech in my article “Why is the topic “Women in Tech” important?“.