Stories from women in tech »
Stories from women in tech »
In this series of interviews, we publish stories of inspiring women in the tech sector.
These amazing people all have a unique path and their own definition of passion and impact. Our goal is to inspire you to go for your goals and dreams, no matter how ambitious, average or different. We hope to show you that the tech sector can be a perfect path for women who want to make an impact on the world.
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Every story here started with one person or company deciding to do things differently.
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Tinne Mertens
As a child, Tinne Mertens pictured herself later working in accounting. She never expected to end up in IT. Today she works as a functional analyst on Kate Coin at KBC, where she moves daily between business, technology and end users. What began as a chance encounter with programming grew into a job where she found exactly the combination that suits her: technology, collaboration and helping people move forward.
Dorien Bauwens
Talk to Dorien Bauwens, and it quickly becomes clear that technology has never been a goal in itself for her, but rather about what you can make possible with it. How you bring people together. How you get organizations to collaborate. And above all: how you create societal impact. At Athumi, she is helping build ecosystems that let governments and companies share data securely. A career that might look logical when you see her at work today, but all began with... a history degree.
Lotte Hermans
Lotte Hermans studied geology, later earned a master’s degree in economics, and found her way into the IT sector through a job fair. Today, she works as an SAP Consultant at Flexso Digital, where she builds applications for clients and thrives on the variety her role offers. Her journey is one of following curiosity, trying new things, and continuously reinventing herself.
Lara van Cotthem
When Lara Van Cotthem talks about her work, her passion is contagious. At just 26, she’s already leading a team of software architects at Telenet group. But her journey didn’t begin in a boardroom, it started with a colourful Macintosh, parents in tech, and a lifelong love of building, gaming, and pushing herself.
Katharina Graf
From protecting your time and energy to asserting personal limits, we often hear about the benefits of learning how to say ‘no’. But what about the advantages of saying ‘yes’? Meet Katharina Graf, Senior Supply Chain Consultant at OMP, and discover how saying yes to new experiences and challenges has shaped her life.
Ellen Schellekens
When Ellen Schellekens speaks about her job at KBC, one thing becomes instantly clear: she’s someone who loves to build — and never stops learning. From cobbling together her first websites as a curious teen to leading infrastructure projects for KBC, Ellen’s path is driven by quiet confidence, hands-on growth, and a touch of childhood wonder.
Núria Carreras Parera
When you ask Núria Carreras Parera how she got to where she is today — Service Delivery Manager at Telenet group — she won’t give you a conventional answer. Her journey spans multiple countries, academic achievements, personal challenges, and a deep-rooted belief in honesty, respect and growth. It’s a path marked by quiet strength, fierce determination and a deep love for people.
Enora Almeida
Support from a mentor at the right time can make all the difference. Meet Enora Almeida, a Supply Chain Consultant at OMP, who is now giving back by inspiring more girls and young women to pursue engineering. Curious to know how she’s making an impact? Read on to discover her story.
bloom: Lobna Sabri
Lobna Sabri impresses with her perseverance and authentic approach. As young talent at Flexso, she has found a path in which she breaks preconceptions and inspires others.
bloom: Arianne Sanders
No matter how far your career path seems to be from technology, sometimes life unexpectedly takes you exactly where you are supposed to be. The story of Arianne Sanders of Colruyt Group is a perfect example....
bloom: Figen Kirkgoz
Figen's story did not start in Belgium, but with her Turkish roots. She proves that passion and drive have no limits, especially with her role as an IT trainee at KBC. Her tip for getting started in tech? "You don't have to have the perfect education or already know everything about tech."
bloom: Silvia Núñez Patiño
Support from the right person at the right time can put you on a new path and completely change your future – something that Silvia Núñez Patiño knows all about. Silvia came to Belgium from her native Spain for a short, 5-month traineeship. 15 years later, she’s still enjoying life in the heart of Europe at Telenet group.
bloom: Liesbeth Verachtert
From not knowing what to study, to IT, to marketing and back again: Liesbeth's story is proof of continuous growth, despite doubt. And of the fact that you don't have to be a genius at math to be a successful developer. We asked her if she thinks coincidence exists. "Who knows?" she answers. What is certain, however, is that an "accidental" gift sparked Liesbeth's interest in IT....
bloom: Sylvia Maeckelberghe
The world of technology is known for its dynamism and constant evolution. But what if your path does not lead directly from a technical background to a tech career? The story of Sylvia Maeckelberghe, Quality Assurance manager at Telenet, offers an inspiring insight into how passion, eagerness to learn and flexibility led to a blossoming career. 🦺 🖥️ 💪🏽
bloom: Marlies Claeyssens
Where some women only lose their hearts to tech later in life, for Marlies Claeyssens it was clear from childhood: she would stick her hands in cables! As Network and Security Engineer and recently Product Owner Network Security at KBC, that's exactly what she does! "For me, things can be a little exciting." 🦾🖥️🔌
bloom: Melissa Franklin
If you work in tech, is it enough to be passionate about IT? Or is the enthusiasm of those around us part of it, too? For Melissa Franklin, Program Manager at OMP, you don't even have to ask. She loves how she combines her analytical and people skills in tech. 👩🏾💻🔥🙌🏾
bloom: Gerline Gheysens
Life goes fast for Gerline Gheysens. After her master's degree in commercial engineering in policy information technology, she immediately joined Flexso in 2020, where she quickly developed into a project manager and functional consultant. Yes indeed: Gerline wears two hats in her job. "I want to be the link between two worlds."
bloom: Soizic Launay
It doesn’t matter where you start, all roads can lead to tech. Don’t believe us? Meet Soizic Launay, and you’ll quickly change your mind. From studying molecular biology, Soizic is now a Senior Quality Assurance Test Manager for OMP, a supply chain software company. Curious how she made the change? Keep reading to find out.
bloom: Krystyna Cichon
19 years ago, at the age of 21, Poland's Krystyna Anna Cichon set foot on Dutch soil for the first time. The language? She didn't speak it. But neither that nor the illness that would strike her would stop her from making the most of it. Privately and professionally. Flexso's business analyst looks back and ahead: "Actually, in my life I have already achieved everything I dreamed of as a child."
bloom: Jie Wu
It’s not easy to uproot yourself and move halfway around the world to live, study and work in a new language, culture and country 🌏. But that's what Jie Wu did when she moved from China to Belgium. 20 years later, Jie is still based in Belgium, combining the best of both worlds as Team Manager for OMP China. Want to find out how she does it? Keep on reading.