Women in STEM: Shaping the Future of Innovation
- laura82540
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
BIPED proudly showcases its latest addition to the WOMEN in STEM series! This time, we introduce you to Iben Uldahl Søndergård, Project Manager at the City of Aarhus.
Please share a short biography
Project Manager at ITK Aarhus Municipality with a Bachelor's degree in Digital Concept Development. I am outgoing and socially active. I am a gymnastics coach, and I also participate in gymnastics myself. I have a family with a husband, two daughters, and a dog, and we live in Mårslet, Aarhus.
Please provide a short overview of your job and its relation to STEM. What is your current job? What is the field about?
I work as a project manager on projects related to digital twins. In our area, we also focus on other emerging technologies, particularly those that enhance digital citizen engagement and accessibility.
Who or what inspired you to follow this career path / start this job?
I have always had an interest in technology and have continuously taken advantage of opportunities as they arose, which has led me to where I am today.
What does your typical working day look like?
My workday involves a lot of time spent writing emails to partners and other collaborators. I hold numerous meetings where I engage in dialogue and manage projects, ensuring our solutions are always up to standard. A significant part of my role is constantly prioritizing my tasks.
Please give an overview of your study path and how you got into this career. If you could start all over again, how you would change the career path? Has there been an educational experience (formal/informal/traineeship/...) that helped you? Did your colleagues follow similar study and career paths?
Originally, I worked as a buyer in the clothing industry, but I was always intrigued by the work done in our marketing and IT departments. This curiosity led me to observe their work more closely. Eventually, I decided to resign from my job and pursue further studies as an adult.
Initially, I studied design, and after graduating, I secured a job through an internship connected to my studies. This experience helped me see the possibilities within the technology field and inspired me to continue my education and take additional courses. The company where I did my internship, ITK, supported my further education, and today, I find myself in a career I wouldn't have imagined ten years ago, simply by taking chances as they came.
What are the professional & personal key skills needed to do your job?
Social skills: It is crucial to be able to bring people together in projects.
Presentation skills: When working with new technologies, we must be able to present them in a way that is understandable to various user groups.
Flexibility: We need to constantly adapt to changing tasks.
Delegating tasks: Almost all of my tasks are interesting, but I can't do everything myself. Therefore, it is important to be able to delegate.
What types of jobs & industry sectors can you work in, with your skills?
I believe that the technological knowledge I have acquired can be applied in any industry. Regardless of the sector, there is always a need to explore technological opportunities and optimize processes. Therefore, I see potential in all industries for future career opportunities.
What are the main challenges in your job?
As a project manager handling large projects, prioritizing tasks can be a significant challenge. There are always many tasks to tackle, but not enough time for everything, so prioritizing the most important tasks is crucial. Additionally, working with budgets in technology can be difficult. Much of the technology we work with is very new, so we often have no idea how long development will take, yet we are still required to create budgets.
What is your advice to students?
Take chances. Follow your instincts. Don't be afraid to sometimes go in a different direction than you initially envisioned. You might take a job that isn't your dream job, but it can still lead to something else. Always stand by your own beliefs, and even though you are young, you can have valuable insights that others can learn from.
How can teachers and parents support their students / children?
It's always important to be a good role model. Children and young people don't always listen to what we say, but they do observe what we do. It's also crucial to understand that they belong to a different generation and think differently. We need to practice putting ourselves in their shoes and not just rely on our own experiences.
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