'As a Woman in IT' with Dr. Daniela Schilling on the KommtVorZone Podcast with Sophia Herrmann
How do you run a company in an industry that consists almost entirely of men?
Dr. Daniela Schilling, CEO of Delta Software Technology, was a guest on Sophia Herrmann's show. She shared her journey from studying computer science to leading a family business, talked about her experiences as a woman in IT and what has shaped her in her role as a leader.
This episode focused on how a woman found her place in a rare yet essential niche within IT while simultaneously taking on a leadership role in a male-dominated field. At the same time, this episode shows that IT has much less to do with the taciturn nerd in a hoodie than Hollywood movies would make us believe.
The discussion also touched on why good leadership - especially in complex fields - requires not only technical expertise but, above all - particularly in IT - communication skills. The focus was on female leadership, role models, the next generation and the question of how job profiles and role models must change so that more women can find their place in technical professions and leadership roles.
“Why are YOU, as a woman, studying computer science?” - a question that still hasn’t gone away.
Her doctoral advisor told her she no longer needed to learn the COBOL language because it was becoming obsolete. Today, she makes her living with it.
She ignored the male voices and forged her own path. Today, many years later, she has long been firmly established as a member of the executive board at an IT company that manages an extremely sensitive infrastructure essential to our daily lives. “If you can’t see my work, then everything’s fine!”
An episode about modern leadership, women’s presence in a male-dominated field, and the courage to take on responsibility in your own way.
It’s worth a listen - even for men!
