Every month we ask one individual in our network a few questions about their way into tech, their motivation and their lessons learned.
Let’s start from the beginning. Tell us about where you’re from!
I was born and grew up in Albania. In 2002 I migrated to Germany. After studying Graphic Design in Hamburg, I started my career as an Art Director and Illustrator for zitty magazine in Berlin. After spending a year in beautiful Vienna, I moved to Zurich city, and I’ve been working in the Swiss tech and media industry for almost 10 years now. Currently, I support the HIT Foundation with its UX & Business Development. The HIT Foundation enables individuals to control access to their health data via Blockchain, and get a fair reward when the data is used for medical research purposes. In my free time, I like to fly FPV, read books and go for a swim in Limmat.
What valuable advice did you get from your parents?
Coming from Albania, I experienced one of the hardest dictatorships in Europe. We didn’t have much, but isolation didn’t stop my hunger for acquiring new knowledge. My parents loved to read books to us — books teaching us to stay humble, be hardworking and to never stop believing in better days.
How did you become interested in tech?
I believe that the best products are very similar to love. The smartphone economy had a big impact on my decision to focus on tech. Finding inspiration in Apps that I use daily, i.e., Google Maps or Youtube drives me to design seamless experiences that customers love.
What aspects of your work are you proudest of?
In my current job, I’m working on enabling users to gain value out of Blockchain systems, without requiring knowledge of DLT & cryptocurrencies. Simplifying the user experience is a crucial part, for the widespread adoptability of Blockchain platforms. Working in a very disruptive environment, I think it’s key to focus on a human-centric approach and feedback-driven development in short iterations. I’m proud when I’m learning from my network and having those “Aha!” moments that connect the dots and challenge my world perspective. I highly appreciate learning from various people globally, about tech, business and design on a daily basis. I’m grateful that I can benefit from shared knowledge.
What drives you at work?
The future excites me. The fact that there is so much to learn drives me to question myself and challenge the status quo. As a Blockchain enthusiast, I believe in a decentralised ecosystem, powered by trust and transparency. My mission is to support startups on their journey to a repeatable, scalable and profitable business model.
What has been your toughest challenge you faced while working in tech?
What advice would you give other women in tech?
BELIEVE YOU CAN!
With a big thank you to Catherine Ebneter for her support in proofreading!
