Anna Triebel joined Spread Group as a software developer at the end of last year. She works in the Order Management Team, a team of 10 developers and product owners, covering everything about processing orders and payments. After her childhood dream of becoming an ice cream tester, her studies in philosophy and her first programming experiences in her spare time, Anna finally ended up studying computer science.
We had a chat with Anna and talked on the occasion of International Day of Women in Science, her career, and the challenges that come with working in IT. She’s also sharing a few hot tips for women who want to start programming.
Hi Anna! What do you do at Spread Group?
Anna: I’ve been a software developer in Order Management for four months now. We mainly take care of the software components for order and payment processing. I’m currently working on the topic of fraud detection. The goal here is to use technology to detect “suspicious orders”, for example orders with stolen credit cards.
What convinced you to choose your job at Spread Group?
Anna: Two factors were decisive here. I liked both the tech stack and the corporate philosophy. The technology sparked my interest, and the atmosphere in the workplace struck me as quite relaxed. There’s no dress code and I can flexibly arrange my working hours. Straight away I had the feeling that Spread Group could offer me an environment in which I would feel comfortable – and it worked out!
Was there anything that stood out during the application process?
Anna: What I really appreciated was the frank and very open way of dealing with people. I felt that they had an open ear for my expectations and respected me as a person. I had to solve a programming task that gave me a fair idea of what was required. Good stuff! I was also able to meet my future team to discuss the task. This helped me meet my colleagues, and I got a good impression of their personalities. Then we had lunch together, and I felt right at home.
Have you always wanted to work in IT or software development?
Anna: When I was a child, I wanted to be an ice cream tester (laughs). I saw it on a TV program for kids and was immediately sold. And then I started out studying two quite different subjects, philosophy and IT. The latter won in the end, and I realized that those two subjects were not too different all together, as they’re about abstract concepts described in text form.
Are there any obstacles that make a difference for women in IT?
Anna: Unfortunately, women are still underrepresented in IT. Having said that, the proportion of women keeps fortunately increasing. I personally like diverse teams with different personalities, regardless of gender. But it would be nice to see a few more women in IT, at least this is how I felt in the early stages of my professional life. And women in leadership roles are very rare, which is something that I think could do with improving.
What advice would you give women looking for a career in IT?
Anna: Do whatever you like doing most. If you enjoy programming, go for it! Programming is no witchcraft. I also feel that my work environment is very empowering, regardless of gender. The support I receive is very important. So – don’t be afraid to get started and surround yourself with people who take your goals seriously and support you!
What talents do you need to be a software developer?
Anna: Motivation and a penchant for programming. It’s essential to understand abstract concepts, and to develop an ability to think like that. Teamwork and communication skills are also important, which is often underestimated. As a developer, you’ll need to be a good listener in order to understand the models. Then keep asking questions until it’s clear what you want to achieve. In the end, you’ll have programmed something that people will find beneficial. And that’s quite wonderful.
🚀 P.S.: We are currently looking for Software Engineers (f/md) Backend, Frontend, Fullstack – to learn more and apply check out our career page.
GET IN TOUCH
