Maria Skjærven

From Childhood Project to Leading Figure in the IT Industry

Maria Skjærven's journey in the IT world began already as a child, where she programmed with her older brother. Today, she is a respected IT leader and former executive in the industry, and her story is a source of inspiration for girls and women considering a career in technology.

Maria Skjærven's passion for technology started at a young age, thanks to her older brother, who taught her to program. As a child, she made small games in Basic and Pascal and even developed a simple chatbot – a project that planted the seed of her fascination with the possibilities of technology.

"I programmed a chatbot where I had written all the sentences myself," says Maria. "It wasn't particularly clever, but it was exciting to see how technology could be used to create something that interacted with people. It really opened my eyes to what technology can be used for."

Education and previous career at TDC

After high school, Maria knew that technology would play a central role in her career. She considered becoming an engineer, but chose the cand.merc.dat programme at the School of Business, which combined business understanding with computer science.

"I've always been interested in how technology can be used to help people – it shouldn't just be technology for technology's sake," Maria explains. "I wanted to develop solutions that could make people more efficient or creative."

While still a student, Maria got a job as a backend developer at TDC. Here, she helped develop Opasia, one of the first Danish internet portals, as well as the systems that supported online orders of broadband. This work gave her practical experience and a deeper understanding of how websites and their underlying systems work.

"I primarily worked with backend solutions for websites and systems such as online broadband orders. It was exciting to be part of building something that was directly used by TDC's customers," says Maria.

From IT manager to supervisor and mentor

After several years in the IT industry, Maria became an IT manager in a larger company. Here she occasionally encountered challenges that can come with being a woman in a male-dominated world. When she took over responsibility for the server room, it was covered with posters with Page 9 girls, a culture that she quickly broke away from.

"I said, 'That's my server room, that. I don't want that!' And even though some people thought it was a bit tricky, the culture changed."

As a leader, Maria brought her own values with her. Among other things, she introduced the personality tests from the Enneagram to improve the team's collaboration and understanding of each other. This contributed to better communication and work culture, something that over time proved to be very useful.

"People are different, and by highlighting that, we could work better together. Some just want five points, and then they run away, while others need more detailed guidance," she explains.

Today, Maria actively works in networking and mentoring programs, helping young women navigate the IT industry and consider career opportunities in technology.

Building the future

Maria is a strong advocate for more women in the IT industry and sees it as a crucial part of the technological development of the future that both men and women help shape it.

She sees great potential in new technologies such as artificial intelligence and generative tools that make it easier for people without deep technical knowledge to create solutions. Maria believes that this can appeal to women who might otherwise be hesitant to throw themselves into hardcore programming. "You no longer have to be a code geek to work with technology. It's more about being able to ask the right questions so you can get the solutions you need. I think it will make IT more accessible to many women."

"It's no use that it's primarily men who are building the future we're all going to live in," she says, " that's why it's so important that more women apply to IT and contribute with their unique perspectives."

She sees great potential in new technologies such as artificial intelligence and generative tools that make it easier for people without deep technical knowledge to create solutions. Maria believes that this can appeal to women who might otherwise be hesitant to throw themselves into hardcore programming.

Mary's Advice to Young Women: Believe in Your Abilities

When Maria advises young women considering a career in IT, her message is clear: "Believe in your abilities and don't be afraid to step into a world that may still be dominated by men. We are needed. We are helping to build the future, and this is one of the places where we can make the biggest difference."

She also encourages people to apply for mentoring programs and networks where women can support each other on their journey through the IT industry. "There are many women out there who want to help. It's just a matter of reaching out."