Women of Aviation - Katharina Kaltenbrunner

Interview    /    March 16, 2022

Katharina Kaltenbrunner, software developer at ASQS, tells us about her journey into tech and shares her experiences and thoughts of being a woman in the IT world.

  • Hi Katharina! What it is that you do and what does a typical day look like for you?
    I am a software developer – I am part of the team that programs the software for our company. In the morning I take a look at the bug list and fix one or two bugs, and then I work on new features for our safety management solution. When we learn new technologies, we often code in pairs, which means we connect via internet call and program together. Every two weeks we have development meetings where we set the tasks we need to work on.

  • How did you get into tech/IT?
    After school I started to study French, but I never really got the hang of it. By accident, I discovered a small programming tutorial and I immediately loved it. Then I thought I’d give it a try and enrolled in the Bachelor’s program in Information Technologies, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Three years ago, I graduated with a Master’s degree, and started working at ASQS
  • What do you love the most about your job?
    Programming is the most amazing job ever – I love to work with computers and it’s also mentally challenging. But almost more importantly, the atmosphere here at ASQS is really comfortable and I couldn’t wish for nicer colleagues.

  • What do you believe are the biggest challenges for women in the tech industry
    In my opinion, the only challenge is getting in your own way and thinking you can’t do anything technical just because you’re a woman. These are outdated thoughts and should never intimidate you or keep you from following your dreams.
  • Have you faced any barriers in your education/career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?
    Luckily, I was never treated differently just because I am a woman and I never let myself believe that I am not as good as everyone else just because of my gender.

Katharina Kaltenbrunner
Software Developer ASQS

”If you love doing something, just go for it and don’t be discouraged by the fact that it might be a male-dominated industry.”

Katharina Kaltenbrunner, Software Developer ASQS

Women in the Tech Industry

  • What do you believe are the biggest challenges for women in the tech industry?
    In my opinion, the only challenge is getting in your own way and thinking you can’t do anything technical just because you’re a woman. These are outdated thoughts and should never intimidate you or keep you from following your dreams.
  • Have you faced any barriers in your education/career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?
    Luckily, I was never treated differently just because I am a woman and I never let myself believe that I am not as good as everyone else just because of my gender.
  • You are the only female developer in our team. In your opinion, what additional value does a woman developer bring to a mostly-male team?
    To be honest, I don’t really notice that I’m the only female developer – I’m treated the same way as everyone else is and I also don’t want to be reduced to my gender. I think that everyone has their own qualities and strengths – some people are more organized than others, some have leader skills and are particularly resilient, others are perfect for working in teams. These are traits that can only be associated with a person’s character, not with a gender.
  • What advice would you give to women considering a career in the tech industry?
    Believe in yourself and don’t let others stand in the way of your dreams and passion. If you love doing something, just go for it and don’t be discouraged by the fact that it might be a male-dominated industry.