0.1 women-techmakers-2026 2026-03-14 2026-03-14 1 00:05 https://speaker.at https://speaker.at/media/women-techmakers-2026/img/logo_aAQiaTb.png Europe/Vienna Main Room Talk 2026-03-14T12:00:00+01:00 12:00 00:30 I entered tech through sociological conflict research, discovering quickly that technology succeeds only when its social realities are understood. From fieldwork in Tanzania to robotics research at KUKA, my path breaks conventional patterns—showing how interdisciplinary, human centered perspectives reshape the traditional manufacturing sector and make technology truly meaningful. women-techmakers-2026-147-when-technologies-meet-social-reality-from-sociology-to-robotics Career Pathways Jenny Huch en My path into the tech industry began eight years ago in sociological conflict research. Early on, I learned to understand innovations as social events. To complement my theoretical knowledge with practical insights, I joined a project with a tanzanian NGO and realized how strongly the success of technological solutions depends on social realities. This pattern of thinking about technology without a social perspective, was one I wanted to break. It set me on an unconventional path; from social science research into the high‑tech industry. I transitioned into robotics research, where I deepened my work on the social implications of robotics and gained specific methodological tools. Today, as a UX Researcher at KUKA, I shape human‑robot interaction in a socially responsible and practice‑oriented way. My journey shows how interdisciplinary thinking can break entrenched patterns—and why technology only works when we consider the user’s reality. false https://speaker.at/women-techmakers-2026/talk/MBEQZ3/ https://speaker.at/women-techmakers-2026/talk/MBEQZ3/feedback/ Main Room Talk 2026-03-14T12:30:00+01:00 12:30 00:30 A non-linear career path into information security and shows why changing direction is not a weakness but can become a real strength in practice. By drawing on experience across HR, operations, and process management, it highlights how diverse backgrounds help build security solutions that work in real organizations. women-techmakers-2026-155-information-security-entered-by-chance-stayed-by-choice Career Pathways Barbara Meixner en I did not plan a career in tech or information security. After my Matura, I studied tourism management and worked in restaurants and event settings before realizing that working weekends and holidays did not align with my understanding of work–life balance. My career path is deliberately non-linear. I moved through Property Management, Human Relations, Business Operations, Process Management, and Risk Management before information security became part of my role. Each step added perspective and helped me better understand the daily challenges of different teams. When information security and ISO 27001 certification became a concrete business requirement in a highly regulated environment, there was no internal expertise available. I stepped up, took responsibility, and grew into the role while building the necessary structures and knowledge. I entered information security by chance, fell in love with its diverse scope, and stayed by choice. false https://speaker.at/women-techmakers-2026/talk/BAVFNK/ https://speaker.at/women-techmakers-2026/talk/BAVFNK/feedback/ Main Room Talk 2026-03-14T13:00:00+01:00 13:00 00:30 This talk demonstrates how to identify one's own individual unique value proposition by aligning skills, lived experience, values&passions into a coherent system. Using my own journey as a case study, I offer practical framework to design a sustainable, meaningful career or venture rooted in true founder–market-fit. women-techmakers-2026-157-how-to-find-your-individual-unique-value-proposition Career Pathways Mariebeth Aquino en Thistalk shows how individuals can identify and build from a deep, authentic alignment between their unique skills, lived experiences, values, passions, and their emerging future. Using my own life as a case study — from being a shy, insecure computer science student to a self-confident founder thriving within consciously designed support systems building a social impact startup against all odds. I illustrate how personal history, constraints, &non-linear paths can become powerful strategic advantages. Today, I’m building a highly scalable social impact venture that challenges traditional profit-first logic of capitalism. The audience will learn how to design a life rooted in their individual unique value proposition, purpose, and reason for being — creating work that only they can do - more sustainable and meaningful. Participants will leave with a practical framework: 1) analyzing their own systems 2) projecting emerging futures, 3) consciously designing systems to “what only they can do” false https://speaker.at/women-techmakers-2026/talk/HCMKRY/ https://speaker.at/women-techmakers-2026/talk/HCMKRY/feedback/