From Intern to Mentor
Ana, a computer engineer at Xebia, believes that encouraging girls from a young age to explore STEM programs will be vital in changing the future of tech.
Her own journey in technology is a story of overcoming challenges and finding ways to empower others. From an intern battling imposter syndrome to now speaking to students and mentoring incoming interns, Ana has become a formidable force in the tech world and her community.
Finding her Passion
Ana was born to two doctors in Huelva, a city in the Southern region of Spain. Her early childhood years were spent running around the house in a lab coat, playing with stethoscopes, and learning everything she could about the human body. As a child surrounded by the medical world, it looked likely she would follow in her parents’ footsteps and pursue a career in the field.
Ana spent a lot of time at her parents’ medical practice as a young child and would often pass the time playing Pinball and using MS Paint on the office computer. Despite only using the computer at a basic level, she remembers helping teachers fix their frozen screens with a quick tap on the keys at the early age of six. When Ana was eight, her parents bought her a PC, and soon after, she was connected to the world via dial-up internet. She had no idea it would soon change the trajectory of her life. As her curiosity ignited, her dreams of being a doctor soon dissipated.
With one click, she had access to tutorials on every subject imaginable, feeding her insatiable appetite for learning new things. “That’s how I started building simple HTML websites,” Ana recalls. “For example, I built a website dedicated to the magical world of Harry Potter, one of my passions at the time.” With her technical interest growing, Ana wanted to understand how the machines that made her feel like she could do anything worked. That’s when she decided to explore an education in computer science.
Adventures in STEM Education
While Ana was raised in Huelva, her heart belonged to another Andalusian city, Cádiz, or as the locals call it, Cad-Cadi. The old port town is a charming cluster of winding streets, ancient fortifications, and sandy beaches as far as the eye can see. With a large percentage of her family living in what’s known as the oldest still inhabited city in Western Europe, Ana spent a significant period of her life visiting and knew it would become a pivotal place in her life.
As she progressed on her educational journey, Ana hit a roadblock. She was finding mathematics and science-based subjects were becoming increasingly challenging for her.
“I started to believe that maybe engineering wasn’t for me, that I had aimed too high.”
However, in the face of rising doubts, Ana found herself surrounded by an immense support system. “My parents always told me to pursue what I wanted, that with effort and determination, I would succeed,” Ana remembers. “I also had wonderful teachers who knew about my passion for the technical world and helped squash any doubts I had about my abilities.” This encouragement played a crucial role in helping Ana overcome her self-doubt and continue pursuing her dreams.
With a renewed sense of vigor, Ana applied for and was accepted to the University of Cádiz’s School of Engineering. It was here that she began her commitment to building and nurturing community, actively organizing local Meetups and conferences through the Student Representation Committee.
In the summer of 2018, Ana received an Erasmus+ Internship in Lisbon, Portugal, where she was able to apply her academic knowledge to real-world projects. Over three months, she began to gain confidence that she could truly navigate the professional world and helped start an innovation project for a company to leverage their data and venture into the field of Machine Learning and Big Data. It’s a project she is still proud of to this day.
While her international internship molded a path for her future, it was her second internship in 2019 that really propelled her forward. Ana was introduced to 47 Degrees, later to become part of Xebia, through “Univergem,” a scholarship program aimed at empowering female university students to enter the professional STEM world. After six months, she was hired into a full-time role at the company and has been at Xebia ever since.
Life at Xebia
Working at Xebia is a rewarding experience for Ana, and the versatility of projects helps keep her mind sharp. There is never a shortage of things to learn across different domains, and she finds engaging and collaborating with clients from various backgrounds and cultures to provide solutions and enhancements fascinating.
Xebia’s values are also key to Ana’s work satisfaction. From ‘Sharing Knowledge’ aligning with her commitment to continuous learning to putting ‘People First’ and focusing on improving diversity and inclusion in tech.
“I appreciate a company that contributes to the community and find it fulfilling to work for one that shares my values of equality, diversity, and inclusion.”
In addition to her work on client projects, Ana has spent time mentoring new team members and colleagues on specific topics, as well as mentoring interns going through their higher education programs. She’s also returned to her former university to speak to current students on her tech journey. “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience because it’s my way of giving back some of what I have received here at Xebia to new generations,” Ana says. “I want them to benefit from the experience as much as I did and find it interesting.”
Resilience is Key to Success
Ana credits her success to staying resilient and driven, even when feeling unsure of herself or fearful. “I’m always eager to take on new challenges and push beyond my comfort zone. I consistently strive to achieve what I set out to do.”
Being proactive has allowed her to engage in a variety of projects that have enriched her versatile skill set, social abilities, and organizational prowess. These core attributes and surrounding herself with supportive individuals who nurture and inspire her, are vital. She finds motivation from the community around her and values connecting with women in the IT sector on social media platforms like X. “I view challenges as opportunities for personal growth and remain resilient in the face of setbacks,” she states.
A Mission to Empower the Next Generation
Ana is also passionate about empowering other women in tech. “Over time, I’ve come to realize that many girls and young women lose interest in STEM fields at early ages. I believe this is a challenge we need to address in education,” she says. She advocates for creating a supportive and inclusive environment in educational institutions and workplaces to empower women to thrive in STEM disciplines. “It’s crucial to implement initiatives that inspire and support girls’ interest in STEM subjects from a young age, providing them with the resources, encouragement, and mentorship they need to pursue careers in these fields,” she explains.
Ana emphasizes the importance of safe spaces where respect and equality prevail. She recognizes the need to support and encourage women, advocating for equal opportunities and providing mentorship and role models. “We must offer support and encouragement in their pursuits, advocate for equal opportunities across all fields, and continue providing mentorship and role models,” she adds. And while progress is slow, Ana has seen a beacon of hope.
“It’s exciting to see how many girls and women are getting more and more involved in the IT industry, where we can create real impact in the real world. Like Bob Dylan said, ‘For the times they are a-changin.‘”
Stay tuned for more profiles on the amazing people behind Xebia.