Leading as a woman in tech

“My dad had always warned me that becoming an engineer would not be easy for a woman in Brazil. He turned out to be right. My first job brought me to Sao Paolo, where I worked for the biggest food delivery company in South America. Being the only female developer in a group of 120 men, I had to deal with various forms of harassment, prejudice and constant doubts about my abilities.” Instead of quitting, Raíssa took action and formed a women in tech movement, bringing together fellow women to support each other, speak up and create awareness. “When I left that company, we were up to five female developers and that number was steadily increasing.”

After being recruited, Raíssa left her job, her family and her whole life in Brazil to work as a software engineer at bol.com. “I had never set foot in Europe and couldn’t imagine living in a small city like Utrecht. Understanding my doubts, bol.com arranged for me to come over and get to know the team, the city and the workplace. That trip changed everything.” Raíssa met Nathalie, a remarkable female tech leader at bol.com. “Nathalie was brilliant, strong and yet so feminine. It was a revelation for me because, back in Brazil, I had never encountered a female leader to admire and look up to. Her presence and abilities inspired me beyond measure. At that moment, I knew that this was the path I wanted for myself.”

So what is it like, turning your world upside down to live and work in a new country? Raíssa admits: “It definitely was a struggle at first. Dutch people are known for their directness, and I found it hard not to take everything personally. But after sharing my concerns with my manager, bol.com provided coaching and organized cultural training for me and the team. It made a world of difference, and I started to thrive in my role as a software engineer.”

She continues, “After the training, I took on a new project called Cadeau Sparen, where I built everything from the ground up. Creating and leading something from scratch really made my heart tic and as I grew more comfortable in my role, I began taking more initiative. When we successfully completed the project, bol.com recognized my efforts and promoted me to team lead.”

After spending five years at bol.com, Raíssa now feels deeply ingrained in the company culture. “I love the spirit of bol.com. Everybody is encouraged to take risks, try new things and learn from mistakes. We all help each other out, and it feels safe to be vulnerable here which is incredibly valuable.” Raíssa also acknowledges that there still remains work to be done in terms of workplace equality. “So far, the number of women applying for tech roles continues to be disappointingly small. As a result, the so-called ‘man’s world’ is able to persist, a world that can include a lack of understanding and a biased vision. My dream is that one day there will be equal numbers of men and women thriving, allowing all women to have role models to look up to and learn from.”

True to her nature, Raíssa isn’t one to sit back and watch. Just as she did in Brazil, she is taking action. “I started a group for women in tech at bol.com a few years ago, organizing meetups and addressing important matters with recruiters and team leads. I now also mentor women on the side and recently had the honour of giving a workshop at the 2023 Women in Tech conference. It feels really good to support other women who are aspiring to grow in their careers. It’s my way of giving back to those who have helped and supported me to get me to where I am today.”