On March 23, 2023, Women in Big Data Berlin chapter hosted an after-work event in the SAP office in Berlin entitled ‘The journey into the future: data-driven companies and required skills.’ The event, which was also sponsored by AWS, attracted over attendees, primarily women interested in pursuing careers in data-related fields, but also including men who demonstrated their support for greater diversity in the tech industry.

The evening began with networking, where attendees got to know each other over food and drinks. It was an excellent opportunity for people to meet new faces and expand their professional network.

Dr. Katarzyna Stoltmann and Aliya Boranbayeva, leaders of Women in Big Data Berlin, kicked off the event introducing the mission of Women in Big Data, which is to increase diversity in the industry by promoting and supporting the education, growth, and progression of women in big data careers. Founded in Berlin in 2022, this local chapter has since grown into a thriving community of over 500 members!

 Tina Rosario, Chief Data Officer Europe at SAP, delivered a keynote on ‘Becoming a data-minded organization.’ Her talk emphasized the significance of data-driven decision-making and provided practical examples for organizations seeking to become more data-centric. Attendees found the talk highly insightful and appreciated Tina’s expertise in the field

The next speaker, Nahia Orduna, the Senior Manager Solutions Architecture at AWS, discussed sustainability careers in technology and how to prepare for them, while also highlighting sustainability initiatives in the cloud. The talk included a case study of how SAP and AWS have partnered to make their cloud services more environmentally friendly, demonstrating how companies can collaborate to address pressing environmental challenges while still delivering value to customers.

The final speakers, Ilona Ryvkin, Software Architect for Legal Compliance Automation at SAP and Yvonne Baierl, SAP, IT Data & Analytics Senior Specialist at SAP, talked about ‘How we, as BWN Global Analytics Co-Directors, leverage the SAP Business Women’s Network data and SAP technologies to drive impact’. This talk explored the importance of using data to drive diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace. It was inspiring to hear how data can be used to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The event wrapped up with a final round of networking, where attendees continued to connect and shared their experiences in the industry. It was a great opportunity for people to learn from one another and build relationships that could lead to future collaborations.

Overall, the event was a huge success, with attendees leaving feeling energized and motivated.  It was clear that there is a growing interest in this field, and attendees were excited to hear about future events and initiatives. One of our attendees mentioned how she enjoyed connecting, sharing ideas, and learning from one another. The collaboration between Women in Big Data, SAP and AWS was a great example of how different organizations can come together to promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, and there will be more events in other cities coming soon. 

Kudos to Women in Big Data Berlin for the great organization!