You studied international business administration and now work as an IT consultant with us. That sounds like an exciting story.
Martina: I studied international business administration because I’ve always been fascinated by languages and business-related matters. In high school, I trained as a foreign-language correspondent, and during my studies, I spent some time in France to master the language properly. I then worked with teams from different countries in a market research company as the team leader. At the same time, I am also very familiar with the working culture in German-speaking companies.
In one of these companies, I tested a newly introduced ERP system as a key user from the sales department. That’s when I realized how often user departments and IT talk at cross purposes. My employer at the time lacked defined processes, rules, and responsibilities. Coming from an environment with transparent processes, I asked a lot of questions, questioned routines, and began structuring and documenting things.
Eventually, I switched to the internal IT department. As a consultant there, I was responsible for recording requirements and managing expectations, and felt like a mediator between the stakeholders. At the same time, I supported rollouts, worked in 1st-level support, and conducted training sessions.
Now to Arineo: what does a typical working day look like for you?
Martina: I manage a small number of complex projects, which means I work with many very different people from our client companies. A large part of my job is “people work” (laughs). To understand what clients really need, I have to understand their challenges and requirements. So I listen actively and try to read between the lines. During software changes, I often encounter fears. For example, concerns about automation and, therefore, changes in their jobs, or even job losses. Then it takes tact to find the right approach for successful collaboration and project delivery.
Operationally, this means that I moderate workshops, prioritize the backlog, translate business requirements into IT language and vice versa, and ensure clear decisions and documentation. Resistance is part of the daily work. With time and experience, I can often identify and address them early and constructively. This requires flexibility, self-reflection, boundaries, and sometimes thick skin.
What helps me a lot at Arineo in my role as an IT consultant is that I can always approach colleagues from other areas, whether development or project management. The exchange is always straightforward, and all colleagues are very helpful.
How do you know that your work is having an impact?
Martina: We divide the project work into four-week working phases called sprints. At the end of each sprint, clients are presented with new features and developments in their system across all departments. I am particularly pleased when added value is created from previously defined requirements in the system. It’s also great to see users becoming increasingly confident with the software as the project progresses.
Looking back, the time right after switching from sales to internal IT was also particularly impactful. There, I established processes, introduced standards, and documented lessons learned. The result was more efficient workflows, fewer friction points, and better cooperation between the user departments and IT.
Women in IT – what opportunities do you see, what obstacles do you face?
Martina: From my point of view, the image of IT, i.e., what people generally imagine the work to be, is a real hurdle: many people associate IT solely with technology. Of course, you need technical and analytical understanding, but the job involves a great deal of collaboration and communication, which brings us back to languages (winks). After all, in my daily work, I realize how important it is to translate clients’ requirements for our developers – and vice versa.
Bliv en del af holdet. Reformer din karriere.
Lyder vi som et godt match? å send os din ansøgning i dag! Vi ser frem til at høre mere om dig og dine kvalifikationer.
Speaking of balance, which Arineo benefits help you balance family and career particularly well?
Martina: Balancing work and family is very important to me. After the birth of my twins, I wanted to return to work quickly and get back to full-time as soon as possible. That was also the decisive factor for my move to Arineo. As a mother of primary-school-age twins, the high proportion of remote work and the ability to manage my time myself are key to being successful as a consultant, allowing me to meet my responsibilities as a consultant and a mother. If the children suddenly fall ill or school appointments come up, I can structure my work so that both fit together well. That was another reason for my switch to Arineo: less travel time and no “mandatory office days.” When I go to the office, it’s intentional – to meet colleagues, exchange ideas, or work with them on shared topics.
What skills are valuable for your work as an IT consultant?
Martina: Willingness to change and curiosity are, in my view, essential skills for being successful and fulfilled in IT. And my enthusiasm for efficient processes also contributes to this. Add to that a love of communication, stamina for long projects, and a good dose of tenacity. Patience, self-reflection, and the ability to set boundaries are also necessary. Sometimes I’m a counselor, sometimes a teacher, sometimes a lightning rod. This mix is what makes my work so exciting and varied.
