- What’s your Nationality, where did you grow up and how old are you?

- I am Estonian, I grew up in Tallinn and I am 37 years old.

- Where did you study for the school and university?
- In Tallinn in a gymnasium, it was meant preschool for TTU. I went first to TTU but didn’t
graduate and then I went to IT college. I was studying network systems and intelligent
technology at TTU.
- Was you school or university program specialized in science, mathematics,
engineering and technology?
- So and so actually, I started at TTU before work, it was third year when i started work. It
took me 9.5 years to graduate. When I went to my first it job I was still studyig, but I think
knowledge came in practice.
- When and why did you become interested in STEM? [ask a and b if the interviewee
doesn’t mention them by herself, ask c in all respects]
- It was in high school. There were computers with terminals. From 10th grade, we were
having those classes. Also, my father had a laptop before that actually.
a. tell me more about the determinants that inspired your decision
b. What was your family’s/firends’ attitudes towards it?
- There were all the time supportive. My father always have been more technical so he
was very supportive.
c. did you face any negative factors while choosing to continue your career in the ICT
field?
- no
- What’s your current position and how long have you been working in this company?
- I have been working here 7,5 years, infrastructure engineer.

- Let’s talk about your first position in the ICT field in Estonia[the follow-up questions can
be asked if necessary]
a. What was your role and when did you start it?
- It was more than 10 years ago. They had major database crash and I was on one work
affair and I put my name for practice and they called me to fix data and I did it and
stayed there, application administrator.
b. How many women colleagues did you have in your department?
- I don’t remember. It was IT company, whole company was 40 people. It was quite
balanced. All of my bosses have been women.
c. What kind of barriers did you face in terms of self and career-wise development?
- Nothing, I can’t think any.
d. Were you paid less in comparison with male co-workers?
- I have no idea, maybe.
- d.1 if yes, what was the reason? [your experience level, existing gender
discrimination, etc]
-
- Now, let’s discuss your current position [ask the respondent to name the company, the
department, the position, additionally, the follow-up questions can be used if necessary]
a. When did you start it?
- 7.5 years ago
b. How many women colleagues do you have in your department?
- At the moment, besides the boss, I am the only woman. But yeah we are 2 out of 12.
c. What kind of barriers do you face in terms of self and career-wise development?
- No
d. Are you paid less in comparison with male co-workers?
- I think maybe it can be, because when you stay in the same company you don’t ask
more and someone new can come with a higher salary.
- d.1 if yes, what are the reasons?

- As you’ve mentioned earlier, you’ve been working in the technology field for 10 years.
What are the factors that keep you moving in your career?
- I have been tech savvy all the time. I have grown up wtih computers, I like helping
people. Probably helping and investigation part is the most important.
- Do you think, based on your observations, that the women representation in the
Estonian ICT sector has changed since you first entered this field? [explain
representation as the increase/decrease in the number of women IT professionals, if
necessary]
- Yes, actually it has I mean more and more women are becoming programmers. One of
my coursemates was a programmer and she is still a quite valued programmer.
- Have you experienced the influence of the “Gender Gap” at your workplace?
- Not really.
- a. If yes, what are the factors that negatively or positively affected it
a.1 What can be done to reduce this gap in Estonian organizations?
- What recommendations will you give to Estonian females entering the ICT sector?
- Just try it out, you can change at any time. When I started my studies I realized quite the
right subjects for me and it took me 3 more years to go to IT college. So yeah go for it.
- What local changes [political, educational, socio-cultural] can increase the women
engagement in technology?
- Actually, there is a huge salary gap in the IT field, I think women are afraid to say that
they need more salaries. I think a new generation of women are more confident to ask
more and it’s good. I think that social events are also helping a lot. I have not been there
but i know that there are lots of people on that events.