In Jordan the split between men and women in IT is almost fifty-fifty.

How did you end up at ING Belgium?

My husband and I moved to Belgium about six years ago. He got an interesting job offer here and with my experience in IT, I knew I would find a job quite easily. The first company I worked for was nice but the commute was too long and the environment was not that international.

I wanted to find a place where I’d fit in, develop my knowledge and build a nice career. Preferably in an international environment. So when the recruiting agency told me about this open position at ING, I was really excited. I was sure I would find all of that here. And that was indeed the case.

So you applied and got the job?

Not exactly. They were looking for a Chapter Lead but I didn’t have any management experience. Still, they invited me for an interview. They saw something in me and offered me the position of Network Engineer. It’s more technical and completely in line with my experience.

I got to work on firewalls and really learned a lot. But after one year I wanted to explore a new direction like asset, project or people management. I talked to my chapter lead about the possibilities in the organisation. He was really open to the idea and together we determined a path to get there. 

Was it a big change for you?

It was. Today I am Product Owner in our chapter. That means I’m responsible for managing our assets, setting priorities, determining backlog tasks and keeping an eye on compliance and all commitments. It’s less technical and requires a different set of skills. Out of my comfort zone in the beginning.

But I got a lot of support from my manager. I learned more about risk and compliance, processes, the interactions and dependencies from other teams. Knowing how the ING works helps you see the bigger picture and do a better job. And on a personal level, I got a lot better at planning. Before, I was never that organised.

What makes working at ING so interesting?

I love the freedom in my job and the various technologies you get to work with. Plus, the people are very supportive, hands-on and intelligent. And everyone speaks English which makes it easy to really connect and blend in. It’s important because we all need each other to create impact.

What I like most, is that at ING, it’s all about interests and opportunities. When there was an opportunity that fitted my interest, I was pregnant. I feared it would be a show stopper and I would need to wait for another opportunity. No problem, they said, we’ll find a way. And we did.

How is working in IT in Jordan different from IT in Belgium?

Codes are universal so that is the same everywhere. But in Jordan the split between men and women in IT is almost fifty-fifty. I don’t know why there are still a lot less women here who study IT. There should be more and I definitely recommend it. Still, I’m proud to be part of this talented group of women and men.