{"id":10355,"date":"2021-03-08T14:00:02","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T14:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiil.org\/?p=10355"},"modified":"2023-07-27T08:54:56","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T08:54:56","slug":"women-as-it-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiil.org\/fr\/news\/women-as-it-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"Women as IT Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cA challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So let’s all choose to challenge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Women transform our lives every day and in all places. For HiiL, one example of this transformation involves Information Technology (IT). As the pandemic forced companies to digitise and accommodate working-from-home environments, six women at HiiL challenged the \u201ctech guy\u201d stereotypes and led a digital revolution at the organisation. Together, they spearheaded an innovative and seamless transition to a suite of online tools that have improved HiiL’s efficiency and work culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this International Women\u2019s Day, we introduce you to our six IT Champions and celebrate their camaraderie, professionalism, and \u201caanpakker\u201d (Dutch: go-getter) attitude. Meet Armi, Claudia, Evelien, Gabby, Nadine, and Velika who, besides working towards user-friendly justice full-time at HiiL, have also strived to build and sustain user-friendly IT throughout the company.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The following article is based on conversations with the IT Champions team. The text has been edited and condensed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an IT Champion? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn IT Champion is someone who is tech-savvy and interested in technology,\u201d said Claudia Heemskerk, HiiL’s Director of Shared Services and a founding member of the IT Champions team. \u201cFirst and foremost, IT Champions support other HiiLers in digitisation, making it relevant to their work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Armi Korhonen, a Justice Sector Advisor and another original member of the team, an IT Champion is \u201csomeone who has a special knack for IT and for helping others. It\u2019s a person who can support colleagues to adopt new tools but also improve internal work processes and encourage a growth mindset for both the organization and the individual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working alongside five other women<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For more than 15 years, HiiL\u2019s fieldwork and research have focused on shrinking the justice gap. Around the globe, 5.2 billion people still live with unresolved legal problems. In 2018-19, HiiL identified another gap, this one closer to home. The knowledge disparity in technology and online security. This prompted improvements to the IT and project management structures at HiiL. The changes have contributed directly to HiiL’s ability to meet its mission: realise people-centred justice programming and ensure that 250 million people have adequate access to justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fact that six women took up the initiative to improve the whole IT structure at HiiL made no difference,\u201d said Nadine Hafez, the Justice Accelerator Project Officer. \u201cIt\u2019s not gender-hindered work. At the same time, however, working alongside five other women for me felt similar to my all-female kickboxing class. I think we\u2019re very efficient as a group and very results-oriented.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s an empowering experience, added Gabby Rialland, HiiL\u2019s Digital Communications Specialist. \u201cI feel we really have broken a gender barrier and expectations — as seen or experienced at other organisations — where you don’t need to have the \u00ab\u00a0tech guy\u00a0\u00bb with his dirty shirt and set of keys fixing your computer troubles. We are breaking that mould, like the Rosie the Riveter poster<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Evelien Evenhuis, the Justice Transformation Project Officer and newest member of the team, the experience has been one of growth and learning. \u201cIt\u2019s been a nice way to get acquainted with HiiL and the new systems,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we can be most proud of the fact that we’re doing it ourselves and without the formal training in IT. And yet, we\u2019re making a direct impact on HiiL\u2019s impact!\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women have the power to connect and resolve<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Studies show that having more women in leadership roles can lead to positive changes and improve public confidence in community development, the rule of law, equality, anti-corruption, and access to justice. When women have the power to make a difference and make decisions, entire communities can benefit. This philosophy is no different for the IT Champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a group, we are constantly trying to make things better,\u201d said Nadine. \u201cHelping people with IT requires a bit of compassion. We have to be present and understanding and patient in a way that creates a general sense that our (new) colleagues are welcome here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this group, we have five women who are highly educated, smart, data-driven, research-oriented, and who can transfer and translate the IT systems into daily operations,\u201d said Claudia. \u201cWhen I see this team, I think of the Dutch word \u2018aanpakkers,\u2019 which I think in English translates to \u2018go-getters,\u2019 hands-on people who take action.\u201d She added, \u201cI am most proud of our team\u2019s ability to convert ideas from paper into action. They are actually implementing ways of working and doing it together to make HiiL better, more efficient.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Velika Yordanova, the Junior Project Manager, the team reflects a broader sense of women\u2019s leadership. \u201cI believe that if more world leaders were women, then there would be fewer conflicts and more collaboration,\u201d she said. \u201cI think there’s a sense of community and understanding among us women that allow us to collaborate and accomplish things in productive ways. We believe in each of us — here and abroad — and everyone is dedicated to doing their part of the job.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inspiration is personal for Velika. Her family consists of scientists and engineers. \u201cBeing an IT Champion actually helped me fit in with my family.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when asked what advice she may offer to those who #ChooseToChallenge<\/strong>, Velika had this to share, \u201cBe curious. And don\u2019t shy away from trying to understand the problem to help increase your own understanding and knowledge. If you want to learn something, just ask. The more you learn, the more confident you will be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Further Reading<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n