"Fantastic that SI offers scholarships to support women in STEM studying in Sweden.”

Yasmin is currently working as an information security consultant at Atea Sweden. Still, her aim is to one day become a CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), who is responsible for protection the organisation’s information and IT infrastructure from cyber threats. “The fun part in this role I believe, is the constant challenge of staying ahead of hackers, solving complex security issues and building a strong security culture within the company,” she says.

Studying an international Master’s programme at Örebro University

During Yasmins bachelor’s studies at Örebro University, she learned about security on a general level, which sparked her interest in the field. The Master's Programme in Information Systems - Information Security Management was a natural next step for her. When asked if Yasmin was happy with her decision, she explained that it was one of the best investments she had ever made and that she had a great experience studying the programme. However, it was not a “normal situation” - since the programme was conducted during the COVID pandemic. Most of the courses were therefore held on Zoom, but Yasmin argues that the engagement of the teachers and professors resulted in a high-quality education - despite the circumstances.

I believe the Master's programme provided valuable insight into information security from both academic and theoretical perspectives. The exciting aspect of studying an internal Master’s program is the opportunity to learn alongside people from around the world, which also allows us to gain insight into different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our classmates' experiences from various regions enabled us to better understand the field we studied and how it can be applied in different countries and contexts.

Working as an information security consultant

Yasmin explains that the gratifying aspect of her role is collaborating on assignments with clients in both the public and private sector. She also believes that spending the initial years of your career as a consultant has its advantages, as it provides experience with various types of organisations, presenting different challenges. “It allows you to quickly build your experience bank, which I find very enjoyable!”

After working for about 2.5 years in the IT - business, Yasmin has already been nominated for the #addher awards along with the Nordic Women in Tech awards. She greatly appriciates these honours, as she feels they provide an additional opportunity to inspire women to pursue careers in tech: 

I’m thrilled to have been nominated for both the #addher awards and the Nordic Women in Tech Awards. It feels fantastic to receive this recognition and to be acknowledged in initiatives that highlight women in tech. Being part of these events is not only a great honor but also a reminder of how essential it is to continue working towards a more inclusive and equitable IT industry. I view this as an opportunity to inspire more women to pursue careers in tech and to contribute to an industry where diversity and innovation go hand in hand.

Women in STEM-scholarship 

Thanks to the Swedish Institute, Örebro University can now offer another scholarship opportunity for female applicants in STEM. When asked about this, Yasmin shared her thoughts, stating that brining more women into the field is not just a matter of equality, but also about strengthening the industry from a broader perspective and changing the dynamics within IT:

I believe that diversity leads to more perspectives, better problem-solving and a more inclusive environment. I think it is fantastic that SI has introduced a scholarship to increase opportunities for women in STEM to pursue higher education in Sweden. It is well known that women are underrepresented in the IT industry. I hope that initiatives like this will not only help more individuals gain access to education but also inspire them to take their place in the IT industry and become role models for future generations.

Networking, networking, networking

When asked about her tips for future students and workers in the IT and security field, she highly recommends networking as much as possible. She argues that it is very beneficial to get involved in different types of student activities and to attend events and career fairs organised by companies that  could be future employers. While studying the programme, Yasmin also suggests that students collaborate with companies during their thesis, as this presents a great opportunity to gain experience and understand the work environment. Additionally, this collaboration allows companies to get to know the student, which might lead to a job offer. Lastly, Yasmin recommends that students apply for various trainee programmes in the field.

• Text: Malin Maajaakkola
• Photo: Yasmin Kamil, Katrin Wieder