Zekiye, a driving force in our Integration Team.
By: Pon Tech Talk
Tags: Women, It, Immigrants

The growth in the number of female ICT workers in the Netherlands last year amounted to 6.5%. In 2020, approximately 18.5% of all ICT professionals in the Netherlands were women. Here at Digital Solutions, one of those women is a driving force in our team.

My name is Zekiye. I am 30 years old and come from Turkey. I graduated in Mathematics from Abant Izzet Baysal University. I moved to the Nederlands (Tilburg) two and half years ago and got married here :) Nine months ago I started working for Pon

How did you get in developing?

When I went to University, we had Java lessons and loved it. I decided to continue my career life with software development after my university education. After university, I followed a Java education course from a software institution. Then I worked as a Java developer for three years in Istanbul. After coming to the Netherlands I studied at ‘Hackyourfuture’ and I learned frontend technologies as well, and now I work at PON. My software adventure continues in the Nederlands after Istanbul with all its beauty :)

Is it hard for a woman in such a male-dominated workplace?

It is not hard for me to work in such a male-dominated workplace (at Pon Digital Solutions). I think it is because my teammates are very respectful people.

People should value people for being human, not for being a man or a woman.

How is it as a new Dutchy to work in a Dutch environment? What are the biggest differences from your home country?

Working at Pon Digital Solutions, while in a country where many things are new to me, made me feel like I was in a familiar place.

I think the biggest reason for the familiarity is that almost everyone is friendly and helpful. If you encounter a problem, our manager’s analytical approach helps with solving it. Also, she is very empathizing.

When I was working in Turkey, I really loved my teammates and my manager as well. I think the biggest difference for me is that, compared to working in Istanbul, private life and work-life are separated by sharp lines. For example, on weekends in Turkey, I was called a lot to go to work :)

How do you experience working for Digital Solutions? (and how is it different from your previous work?)

Pon Digital Solutions is like a home where I can improve myself while doing my tasks.

I was communicating in my mother tongue at the place where I worked before. Therefore, I had no difficulty in expressing myself, sharing, and conveying what I know. So at Digital Solutions, I have to work much harder than at my previous workplace, but as I said before, it will not be difficult for me to reach my previous job level as it offers an environment like a home.

What would you want to say to young girls who are thinking about going into development?

Never ever give up and keep going every day, even if it’s a little!

It may seem very easy at first, but it is very normal to have difficulties in the second stage, and it is very important not to give up at this stage.

Tips on working for developers when starting to work for a Dutch company

Be prepared, plan out, work hard and express yourself well :)